Love cats? Then what are you waiting for? Join me for a visit to the Cat Cafe Manchester!
After announcing its closure in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cat Cafe left a huge cat-shaped hole in the capital of the North. So when the brand-new Cat Cafe Manchester opened its doors in Barton Arcade on Deansgate to visitors at the end of May, I made it my mission to visit!
You may be wondering what is so special about a cat cafe, especially this cat cafe. Well, their mission is to make animal-assisted therapy accessible on the high street and to help people feel better. Mission succeeded! I definitely felt better after both of my visits this year!
The cats all get along well, and each cat is chosen because their nature is well-suited to a cafe environment. The staff at Cat Cafe are passionate about the cats, and they have a set of house rules which customers must adhere to to ensure the cats’ happiness. The cats have weekly health checks and have their own large, private room and spaces where they are free to wander in and out as they please. Each cat has a different personality (you always leave with a favourite or two!), and there are plenty of toys for the cats to play with. I would advise watching your drink, though!
Cat Cafe limits the number of customers to ensure the cats aren’t overcrowded. On both our visits, we had plenty of space. In fact, on our second visit, we had the place to ourselves for the first half an hour. It was bliss!
We paid £18 each for an hour, which included unlimited hot & cold drinks from the drinks station. There is also a menu to choose from should you want something to eat or a “premium” drink.
For anyone with mobility issues, the entry is level-access, and there is a small lift with a ‘hold-to-run’ button, should you be unable to use the stairs. We discovered that some of the cats like to go and lie beneath wheelchairs, so do check that one or two of the cats aren’t hiding under your wheelchair before you leave. For those able to use the stairs, do be aware that stairs are a popular place for cats to lie!
If you’re visiting Liverpool, the Cat Cafe has a sister cafe on Bold Street which is well worth a visit too.
No visit to Manchester is complete without a visit to the Cat Cafe!
31 Comments
Kelly
I feel better after just looking at your photos! Do they have a pamphlet or something to help you know who is who? They are all beauties! Gracie and Roman really are giving you “the look”!
Nikki
Yes, they do! They’re on the tables, along with the menus.
Eastside+Cats
Cat cafes are so much fun!
Glad to know that Manchester has one again.
Ginnie Hart
I always love when you take us back to the Cat Cafe, Nikki!!!! We’re very familiar with ragdoll cats as well as others, so I can only imagine the joy you have whenever you visit. My son and partner even have a cat with only 3 legs who can get around anywhere other cats can get. She’s amazing!
Nikki
Cats are very adaptive creatures, I’m glad to hear your son’s cat gets around just fine.
Margaret
The cats are sweet. It good that people who love/like cats can visit a cafe and eat and drink amid these creatures. Australia have a few Cat Cafes too, but we don’t have one where I live.
Take care.
Alan Rolfe
What beautiful cats. It’s good that they can escape top a private room when they feel the need. There’s a cat cafe in Romsey but I’ve yet to visit.
Nikki
Not all cat cafes are created equal, but these ones in Manchester and Liverpool are great. I went to one in Birmingham and wasn’t very impressed… It was far too busy in there and the cats just seemed to want to hide.
Anabel+@+The+Glasgow+Gallivanter
They are all beautiful! And, of course, they know that.
Nikki
They certainly do!
Eleanor Foster
The cats are all so beautiful! Your photos show them in all their glory. I would love it there but would find it very difficult to leave.
Best wishes
Ellie
Nikki
Ah yes, it’s definitely difficult to leave! My friend said she wants to stay for 2 hours next time we go.
Tony Urwin
Gorgeous. We have two Norwegian Forest cats. Cute indoors and ferocious predators outdoors. Love the second shot of Umi.
Nikki
Oh, I bet they’re gorgeous!
Jo
Beautiful cats.
Maria
I think this is a wonderful idea!
Beverley
So many beautiful cats. Thank you for sharing the details of the cat cafe. I hope that it is a real success and enjoyed by all who visit.
Kris P
The next time I “need” to find myself another cat, I’ll definitely seek out a cat cafe to do my scouting!
Ann
We have a cat café near my office and my friend adopted her cat from it.
How lovely to join you on your visit! xxx
Lorrie Orr
Some very pretty cats, there.
jeanie
Oh, you’re talking my language! I would love this! And your photos are magnificent. If the cat cafe people see them, they would buy them for advertising. (In fact, if you had these as greeting cards, I bet they would sell them there, especially if you had a note on the back where the photos were!) Fantastic!
jeanie
Did my comment show up twice? Feel free to delete this one!
Oh, you’re talking my language! I would love this! And your photos are magnificent. If the cat cafe people see them, they would buy them for advertising. (In fact, if you had these as greeting cards, I bet they would sell them there, especially if you had a note on the back where the photos were!) Fantastic!
Sharon Robinson
Oh wow I am actually going here for my bday in November. Looking forward to it so much! Thanks for posting and beautiful photos.
Johanna+Bradley
I’d never even heard of Norwegian Forest cats, Nikki, but our son has a Bengal xx
David+M.+Gascoigne
I have had many experiences in life, but cat therapy has not been one of them! Perhaps I have missed out on a joyful experience!
Soma+@+InkTorrents.com
It is a wonderful idea. I am specially glad to hear that they are well cared for and are not stressed. Your photos really show that. Love the big windows!!
-Soma
CherryPie
You have taken some beautiful photos 🙂
Peter B
Beautiful photos. Some of them look positively elegant!
Her Digital Coffee
These are such cute photos, Nikki!
Yeah, Another Blogger
An excellent establishment. And I want to add that I’m especially taken with the photo of Gracie and Roman.
Neil S.
hena
Cute!