Mewsic Kitty Café & The Cat Shoppe in Nashville

The local news today reports that Nashville’s first Cat Cafe, Mewsic Kitty Café, will open tomorrow. For $12 per hour, you can visit with their kitties, but they suggest booking in advance. They even do some cat adoptions. Pretty cool.

However, it isn’t necessarily the first place like this in Nashville. While it isn’t called a ‘cat cafe’, The Cat Shoppe & the Dog Store on Bransford Avenue in Nashville has done cat rescues and adoptions since 1992. I first learned of them almost 20 years ago, when they were in Green Hills and I adopted a cat there. They let their rescued kitties run loose throughout the store so they can play with each other and also with visitors to the store. They even built a covered catio a few years back, complete with pet door to allow the cats to get some fresh air when they want, and to get away from folks who are in the store. They sequester cats only when the safety of that cat or others requires it.

There is no cost to come visit the cats at The Cat Shoppe, although of course they hope you might adopt one of their rescues. The shop’s non-profit rescue is called “Cat Shoppe Rescue, Inc.” They also sell merchandise, cat toys, cat food, and other cat accessories. You’ll also find cat-themed decorations, clothing, etc. there.

Speaking from personal experience, it is a great place to adopt a cat and they have some amazing cat toys. My cats particularly love their catnip cigars and the Da Bird toy, which is a feather on a sort of fishing pole that you can make fly and dance in the air for your kitties to chase. Oh, and they go nuts for the Rosie Rat toy I buy there – a bit of fur and leather that is a popular piece of ‘prey’ with my kitties.

So yes, it is cool that we are getting a ‘cat cafe’, and I can’t be upset about any place that does pet adoptions. But I encourage those who want to visit with kitties or adopt one to support The Cat Shoppe on Bransford Avenue. It may not be as ‘trendy’ as a cat cafe, but it is a place with a lot of love for what they do, and they take great care of the cats they rescue.