Orlando Cat Café – Florida’s First Cat Café
We can’t wait to see you! Make a reservation below to visit with the kitties or attend one of our special events!
How it Works & Rules
When you arrive, please enter through the Café. You can purchase anything from Minch’s extensive menu. If you want to remain on the “Café” side and look through the viewing window, you may do so. If you would like to enter the Cat Play/Adoption Area, then you will pay for admission at the same time you purchase your food and you will be given an admission sticker. Any food purchased in the café may be brought into the Cat Play Area. But we ask that no outside food be brought in and that you don’t feed the cats any food.
During non-peak times, you may enter the Cat Play Area right away and your admission is good for 1 hour of meet and greet with the cats and kittens. During peak times, a reservation may be necessary. Please note that for the safety of the cats, we may have to limit the number of people in the Cat Play Area at any given time.
Once you enter the Cat Play Area, we suggest that you sit down and let the cats come to you. If you are a potential adopter looking to provide one of our felines with a forever home, you will be able to learn more about the personality of the cat. You can also ask our staff and volunteers about their behaviors and they will be happy to match you with your perfect cat!
Rules
We have listed below some information to keep in mind while you visit. Of course, we haven’t thought of everything, so please think of the cats first and feel free to contact us with any questions. We ask that all of our guests follow the rules for the safety of our cats and our guests.
Visiting Us
- Any children under the age of 12 will need to be accompanied by an adult. We love our little guests but want to make sure they are supervised. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure children are playing with the cat. Abuse of the cats will result in being asked to leave the cat area. For further information on children’s hours and information, click here.
- We always have cats, so please leave your furry friends at home.
- If you feel uncomfortable for any reason during your visit, please don’t hesitate to step outside the cat play area.
- Please immediately alert a staff member for assistance in the case of any emergency.
Playing With Cats
- Don’t forget that cats are cats, which means they are curious, loving, aloof, frisky, and lazy all in the same day.
- Cats love to be clean, so we ask all guests to sanitize their hands before entering the cat play area.
- Use Inside Voices. Cats have very sensitive hearing, so please speak quietly in the Cat Play Area, silence your cell phones, and take phone calls outside.
- Cats love to chase, but they don’t like to be chased. Please let the cats come to you.
- Take lots of pictures, but please don’t use any flash. Please tag us with @orlandocatcafe or share your pics via #orlandocatcafe – we’d love to see your pics!
- If you wish to hold a cat, please seek out a member of the staff and remember to be gentle!
- Please don’t sit, stand or climb on anything designated for a kitty. If you have a question, please ask a staff member.
- We have cat toys – no need to bring your own!
- Never ever give your food to the cats. We give our cats special diets to keep them healthy and “people food” may cause stomach upset.
- Cats love to nap so much they call it “cat napping”. Please don’t wake a sleeping kitty. No one likes to be woken up from a good nap!
Visiting With Children
The Orlando Cat Cafe prides itself on finding each wonderful cat his/her forever home and providing a cozy cafe & coffeehouse to enjoy. Our goal is to have the interaction be as optimal as possible between the cats and our youngest guests.
On our end, we know that kittens and cats are fragile. They are tiny and can be easily overlooked by young children. This is dangerous for both the child and the feline as young children can easily trip and fall over them. Children are naturally exuberant, this is a lovely quality of youth! However, if you are a cat lover, you know that felines prefer slow movements, soft voices, and a gentle touch. When kitties get stressed they are very unhappy and become ill or act out to protect themselves.
Children, just like kittens and cats, go through different socialization and developmental stages. For example, children 3-4 years of age are still learning impulse control. Sudden outbursts or impulsive grabs at a pet might frighten them and cause an adverse, frightened response. Between ages 5-7, children learn empathy and are better equipped to treat cats properly. Sadly, if kittens and cats have negative experiences with children during their socialization period, they can develop a lifelong fear of small children. Likewise, if a child has a negative experience with a kitten or cat, they can also develop the same type of fear.
Our staff reserves the right to ask you and your child(ren) to leave and return another time should they be disruptive or upsetting to the cats and if they are ignoring the rules and policies. We understand children can have a bad day and we hope you understand that returning another time may be in the best interest of everyone.
We believe this will help everyone enjoy their time at the cafe more and not only encourage a better interaction with the adoptable cats, but also a safer and stable environment for all.