For 50 local Pittsburghers, it’s been love at first sight at the cat cafe.
Colony Cat Cafe, which opened in the Strip District in February, quickly became a hit in the city of Pittsburgh.
Cat lovers from all over the region flocked to this cafe and wine bar, whose second floor is home to several furry, full-time residents.
The ground floor of Colony Cafe is standard bistro. Their full service counter has impressive coffee and bar programs, as well as a limited, but thoughtful food menu. Although these qualities in itself make Colony a desirable place to hang out, it is the cafe’s cat loft that steals the show.
The windowed cat loft hovers above the cafe, giving everyone a peek of the action happening inside. For $8 an hour, anyone is welcome to hang out in the space and play with Colonly’s four-legged residents – adoptable cats from Animal Friends Pittsburgh.
Last week, Colony Cafe, which has only been open for five months, celebrated its 50th adoption from the cafe. Owner Sue Hendrickson says she is surprised, and excited by how quickly the cats have been adopted.
“We keep it relaxed and quiet inside the loft,” says Hendrickson. “I will see people laying down with their shoes off, and a cat on their chest. It think it has to do with the fact that it is not like meeting a cat a shelter. It provides a different opportunity to bond.”
Before adopting a cat, guests are able to come in repeatedly, and spend time with the cat in a comfortable setting. And, thanks to the sustenance from the cafe below, it is possible to hang out with a cat toy in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other.
Guests can put in an application to adopt a cat at the Colony Cafe. Whenever a cat gets adopted out, a new one arrives from Animal Friends. Hendrickson laughs that she herself made it two months before adopting a new cat.
It is also interesting to see how the cats interact with each other. As adoptable animals with histories, Colony tries to stay respectful of what these cats may have endured previously, and is delighted to give them a new chance at life.
“We had a cat that wouldn’t leave the litter closet,” says Hendrickson. “ We we just thinking we should send her back, but on the fourteenth day she wandered out and decided it was time. Who know what she went through in her life, but now she is ready and happy to bond.”
Hendrickson, who owns the space with her husband, has always been involved in cat rescue and adoptions. When they moved to Pittsburgh from New York City, they wanted to do something different, and decided to bring one of the cat cafes they had seen in New York to Pittsburgh.
She says that since they’ve been open, all sorts of Pittsburghers come to hang out – everything from dates, college students, and even people who have spouses who are allergic to cats, so they can’t have one at home.
“What really surprised me was the human on human interaction in the loft. You get some great conversations going. I didn’t really think about it that way. Every hour in the cat loft is different.”
Making new human friends, as well as cat friends, is a definite perk of the loft. However, if you would prefer some privacy, that is possible too. As the loft if $8 per person, with a maximum of ten people in the space, it is possible for small groups to book out the entire loft for just $80 an hour. This would give them some extra privacy for birthdays, or events.
Also welcome at the cafe? People who are not fans of cats.
The cat loft is a completely separate, sealed off space. Anyone is welcome to stop in for for after work drinks, or come for their morning coffee. Everything sold at the bar also helps support the mission of the cats.
Colony Cafe is open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 am – 10:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday
Colony Cafe (1125 Penn Avenue)
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