Somerset County's 1st Cat Lounge Is Finally Opening: Get A Sneak Peek

RARITAN, NJ — The wait is over! Somerset County's first cat lounge is opening in Raritan on Thursday.

Catcetera Cat Lounge will feature 31 cats, adoption partnerships and plans for community events.

Co-owner Wendy Zimmerman of Bridgewater and Jessica Adams of Manville are opening at 42 W Somerset St. in Downtown Raritan, next to Candyland Crafts.

Zimmerman told Patch she opened the business with Adams after years of thinking about the idea and visiting other cat cafes. As a self-proclaimed pet lover, Zimmerman previously worked at a veterinary clinic at 14 years old, helping to clean and calm shy kitties.

"I feel like things come full circle," said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman said the concept grew out of a desire to create a positive space for people while helping cats find homes.

"I've always loved animals and wanted to make a positive impact on the world. We did a lot of fostering and volunteering at different places, and visited a lot of different cat cafes. And thought that concept was really awesome," said Zimmerman.

She said traditional shelters can be stressful for animals and intimidating for visitors, while a lounge lets people see cats in a calmer setting.

"It’s just a space to come, to feel happy, to feel like you belong," Zimmerman said.

This belonging feeling spans beyond just the felines. When entering the cat lounge, guests are welcomed by a custom cat paw wall featuring all of the colorings of different breeds of cats intermixed with the different pride flags.

"We're all into being very inclusive. So rainbows make people happy. And we wanted a retro vibe, kind of like, Lisa Frank-look, but not overtly so. We wanted to be like, this is a safe space," said Zimmerman.

The business is set up as a cat lounge rather than a cat cafe because it will not sell food or coffee. However, guests are invited to visit local Raritan businesses and bring their own food or beverages inside.

Visitors will be able to book time in hourly sessions that last 50 minutes, giving staff time to clean between groups.

The lounge is working with two rescues, Project Meow in West Philadelphia and Beacon of Hope, a local rescue with cats at PetSmart in Bridgewater.

She said the rescues handle veterinary care and receive adoption fees, while the lounge covers food, litter, and daily care once the cats arrive.

Zimmerman said the goal is to give cats more visibility and improve their chances of adoption.

"Who wouldn’t want that, right?" Zimmerman said, describing the chance to bring joy to people while helping cats.

She said the lounge already has one adoption completed before opening and three more pending.

Beyond adoptions, Zimmerman said she wants the Raritan business to become a community gathering place.

She said she hopes to host events including yoga, game nights, bingo, painting sessions and programs for seniors and LGBTQ teens — all with cats.

"We really want to have something that was obviously inclusive," Zimmerman said.

The lounge will also offer sessions where those who work from home can come in, plug their devices into the wall, and work surrounded by cats playing and sleeping.

Zimmerman said accessibility and cleaning have been major priorities in the build-out. She said the lounge includes flexible seating, an ADA bathroom, an acclimation space for new cats, and an isolation room for sick animals.

Staff members disinfect the space daily, scoop litter throughout the day, and monitor cats closely as they adjust.

"It’s exciting," Zimmerman said. "We pulled together. We worked together. We got the best volunteers, we hired the best employees."

For more information or opening updates, visit catceteranj.com or instagram.com/catcetera_NJ or facebook.com/catceteraNJ.

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