Lola on the Road: The Windy Kitty Cat Café (Chicago, IL)
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Our group of cat bloggers trekked over to Windy Kitty shortly after we arrived in Chicago. Due to tight schedules, I wasn't able to sit and speak with anyone at length. But I did get the opportunity to meet the owner, Jenny, who is a sweetheart.
Once again it was a packed house! It was difficult to get photos of the cats alone because they were usually busy posting for selfies with the other guests. I did my best, so I hope you like them.
The Windy Kitty is located on a storefront in the Bucktown/Wicker Park section of Chicago. It's a busy street, so the kitties have lots to look at. (And they have many admirers who stop to watch them through the window.)
Upon entering you are in the entrance area, where you sign in. You can order food from a local restaurant, or purchase one of the beverages or snacks available there.
When you step into the café, you're in a very large space that's separated into different areas. There are plenty of places to sit and relax with a cat on your lap.
There is also plenty of catification so the cats can move around the room on their superhighway.
Many of the cats were active and engaged, and many were comfortable enough with the crowd to just enjoy their napping time.
Built off public support and contributions, Jenny and her partners opened the doors of The Windy Kitty in December of 2017. 184 cats had been adopted when I visited.
The cats at the café come from Chicago Animal Care and Control as well as other rescues, including their own, Chicago Cat Chicks.
You want to see the cats, right? Here you go!
There is no shortage of cat furniture, scratchers, loungers, toys, and whatever a cat may need.
This guy couldn't decide if he wanted to sleep inside or outside of his shark bed!
When I think of The Windy Kitty staff and volunteers, the word that comes to mind is advocacy. From opposing cat declawing to teaching CPR and performing TNR, the folks at The Windy Kitty are staunch cat advocates. The café had a booth at Meow Meetup, and I had the chance to chat briefly with Jenny a couple of times throughout the weekend. It was refreshing to see Jenny's passion for helping cats.
The Windy Kitty opened the first kitten nursery in Chicago in August of 2018. Nursing kittens are often euthanized in city shelters, and Jenny wanted to do so something about that. In their first month, they saved over 30 lives. I didn't go into the nursery, but I was able to peek in and (mostly unsuccessfully) take photos of the rambunctious, adorable, kittens.
If you'd like to help out their nursery, the café has an Amazon Wish List for their kittens for much needed supplies.
Many fun events are held at the café such as yoga, storytime, movie night, comedy night, cardio kickboxing and self-defense classes, and much more. You can see their calendar here. I was so excited to see that they also have "Kids Reading to Kitties"! Children can read a story to the cats and receive a special surprise when they're done.
After you've met your soul kitty and are ready to adopt, you will be given an application and then go through an interview. Once you are approved, you and your new furry love will be on your way home to start your life together.
The cats were under watchful eyes during my visit to make sure all visitors were on their best behavior and the cats were respected. There is an area in the back of the café where cats can take a break from the hustle and bustle out front if needed.
The Windy Kitty is located at 1746 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. Business hours are:
Don't forget to follow The Windy Kitty Cat Café social media:
I bought a few goodies for our cat café swag giveaway, and a shirt for myself, which I just love. Make sure you watch for the giveaway in a couple of months.
Stay tuned for the next installment in our Cat Café series as Lola The Rescued Cat goes on the road. The next café to be featured will be The Catcade, also in Chicago.
Tell us about a cat café you've visited!
Dawn
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