Nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, The Cat Café pairs expertly pulled espresso and fresh local pastries with the calming company of adoptable rescue cats. As Southern California’s first cat café, it offers a bright, welco...
Nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, The Cat Café pairs expertly pulled espresso and fresh local pastries with the calming company of adoptable rescue cats. As Southern California’s first cat café, it offers a bright, welco...
The reviews paint a sharply divided picture, with customer service being the major point of contention. Many visitors rave about friendly, accommodating staff and wonderful experiences with well-cared-for cats available for adoption. Families particularly love the concept, and several reviewers mention the owner's kindness and the cafe's genuine commitment to cat rescue. The feline residents get mixed reviews themselves, with some finding them friendly and playful while others describe them as less socialized. However, there's a consistent pattern of complaints about rude or disengaged staff members that's hard to ignore. Multiple recent reviews describe unwelcoming interactions at the front desk, from eye-rolling to dismissive responses to basic questions. Some visitors report feeling like an inconvenience rather than a customer. There are also concerns about the appointment system not being clearly communicated and occasional early closures. If you decide to visit, making a reservation in advance is essential, and you might want to prepare for the possibility of inconsistent service depending on who's working that day.
I'm from Arizona and my husband is a friend of the owner, Tony. Of course I want to support small businesses and pet all the kitties! 😻 One side of the shop has ☕️ 🍮 coffee/drinks, 🍩🍪 snacks, and👕🎁souvenir gifts. There is outdoor seating if you'd like. The other side is separated by a full wall and has its own entrance door, this is where the kitties are. There's shelving outside of the cat room to store your belongings and sanitize your hands before entering the cat room. You are chaperoned by an employee the whole time just to ensure the kitties are kept safe- they didn't meddle in your experience. You can pet them, play with them but you cannot pick them up, hold them, or carry them. You can take photos WITHOUT flash. They ask that the volume be kept to a reasonable decibel. The cats are up for adoption (EXCEPT the resident cat(s), like Theo) unless already committed. All you have to do is ask. Support small businesses and help give some sweet furbabies a well deserved, loving home!
Lisa Daftarian
May 21, 2026
I'm from Arizona and my husband is a friend of the owner, Tony. Of course I want to support small businesses and pet all the kitties! 😻 One side of the shop has ☕️ 🍮 coffee/drinks, 🍩🍪 snacks, and👕🎁souvenir gifts. There is outdoor seating if you'd like. The other side is separated by a full wall and has its own entrance door, this is where the kitties are. There's shelving outside of the cat room to store your belongings and sanitize your hands before entering the cat room. You are chaperoned by an employee the whole time just to ensure the kitties are kept safe- they didn't meddle in your experience. You can pet them, play with them but you cannot pick them up, hold them, or carry them. You can take photos WITHOUT flash. They ask that the volume be kept to a reasonable decibel. The cats are up for adoption (EXCEPT the resident cat(s), like Theo) unless already committed. All you have to do is ask. Support small businesses and help give some sweet furbabies a well deserved, loving home!
Lisa Daftarian
May 21, 2026