The Brooklyn Cat Cafe

- 76 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Introduction / Overview

For New York City's vast community of animal lovers, **The Brooklyn Cat Cafe** is far more than just a place to relax—it is a critical, heartwarming hub for animal welfare and community engagement. Located in the beautiful Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, it proudly operates as the only **Non-profit organization** **cat cafe** in New York City, run entirely by the **Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition (BBAWC)**. This unique model transforms a simple visit into an act of direct support for their mission: reducing cat homelessness through **Pet adoption service**, education, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and outreach.

The Cat Cafe serves as the public face and community adoption center for BBAWC. Since its inception, the organization has rescued and adopted thousands of cats, with an exceptional adoption rate, including facilitating 1,200 cat adoptions in 2021 alone, making them a leading cat adoption organization in the state. The cats living at the cafe are highly social and have "graduated" from the foster program, making them ready to meet their future families in a comfortable, open environment. Beyond felines, other small animals like adoptable rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and gerbils may also be available for adoption, showcasing the cafe's broad dedication to animal rescue.

The atmosphere is described by patrons as a "very nice" place with staff who are "super friendly, nice and accommodating," demonstrating their passion for the animals. While the main draw is spending time with and potentially adopting a feline friend, the cafe also offers special programs like the immensely popular "Kitten Party," which one visitor described as "a full hour with a whole clowder of kittens who were full of energy and ready to play—what a gift." The cafe's commitment to accessibility and its status as a **women-owned** and primarily **volunteer-run** organization further cement its place as a beloved, essential resource in the New York community.

Location and Accessibility

The Brooklyn Cat Cafe is situated at a charming and accessible location in one of Brooklyn's most historic districts: **76 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA**. Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights is a picturesque area, offering a lovely, walkable environment and easy access for locals across the city.

Accessibility features at the cafe are designed to ensure comfort and ease of use for all visitors:

• Wheelchair accessible restroom: Ensuring facilities are available for patrons with mobility needs.
• Gender-neutral restroom: Providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.

While the entrance is not explicitly stated as wheelchair accessible in the provided data, the presence of an accessible restroom suggests a commitment to welcoming all members of the community. For transportation, the Brooklyn Heights location is exceptionally well-served by multiple subway lines, making it convenient to reach from Manhattan and other boroughs. For those who choose to drive, the surrounding area typically offers paid street parking options. Visitors are encouraged to make reservations, as the capacity is limited, ensuring a comfortable experience for both humans and the cafe's feline residents.

Services Offered

The Brooklyn Cat Cafe provides a unique and diverse range of services centered around its core mission of animal rescue and community engagement.

• Cat Socializing Visits: General reservations allow guests to book a set amount of time in the main cafe to play and interact with adoptable adult cats. These reservations are limited in capacity (maximum five people per main cafe reservation) to prevent overwhelming the animals.
• Kitten Parties: A highly popular, separate experience that offers guests a full hour of interaction with an energetic "clowder of kittens" for a fee (e.g., $50 per person).
• Adoption Services: The cafe serves as a public adoption center where all animals (except the mascot, Newt) are available for adoption. The process is thorough, requiring an application, reference checks, and is structured as a foster-to-adopt model. Same-day adoptions are generally not facilitated, as pets are seen as a serious commitment.
• Classes and Events: The cafe frequently hosts special classes, such as **Caturday Yoga with cats and rabbits** and **Stretch and Snuggle with Cats!**, which blend human wellness with animal interaction.
• Beverage and Snack Policy: While they historically had limited snack options and encourage guests to bring their own coffee (with nearby coffee shops available), they may offer limited, pre-packaged Human Snacks and drinks. It is safe to assume the focus is on the cats, not extensive cafe fare.
• Volunteer Program: They are primarily staffed by volunteers, and the organization regularly seeks volunteer involvement, though there is a minimum age requirement of 18.
• Rescue Clinic Services: Through its parent organization, BBAWC, the cafe operates the BBAWC Rescue Clinic, providing high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services and other veterinary care to rescuers and low-income pet owners, directly addressing the root causes of cat homelessness.
• Private Events: Guests can contact the cafe to inquire about scheduling a Large Group Visit or a private party, for a unique and memorable event space.

Features / Highlights

What makes The Brooklyn Cat Cafe an essential and unique local business is its deep-rooted dedication to animal welfare, supported by a distinctive, engaging visitor model.

• NYC's Only Non-Profit Cat Cafe: Run by the **Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition (BBAWC)**, every dollar spent on reservations and merchandise directly supports the rescue, veterinary care, and adoption efforts, making it a visit with a charitable impact.
• Exceptional Adoption Success: Recognized as a leading NGO cat adoption organization in New York State, they have successfully placed thousands of cats and other small animals, including a room dedicated to Feline Leukemia positive cats.
• The Kitten Room / Kitten Parties: The highly-praised special event, offering visitors an hour of play with a "whole clowder of kittens," is a unique and sought-after experience in the city.
• Foster-to-Adopt Program: The adoption policy involves a thoughtful process—including an application and reference checks—and is typically structured as "foster to adopt," emphasizing the long-term commitment of pet ownership and avoiding impulse adoptions. They also often adopt out cats in bonded pairs.
• Community Engagement and Education: The cafe is the public-facing arm of extensive rescue work, including TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs, educational workshops, and outreach to the public and schools, focusing on humane education.
• Women-Owned and Volunteer-Run: This structure highlights the community spirit and passionate dedication of the organization's leaders and staff. Patrons frequently note the staff's genuine love and enthusiasm when speaking about the cats "as an individual."
• Unique Classes: The addition of classes like "Caturday Yoga" and "Stretch and Snuggle with Cats" provides a novel way for New Yorkers to interact with the cats and support the mission.

Contact Information

To book your reservation, inquire about a Kitten Party, or learn more about adoption and volunteering, please use the contact information below.

Address: 76 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Phone: (347) 946-2286

What is worth choosing

Choosing **The Brooklyn Cat Cafe** is an opportunity to combine leisure and compassion in a truly New York way. What is most worth choosing is an experience that goes beyond a regular visit—namely, the **Kitten Party**. Customers universally rave about the special joy and energy of the dedicated kitten room, calling it "a gift" and a perfect antidote to feeling "down." For a higher fee, this hour-long experience offers guaranteed, high-energy interaction with a group of kittens, making it an excellent choice for a celebration or a special treat.

For individuals or families seriously considering pet adoption, choosing The Brooklyn Cat Cafe is a choice for quality and ethical commitment. Their thorough **foster-to-adopt** model, which often includes bonding a cat with a potential adopter first, ensures a high success rate, and their practice of adopting out highly social cats—often in pairs—means you are getting a well-vetted, well-socialized family member. The staff's kindness and enthusiasm in talking about "each cat as an individual" is a strong indication of the care they provide, offering peace of mind to prospective adopters.

Finally, choosing to visit this cafe is choosing to support a vital community mission. As the city’s only **non-profit cat cafe**, every dollar spent on a reservation, a class, or merchandise funnels directly back into the life-saving rescue, spay/neuter, and adoption efforts of the BBAWC. This is a feel-good experience in every sense, transforming a fun activity into meaningful charitable support for New York’s homeless cat population.

The Brooklyn Cat Cafe

76 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA