Cat Cafés in Syracuse Focus on Adoption, Community, and Great Drinks

There’s nothing like a good cup of coffee. Or a cuddle with a cute animal. But when you combine the two? That’s magical. And lucky for us, the animal café trend that started in Japan has made its way to Syracuse. Now, there’s not just one, but two cat cafés in Syracuse. Both work with local cat rescues, offer great drinks, and foster a sense of community within their walls.

Luna Cafe

The story of Luna Cafe starts years before they actually opened. In preparing for the cat café, the owners tabled at many local events. The goal was to get the word out there to build hype and let people sample their food and drinks. But that darn pandemic threw a wrench in their plans and delayed the opening longer than planned. Nonetheless, the café was able to open to the public in May 2021.

The Food & Drinks

Modeled after a traditional Japanese cat café, Luna Cafe has both a dining room and a cat room. The restaurant serves many famous Japanese dishes like takoyaki, ramen, bento boxes, and more. Then there is the drink menu, which has a wide variety of coffees, teas, and juices. Including a signature Moon Blend coffee made exclusively for the café. Please keep in mind that while drinks are allowed with you in the cat room, food is not.

Visiting the Cats

Of course, the main draw to Luna Cafe is visiting with the furry four-legged friends. Visitors to Luna Cafe can choose to pay for a half-hour, an hour, or an unlimited day visit. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Once inside the cat room, the rules are simple. Be respectful of the cats and have fun!

While the space is humble in size, there are plenty of toys, cat beds, and towers for the cats to enjoy. And if you’re lucky, you may even be able to give the kitties some treats. Visiting the café is a great way to destress after a tough day at work or a rough week. It’s impossible not to smile when you’re surrounded by kittens!

Adopting a Cat

As a partner of the CNY Cat Coalition, almost all of the cats at the café are available for adoption. And the ones that aren’t are clearly noted. So if you play with a cat that you fall in love with, there’s a very good chance you can take it home. Of course, interested adopters still have to complete adoption paperwork and pay an adoption fee.

As of August 7, 2024, Luna Cafe has adopted out 270 cats to their fur-ever homes. You can also check their website to see what cats are currently available and looking for a home.

When you visit Luna Cafe, you can choose to go to eat, to drink, to play with the cats, or any combination of those activities. The café is open daily from 1pm til 9pm, but closes at 7pm on Sundays and Mondays when the kitchen is also closed.

Read about my first cat café experience – where it all started, in Tokyo.

Pawsitivitea CNY Café & Cat Lounge

Located at the CNY Regional Market, Pawsitivitea CNY Café & Cat Lounge is a dream turned into reality. After owner Alisha Reynolds visited a cat café in Virginia, she knew that Syracuse needed a place like that. So she found a way to make it happen. After a few years of planning, Pawsitivitea opened on September 19, 2020. Now, it is leading the charge for cat advocacy and support in the Syracuse area.

When you step foot in the door at Pawsitivitea, it can be a little overwhelming at first with so many things to look at. The detailed drink menu featuring all of the available beverages and seasonal specialties. A chalkboard with all of the café’s upcoming events. Fresh pastries in a display case. Shelves and racks filled with cat-themed items. And, of course, a window peering into the cat lounge. Proceeds from all of these ventures goes to support the cats at the lounge.

The Drinks

Okay, I know this is a cat café, with the dominant focus on the cats. BUT. The drinks are pretty phenomenal! There’s a wide variety of coffee, cold brew, “purr” over, loose leaf teas, matcha, and more. Plus, Alisha makes all of her flavored syrups (and baked goods) herself and the seasonal specials are truly creative. For example, the current drink specials include a Black Raspberry Oreo Affogato, a Blackberry Earl Grey Latte, and Honeydew Lemonade. And yes, there are non-dairy creamer options available.

After visiting Pawsitivitea for the first time with one of my friends, we both fell in love with our lattes. Now she regularly goes back there for her coffee. Even if she’s not visiting the kitties.

Visiting the Cats

Like typical cat cafés, most of the cats and kittens at Pawsitivitea are available for adoption. There are a few permanent residents, who are much beloved by the staff and regular visitors. So you’ll definitely see Aubrey, Eddie Van Tailen, Freddie Purrcury, and David Meowie when you visit the lounge. (And you’ve got to love the punny names!) But for the rest of the cats, Alisha works with Wayward Paws and Oswego SPCA to help find their kitties new homes.

In the best interest of the cats at Pawsitivitea, Alisha has a firm set of rules in place. Children under 5 are not permitted into the space, and those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Folks are not allowed to pick up, scare, throw things at, or otherwise upset the cats. No food is allowed in the lounge.

Adopting a Cat

If you fall in love with one of the playful purrers, you can learn more about him/her in the binder inside the lounge. It will give you all the information they have on the cats. There’s even information on the permanent residents, if you’re curious. The next step towards adding another cat to your family is to fill out adoption paperwork with either Wayward Paws of the Oswego SPCA for approval.

Events at Pawsitivitea

To increase visitation – and support for the cats – Pawsitivitea hosts a multitude of events. Bingo, craft nights, dungeons & dragons, yoga, zumba, silent auctions… There is always something going on at the café, so be sure to check their social media for updates.

Pawsitivitea CNY is open every day of the week except Mondays.

* Did you know that Pawsitivitea Cat Café is also a participating business on the Wandercuse passport?

Wayward Paws Volleyball Tournament

Looking for another way to support the local cat community? Head over to Sharkey’s in Liverpool for the Wayward Paws Volleyball Tournament next Saturday, August 17. The event is organized by Wayward Paws board member, Francesca Tangredi. All proceeds and donations from the event go to support the cat rescue. People are invited to play in the tournament, enter to win raffle baskets, or just come out to support the cause. And yes – there will be adoptable cats at the tournament.