At first glance, the Orlando Cat Café seems like another coffee place tucked into a beautifully designed Central Florida retail plaza. The chalkboard signage and window art promise yummy beverages and baked goods, along with cute cat-themed décor.
But among the din of conversation and the hiss of the milk steamer, there’s unmistakable feline energy afoot. Through an adjoining window, you can see an array of cats pawing at toys between visitors’ feet, lounging on couches or playing with each other. This isn’t just a cat-themed café; it’s a café for real, live cats, all of them waiting for forever homes.
“At their best, cat cafés are more than cute gimmicks, they’re havens,” says Jessica Whitehouse, director of community “purr-lations” and daily operations manager. “They’re places where animal lovers gather, stress melts away with a single paw tap and shy cats blossom into their best selves.”…