Memories of visiting the cat café in Smithfield, Dublin, Ireland

In 2018, I visited the only cat café at the time in Dublin. It has subsequently closed as it was impossible to break even.

It was called the Cat Lounge and it was interesting to get to spend some time with cats who were living there at the time. The café helped to rehouse 55 cats during the time it was open, so that is a great achievement even if the business couldn't survive.

Article about it opening: https://www.her.ie/life/cat-cafe-opening-dublin-feline-fever-368403
Article about the closing: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30854434.html

Most of the cats were resting or sleeping during the time I was there but some walked/ran around.

So comfy.

He or she is probably thinking "stop touching me" haha, but in fairness the cats were all friendly and approachable. No swipes or scratches in the 90 minutes I was there.

I think this is a maine coon or cross breed, such an elegant cat with beautiful fur

Various stages of wakefulness, above and below

In the weeks prior to us visiting the café someone had pocketed a kitten and left the café with a new friend. Unconventional way of adopting a pet.

The police were called but the kitten wasn't retrieved. The owner said they hoped the kitten would be treated well.

From then on contact information of the customers was taken and kittens were only taken out for a time when the shop door was shut and put back in the cages and counted before customers left at the end of an hour or 90 minutes. This would make it more difficult for another kitten or cat to be stolen. Hard to hide a fully grown cat but a kitten you could nearly get away with.

Kittens were so fast and energetic when they were allowed out of the cage to play. We could pick up the kittens but not the adult cats. The kittens had to get used to human contact so that's why you could hold them in your arms.

Bed time again

All photos taken by @colm.hive on a cell phone so the quality isn't the best