Leah Donnelly

Resident cat at the cafe watches over the newly arrived kittens!

An impactful new trend is arising and has made its way to Olympia. It’s a combination of cuteness and coffee, a cat cafe! 

Located at 3415 Pacific Ave SE Suite F1, Olympia, WA 98501 Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe has been open since May. The cafe is used to make cat adoption easier and more natural. People are able to play with the cats and discover what they are like before bringing them home. It’s a great way to form a connection and find the perfect cat match. 

The process of getting cats to the cafe can be quite long. First, they are rescued and fostered by one of the five nonprofits organizations the cats are sourced from. Next, they must be deemed “healthy.” Before the cafe is able to get the cats, they are treated for any previous medical issues, vaccinated, sterilized and microchipped.  

The owner and founder of Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe, Tiffany Weitzel described that all rescues are not funded and are solely supported by donations and adoption fees. Therefore, it is very hard for those organizations to support themselves financially. The Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe charges a 15 dollar fee to enter the cat room, with a five dollar coffee credit. This fee pays for the feeding and housing of the cats and maintains the cat room, and is a better way to care for them.

Weitzel explained how cat cafes are a highly effective way for cats to be adopted. She stated that other methods of adoption, such as adoption events “take days to coordinate.” She continued, “all of [her] rescues are foster based,” this makes it much easier for people to come whenever they want to meet the cats in a low stress environment. This creates a quicker process for rescue organizations and the cats.

Another great part about the cafe is how quickly cats are adopted! Weitzel takes in about 10-15 cats per week, and adversely about 10-15 are adopted from the cafe weekly. Because those looking to adopt are able to meet the cats and experience their personalities, there are few returns. She mentioned, “since the cats are not caged or scared, they get to interact.”

However, not all who visit the cafe are looking to adopt. One customer said, “I’m not looking to adopt. I already have two cats!” Everything the Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe is doing for cats is amazing, but a visit there can also be a great activity for humans who love cats. 

Weitzel loves that she is able to give the cats a second chance. Her message is powerful as she explained, “The cats are unwanted at first, then the rescues turn them around, and we give them a second chance.” She also loves that her space has become a part of the local community. 

For those looking to adopt an adorable kitty, support cats or just have a good time, the Pawsific Northwest Cat Cafe is the purrfect place!