Meows and purrs from sheltered cats are definitely a joy for many during a stay at the Calico Cat Cafe in Oaklyn, NJ.
On October 1, the Calico Cat Cafe opened the first cat cafe in the South Jersey region. The new business was introduced by many warm welcomes, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Greg Brandley of Oaklyn.
The two owners, Ben and Dora, opened their establishment with a mission to have a cat cafe in the region that would help promote cat adoption.
“We realized there [were] no cat cafes in South Jersey,” said Dora, “so we decided [that] we should open one of our own.” This idea, shared on their Instagram, brought the vision to life.
Through their partnership with Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, the cats are given a welcoming environment in the cafe. New cats arrive almost every week, with many adopted very quickly.
Dora said, “[Homeward Bound] has been really amazing.” The shelter also helps out a similar cafe called Catsbury Park, located in Asbury Park, making them very easy collaborators.
When you book your appointment at the Calico Cat Cafe, there are two options: a 30-minute or an hour-long session. When I went, I chose the 30-minute session. There are up to 10 people a session, as eight are scheduled online and two are able to walk in.
The cat area was very colorful with a lot of murals on the walls and even the ceiling. The cats were mostly friendly, but slept a lot, as most cats do. You can buy a treat, so they will be willing to hang out.
Overall, my experience with the actual cats was a joy, especially my time spent with the kittens named Spicy Pickle and Onion.
After your session with the kitties, you can stay and have some self-serve ramen and coffee for a fee. I got the Tikka Masala ramen, which was very easy to make and flavorful. There are several board games on the table that you can play with, too.
The cafe itself was relaxing, with nice music and an artistic atmosphere. One of the biggest standouts of my experience was the art around the cafe.
Dora said, “People reached out to us [to help paint].”
The couple didn’t even have to ask for commission for the art; the community volunteered. The art was very creative, and had a lot of different styles, ranging from Minecraft characters to hyperrealistic paintings. This gave the cafe a unique atmosphere that isn’t found anywhere else in South Jersey.
Overall, my stay at the Calico Cat Cafe was very enjoyable. Even if you are not looking to adopt, I would recommend that any cat lovers go.