Finding Pounce our first day in Charleston was definitely a happy accident. I heard about cat cafes in Japan, but I've never seen one in the United States!
I've always imagined cat cafes as an odd, cutesy trend used more as a gimmick rather than a practical means of adoption, but since experiencing a cat cafe I've realized I was sooooo wrong. Cat cafes are the perfect way to find homes for stray cats in the area, because you get to play with them in a comfortable, large space and get to know their personalities!
Operating since 2016, Pounce Cat Cafe is notably the South's first cat cafe. Pounce actually has two locations, one in Charleston, South Carolina and the other in Savannah, Georgia.
Pounce can house about 20 cats at a time, all adoptable, and all adorable. The cafe actually collaborates with the Charleston Animal Society to provide a constant cycle of cats for the cafe.
When we stopped by, the employees told us that Pounce is proud to have one of the highest adoption rates in the country.
So far, over 1,350 cats and kittens have been adopted through Pounce!
So here's how it works: You pay a fee of $15 for a drink in the cafe and an hour with the cats. You can pay for more or less time and a little more for a pastry or drink too. The rate is important to sustain a great living space for the cats in the cafe (toys, litter, food, etc.) Guests also sign a waiver that basically says you are okay with hanging out with a live animal with real claws.
For anyone who is curious about how the cafe and cat combo works, go check out Pounce's FAQ section of their website.
Our visit: I was really blown away with how chic the space was. Upon entering the building, visitors enter the main cat space, which is decorated with cute couches, pillows, decor, and of course... CATS.
My favorite part of this space (besides the kitties) was how clever the living room elements are used to benefit the cats while also making the place look like a living room. For example there is a big plant and a crate which are tactical disguises for litter boxes. There are also a bunch of shelves and cubes arrange on the wall to act as kitty perches.
Past the main living area is a door to the cafe section which has a bar and bakery selection. One drink is included with the hourly rate, so we got some alcohol. I had a mimosa(meowmosa) and Jake had a beer.
We took our drinks to the cat area where a few other people were also playing with the cats. Some of the cats were lounging in the window among the pillows, some were prancing around with toys, and some where sleeping up in the wall jungle gym.
The cats range in age, personality, and activity level. Each cat has a color with their name, age, and whether they are male or female. There is also a book that highlights each cat with their info, so you can get to know their likes and dislikes. The book was really handy for us first-time guests, so we could know things like how to handle certain cats and which toy was each cats' favorite.
Our visit to Pounce showed me a way more humane and effective way to get cats adopted. I wish so badly that I could take this cafe concept to my own city and partner with the Humane League of Lancaster or the SPCA to find homes for the thousands of adorable strays.
FYI for my Lancaster County readers, there are at least two cat cafes near the Philadelphia area and some in New York City too!