Got a Question?

Can I bring my own cat?

No. Our cats live in the café, for their comfort we do not allow outside cats to visit.

Do I have to book?

We recommend booking as we cannot always guarantee there will be space in a session. Each session has limited numbers to provide a calm and welcoming environment for both guests and our cats. If we have space in a session we will welcome walk ins.

Why do you charge an entry fee?

Our entry fee is a welfare charge that goes directly towards the care of our cats. This money helps to cover food, litter, toys, vets fees and any other costs associated with our cats.

Are children allowed in the café?

We want to be as inclusive as possible and so to begin with we shall allow all ages of children however this will be monitored closely and altered if required at any stage. We have young children ourselves and do not want to have restrictions in place however if younger children are left unsupervised or upset the cats in any way, then guests may be asked to leave. Adults attending with children are fully responsible for ensuring their little people can follow our house rules. We shall also limit the number of children in total for each session.

Where do the cats sleep at night?

Our cats have access to the whole café during the day and overnight. As well as public areas seen they also have areas the public cannot access if they are looking for some quiet time. We have lots of cameras in place and can see what the cats are up to when we are not there.

How do you ensure the cats welfare?

We know the cats very well, many we have had since they were kittens and they were all vet checked prior to entering the café environment. Laura and Amy are experienced cat owners themselves (and dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits!) and are able to spot any concerning signs in our cats that may indicate they are unwell or not happy. We also have a wonderful vet, Steven from Exclusively Cats in Ayr. He helps ensure the health of our cats and gives us expert guidance on keeping them as happy as they can be. All our cats are on special diets to meet their needs and our staff are well trained to look after them. We have other rooms within the café that the public cannot access, these areas allow the cats to come and go from the café as they please.

Can I give the cats treats?

No. Our cats are all on special diets recommended by our vet. They can get upset tummies if they are given anything outwith this. We have treats that we will allow visitors to give to the cats at times, this will one session a day picked at random and not guaranteed, it is dependent on the staff assessment each day.

Where are the cats from?

Our cats are all from different backgrounds and various locations. We have rehomed many from people who have been unable to look after them any longer. We have also rescued a number from All Dog Rescue Scotland (they rescue cats too!). Choosing or rescuing cats to live in a café is a complex process and requires a lot of thought into suitability, we assess each cat on an individual basis to ensure the happiness and health for all.

Why can't I lift them?

Our cats are visited by many people each day and if every person were to lift them they would become very unhappy very quickly. Many cats do not like to be lifted and visitors will not know the backgrounds when they visit. If a cat chooses to sit on your lap or interact with you then feel free to engage with them. The sphinx’s are heat seekers and are prone to an up the jumper cuddle!

Is there parking?

There is no official café parking however there is plenty of street parking on South Harbour Street and the surrounding streets. There is also a local authority car park a 2 minute walk away and the Citadel/Cromwell Road car park are both a 5 minute walk away. The café also sits on the new esplanade bus route.

Are you accessible?

We aim to be as accessible as we possibly can however the café building itself is very old which restricts how much we can do. Our main doorway, corridors and most of the café layout are standard wheelchair size accessible. We have a portable ramp for the front door. If there are any access requirements, please add these to the booking. We have been restricted again with the toilets however we have worked very hard to renovate these.

One of the 2 unisex toilets is wheelchair accessible and clearly identified. We are also working alongside South Ayrshire’s new communication friendly environments group, we shall be updating signage in due course and our staff shall be trained in Makaton awareness.

We are also delighted to be part of the breast feeding friendly network of safe spaces and we provide free period products supplied by South Ayrshire Council.