'Cat Cafe' Could Be Opening Soon In New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT — Connecticut’s first “cat café” could be opening soon in New Haven if the business gets the proper zoning approval to operate the hybrid coffee shop/cat shelter, according to the New Haven Independent.

The Independent reports the Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing tonight (July 10) on the application filed by the owners of Mew Haven Cat Café that will allow them to operate the business. The Board of Alders recently approved a new zoning ordinance, with Mew Haven in mind, for Westville’s commercial district that allows for more density and a greater mix of uses, according to the Independent.

Mew Haven, located at 904 Whalley Ave. in New Haven, is currently open and selling coffee but the cats are “coming soon,” according to its website.

According to the Mew Haven website, a cat café is a “place where you can get your caffeine fix and cat fix at the same time. Imagine enjoying your morning cup of coffee and crossword puzzle while a cat looks on next to you. Or catching up with friends after work, petting cats as you unwind. Maybe you need a quiet place to finish your history paper, with a new friend sitting next to you, rhythmically purring.

“A cat cafe is the cats' foster home. It's a safe place for them to stay until they are adopted. And while they're here, they're being socialized: living and playing with their fellow cats, and also learning about all the humans who come to visit them.

“So while the cats are learning about you, you're learning about them. A cat cafe is the next level of adoption. You can meet and get to know your cat friends and their personalities before deciding to adopt them into your family.

“Cats. Coffee. Community.”

After gaining the proper zoning approval, the owners plan to expand the cat side of the storefront by knocking out a wall and adding a bathroom, according to the New Haven Independent.

Read more at the New Haven Independent here.

Visit the Mew Haven website here.

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