Cat people are no longer stuck in a dog lover’s world. Affogato Cat Cafe, which opened in January, injected some fur into Tremont. “The goal of the cafe is to empty the cages of nearby animal shelters and help people relieve stress,” says co-owner Eddie Crespo. “You can adopt, but if you just want to hang with the cats that’s more than fine.” Here are three things to know about Cleveland’s first cat cafe.
Hair Free: Climbing is prohibited in the cafe upfront, separated from the cats to minimize hair. But games, books and a purr-fectly punny menu keep
humans occupied. Try the namesake drink ($6), a shot of Rising Star espresso poured over two scoops of Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream. “Affogato is a drink and gato means cat in Spanish, so [our name] is a play on words,” says Crespo. “I love coffee, cats and puns.”
Designated Playtime: Next to the cafe, kitties traverse built-in shelves and cuddle on circle chairs. Only 15 felinophiles are allowed at once, so reserve your hourlong session ($10 on weekdays, $12 on weekends). “Come in, get coffee, play with cats and leave really happy,” says Crespo.
Come Home, Kitty: House cats Chip and Prince watch over 14 felines looking for homes. Cleveland Animal Protective League spays, neuters and readies each cat for adoption, so you can leave with a new friend. “This is their temporary home until they find their forever home,” says Crespo. “We want the cats stress-free.”
