Le Cafe des Chats – an Elegant Cat Cafe in Paris

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Today we have a great guest post about an international cafe cafe from Anne Cooper, who blogs at catobsessed.com.  She lives in Australia with her husband and two very fluffy felines.  Apart from cats, Anne loves traveling, DIYing and all things cute.

Cafe culture in Paris has a long established history.  The oldest cafe still in operation – Cafe Procope – dates back to 1686.  Parisian cafes were traditionally used as venues for political debates, artistic innovation and social networking.  While chic cafes still exist on every street corner in the city of love, there’s something particularly special for cat lovers in the aristocratic district of Le Marais.

Le Cafe des Chats is France’s first cat cafe.  It opened its doors in September 2013 and has been a hit with both tourists and locals ever since.  Due to its popularity, you’ll most likely need to make an email reservation around a week in advance to get a spot.

I visited in Summer 2014 and was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

Firstly, I must admit, I’m a bit of a cat cafe addict despite having two of my own kitties at home.  I try to visit one whenever I travel to a new city.  Le Cafe des Chats is definitely one of my favorites.  Not only is the decor very sophisticated and Parisian, the food was delicious!

Food often takes a back seat in cat cafes.  Either you’ll get a small drink included in the entrance fee or cat-themed snacks which look impressive but are often lacking in the taste department.  So, my expectations weren’t high.

We arrived at Le Cafe des Chats early in the day so ordered their breakfast set.  We received baguette slices, a fresh croissant and sweet condiments galore – what a treat! It came with a glass of homemade orange juice.  Even if there were no cats, I would be happy to eat here.

Of course, we can’t ignore the main attraction – the 12 resident felines.  The cats live at Le Cafe des Chats permanently and are allowed to roam freely in all spaces except, of course, the kitchen.

When you arrive you receive a card with names and a short biography for each cat. While most were fast asleep in their cosy beds, I found a playful kitten who was happy to jump into my arms.  He chilled out there until he got bored about two minutes later.

Unlike many cat cafes which feature purebred felines – the kitties at Le Cafe des Chats have all been rescued from no-kill shelters. They were specifically chosen for their character to ensure that they enjoy being in contact with the other cats and human visitors on a daily basis.  In addition a portion of the profits of Café des Chats is donated to feline protection organizations.

Although we were seated at ground level, I have to recommend checking out the cafe’s basement.  It has a gorgeous chandelier and cellar-style decor. You’ll also find books and magazines aplenty.  Most of the reading material has a cat theme. For example I found a French version of the manga Chi’s Sweet Home.

Practicalities like litter trays are hidden away from sight (and smell!) behind cat flaps. For an establishment with so many animals, it was incredibly clean. Of course everything has been approved by the DDPP (French government department for population safety including food hygiene) as well as the Ministry of Agriculture.

Since my visit, a second branch of Le Cafe des Chats has opened up in the famous Bastille district.  If the reviews are anything to go by, it’s just as good as the original location.  Hopefully I’ll get to check it out one day!  If you’ve been, I’d love to hear how your experience went in the comments.