An autographed book was promised to the first reader who visited the Denver Cat Company and return with photos, and reader George took up the quest. He wrote up a piece about his trip.
The Denver Cat Company opened on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 and we made it by for a visit the next evening. The café is located on slightly-trendy Tennyson Street, near northwest Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. The space used to be a baby shop and the front of the building still has the old sign, although there’s a big sign for the cat café in the front window.
It’s not a full-fledged coffee shop, as health department rules don’t allow the preparation of fresh food where animals (yes, including cats!) are present. They serve drip coffee, a variety of teas and a few packaged snacks. The walls are decorated with a mixture of cat-themed posters and art work from local artists. There are a number of tables, chairs and couches where one can use the obligatory WiFi or read some of the many used books that are for sale.
We armed ourselves with a couple of beverages and went to meet the kitties.
There were supposed to be eight cats in residence, but we were told that two cats got too stressed out the day before and had to leave. The remaining six were twins Norman and Bates, Melo, Draven, Brenna and Jill. A bulletin board near the door gives the story and adoption details for each cat.
We started by sharing Brenna’s comfy chair – she didn’t seem to mind, and enjoyed getting a bit of petting. Norman (or was it Bates?) acted as the greeter by sprawling across the top of the steps leading to the back of the café. And Bates (or was it Norman?) took my chair when I stood up for a moment. All six seemed comfortable around humans, although not overly friendly (no sitting on laps, rubbing against legs, etc.), but considering the number of people that they met over the course of the day, perhaps they didn’t want to start intimate relations with someone who is going to leave when they finish their coffee. Still, no one complained about being picked up and fussed over.
The back room has sanitary facilities for both cats (behind a screen) and humans (behind a door). Sana, the owner, told us that the cats stay by themselves overnight, but that she was around to wait on them most of the time.
While we were there, there was a steady stream of people coming in to check the place out. The clientele included families with small children, couples out for a night on the town, and a grandmotherly lady who must have been in her eighties. Most seemed to come for the cats, although one or two philistines seemed to ignore the kitties altogether. All in all, it’s a very relaxing spot (for both humans and cats), and probably much better for you than Colorado’s other ‘natural mellowing agent’.
Very nice pictures and story, George. Thanks.
And how long until someone comes in with the feline mellowing agent?
And, as you can see here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhg7Xm4FXAY) it only takes one cat to oversee and direct 13 sloppy d*gs eating their Christmas dinner in their d*g café.
One of the first things you learn in the cat business is don’t get out of your chair unless you want to loose it. Norman or Bates will get you every time.
They’re just pre-warming it for you…and expect you to provide a suitable warm spot for them in return.
b&
Sub
Nice write up and pictures! I see George used a Sony camera – George, which Sony did you use?
Oh I see it is the SONY SLT-A55V
the front of the building still has the old sign, although there’s a big sign for the cat café in the front window.
The new sign is up, so it’s no longer a former baby clothes store.
So you can have cats with your coffee, or pie with your coffee, but not both.
This presents a serious dilemma.
Given a choice between cats and pie, I honestly don’t see how there could be any competition. Never met a pie that purrs….
b&
Great photos and write-up, George!