Lola on the Road: Catfé Lounge (Ferndale, MI)

Welcome to the seventh post in our series, "Lola on the Road". Last summer I visited several cat cafés, and I've been sharing my experiences with my readers. Coffee and cats - two of my favorite things! If you missed the last installment in the series, you can read about Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center here. And if you'd like to catch up on the entire series, you can do that here. 

It’s taken me a bit of time to complete my final post from last summer because, well, life just got in the way. But at long last, here it is.  I had such a great time visiting all the cafés and sharing my experiences with you. At my final stop in Michigan, I got to catch up with old friends (my good friend Sherry, who was my Michigan tour guide and host, and Sue of The Island Cats), and I got to meet a blogging friend for the first time (Vicky of Eastside Cats.) But don’t worry! This post summarizes my last stop of 2018, but my journeys will resume this year and I’ll continue to share the amazing things cat cafés do for both cats and their communities. 

So without further ado, today I bring you Catfé Lounge in Ferndale, MI. 

I was warmly welcomed by Deanne Iovan, Executive Director, and had the pleasure of chatting with her about the café. Catfé Lounge is Michigan’s premiere cat café. When they opened in 2015, they decided to have a different take on the cat café concept. Rather than partnering with a rescue, they are actually part of the Ferndale Cat Shelter, a 501(c)3 cat rescue. 

Catfé is situated in a storefront in the socially progressive town of Ferndale, MI. The landlord had recently purchased the property with the goal of opening a coffee shop. The community, which has a lot of musicians and artists, has really embraced the café. 

Once you're inside, the environment is very quiet and relaxing. The decor is adorable! 

In addition to some great catification where the cats have some awesome vertical space, there are cat-themed (what else?) murals painted on the walls in gorgeous, calming colors. 

How pretty! The murals were painted by Erin Brott, a local artist, and art teacher. 

This gorgeous girl looks like she approves of the decor. 

The cats have plenty of space to play and stretch out... 

... and places to hide when they feel the need. 

The cats were very relaxed, comfortable and happy. They enjoyed playing their visitors with their favorite toys (of which there were many!) 

This guy loved his catnip cheeseburger so much he even took a nap with it. 

There is an area in the café that is set up as a shop where visitors can purchase some wonderful souvenirs and other cat-related merchandise. 

The cubbies seem to be a pawpular hiding place!

I didn't buy one of these cute mugs, and I really wish I did. (I guess another trip to MI is in my future! LOL) 

Catfé has a great adoption rate. In 2017, 419 cats were adopted out and in 2018, as of my visit in August, 260 found their forever homes. Many adopters maintain a relationship with the lounge after bringing their new family member home. They give frequent updates on their cats and continue to support the rescue. 

I'm not sure how many cats were in-house on the day of my visit (I forgot to write it down!) but 50 were in foster. 

Ferndale Cat Shelter works diligently with others to take care of the local community. They collaborate with other rescues (such as Motor Kitty Rescue), and they purchase food for community cats as well as helping with their vetting. People frequently reach out to them for help with TNR and rescue. 

The Lounge offers community members a fun place to take a break from the stressful world. In August they were hosting a Group Refuge Recovery Meeting twice a week, complete with Buddhist meditation, to aid in overcoming addiction. Other popular events are yoga, cat bingo (which is frequently a sell out), and Purrlates. 

Food isn't prepared or served in the Lounge, but visitors can help themselves to self-serve coffee, tea, or soda. 

You can also nosh on a biscotti. Donations for drinks and snacks are appreciated, but not required. 

Catfé Lounge is located at 821 Livernois, Ferndale, MI 48220

Business hours are: 
Monday:        12 pm - 5 pm Tuesday:       CLOSED Wednesday:  12 pm - 7:30 pm  Thursday:      12 pm - 5 pm  Friday:           12 pm - 5 pm  Saturday:       10 am - 5 pm  Sunday:         12 pm - 5 pm

A $10 suggested donation is appreciated but not required. More than $10 is great too! (Children under 7 must be monitored closely by their parent or guardian.) There is no time limit to your visit. 

All cats are available for adoption. You can read the adoption guidelines and see resident cates here. 

I loved everything about the Lounge! It was immaculate and inviting. The staff and volunteers made everyone feel welcome while ensuring the cats were closely monitored and supervised. 

It's the purrfect place to grab a cup of coffee and unwind with some cute cats. 

If you'd like to help Catfé and Ferndale Cat Shelter with their mission, you can read about different ways to help here. Donations of cat and kitten food, cat litter, and new cat toys are always appreciated and can be dropped off at the lounge. 

I'd like to say a big "thank you" to Deanne for accommodating my friends and me, and for taking the time to share her passion. The work your organization does for cats and the community is amazing. 

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Don't forget to follow Catfé Lounge on social media: 
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Stay tuned for the next installment in our Cat Café series as Lola The Rescued Cat goes on the road. I haven't decided on the next stop yet, but I will plan that soon. In the meantime, don't forget to check back in a few days, because we're having a special giveaway of souvenirs from the cafés I've visited already! 

Have you ever been to a cat café? Tell us about your experiences! What do you think of this series?

Dawn