Looking for animal cafes in Yorkshire?
These amazing eateries combine two of my favourite things – animals and cake! I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning than by enjoying home-cooked treats in a cosy cafe where furry friends are roaming free.
Animal cafes have been around for a number of years and there are numerous venues in London frequented by Instagrammers and influencers but how many of these amazing attractions do we have in Yorkshire? We’ve done our research and found five fantastic animal cafes in Yorkshire that are all must-visits for animal lovers. Whether looking for a budget-friendly day out for the kids or simply somewhere to grab a coffee and a cuddle, you’re bound to find one of these animal cafes in Yorkshire appealing! More importantly, you’ll be helping some very special people to provide safe and loving homes for animals in need…
5 Animal Cafes in Yorkshire…
Kitty Cafe
8-9 Kirkgate, Leeds LS1 6BZ
Of course, we’re going to start our list with the animal cafe in Yorkshire which is closest to us and which we are already well acquainted with. Kitty Cafe in Leeds is one of four Kitty Cafe venues in the UK. This incredible charitable organisation cares for and rehomes cats and kittens from all kinds of backgrounds. Rescue cats, strays and those with medical issues are taken in by the charity and looked after until suitable forever homes are found.
Located on Kirkgate and open 7 days a week from 10 am, Kitty Cafe Leeds is a cosy cafe with comfortable chairs, a menu of tasty homecooked grub and dozens of fabulous felines. Surprisingly, the menu at Kitty Cafe is quite extensive and features a wonderful range of breakfast bites, lunch dishes and sweet treats.
Visit in the morning and tuck into a Breakfast Omelette stuffed with bacon, sausage and mushroom or book a table at lunchtime and order one of their delicious pizzas, wraps, jacket potatoes or quesadillas. If visiting as a group, they offer a number of sharers including Dough Balls, Loaded Nachos and a boneless chicken platter. Those with a sweet tooth are well catered for too as they have a seriously tempting selection of cakes and desserts available including Oreo Cookie Cheesecake, Caramel Mud Cake and Lemon-O-Clock Cake.
For just £12.95, you can get one of their main dishes, a cake and a mocktail so it’s certainly reasonably priced. Fancy afternoon tea in Yorkshire with a feline twist? Afternoon tea at Kitty Cafe costs £23.95 for two people and you get a selection of sandwiches, miniature cakes and desserts, scones with cream and preserves plus your choice of hot drink.
The Cat’s Whiskers
46 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
You’ll find The Cat’s Whiskers in a beautiful Grade II listed building on Goodramgate in York. It’s the only cat cafe in York and boasts views of the magnificent York Minster. If you’re looking for something a little different to do during a weekend break or a day trip to York, a breakfast, brunch or lunch at The Cat’s Whisker’s is well with considering. Open every day except Tuesdays, a visit to this animal cafe in Yorkshire costs £7 per person and you need to book a slot online. Being one of just a handful of animal cafes in Yorkshire, it does tend to book up quite quickly so try to plan well ahead to avoid disappointment. Your £7 booking fee gives you a 60-minute time slot but you can book a double slot if wish to visit for longer.
Children over the age of 10 are permitted in the cafe but those under the age of 14 must be supervised. Quite understandable considering the cafe is home to many vulnerable cats, many of which have incredibly sad stories. Siblings Snowy and Olaf are both deaf and easily startled, beautiful Bear was taken in after he was found living on the streets of Bradford and shy Simba suffered abuse whilst living rough.
The sweet treats and sugary delights on offer at The Cat’s Whiskers are all made at The White Cherry Bakery in Pocklington. Cosy up beside one of the cafe’s resident felines and indulge in a Double Chocolate Brownie, Salted Caramel Shortbread, Vegan Raspberry & Vanilla cake plus numerous others.
The Chihuahua Lounge
8 Knaresborough Road, Harrogate HG2 7SP
Prefer dogs to cats? The Chihuahua Lounge in Harrogate is the latest animal cafe in Yorkshire to open its doors and as the name suggests, all visitors get to meet a gorgeous pack of Chihuahuas. Founder, Caroline Leather, is a firm believer that petting dogs can increase one’s well-being and help reduce stress levels. We have to agree and cannot wait to pop over to Harrogate and meet her furry companions! T
The dogs at The Chihuahua Lounge don’t live at the cafe so it isn’t a charitable cause as such but you do need to pay a fee to visit. The fees contribute towards the day-to-day needs of the animals, help the business adhere to strict animal welfare guidelines and, of course, provide visitors with a comfortable and memorable animal encounter. If you intend to visit regularly, you can pay a monthly fee of £29 and this entitles you to 4 visits.
They don’t serve hot food at The Chihuahua Lounge but they do offer a wide variety of barista-style hot and cold drinks plus a daily range of fresh artisan cakes. Coffee, cupcakes and cute canines – that’ll do for us!
Steampuss Cat Lounge
22 Bar Street, Scarborough YO11 2HT
One of Scarborough’s lesser-known attractions is Steampuss Cat Lounge. The town centre cage is home to 15 furry residents and everyone over the age of 4 is welcome to visit. Booking fees for an hour-long visit to Steampuss Cat Lounge are £6 for adults, £5 for children and £5 for students and OAPs.
The Steampuss cats are a mix of rehomes, rescues and pedigree cats from registered breeders that were introduced to the cafe as kittens. Some of the Steampuss cats don’t enter the cafe at all due as they are too nervous and can find the environment overwhelming. These are looked after at home, where all the Steampuss cafe cats return each night to be loved and cared for by the dedicated Steampuss team.
As regards refreshments, there are hot and cold drinks available throughout the day in addition to a daily specials board comprising all manner of tasty sweet treats. Everything available at Steampuss is 100% vegan and they always have gluten-free options available.
Tabby Teas
7 Cemetery Road, Highfield, Sheffield S11 8FJ
Tabby Teas in Sheffield is currently home to 11 furry-faced residents. The team behind this superb animal cafe in Yorkshire work closely with two local charities to offer homes to cats in need that are suited to the cafe environment. Again, due to the mixed backgrounds of the animals here, only children aged 10 or older can visit and those under 14 must be supervised at all times.
It’s a gorgeous little venue run by a team of people who are passionate about animal welfare, evident in the excellent facilities provided for the cats and the pictures of them which adorn the cafe walls. There are plenty of places for these furry friends to climb and play when the mood takes them, no doubt making for entertaining viewing at times! There are also plenty of spaces for them to curl up and nap when they need a rest or a break from humans.
On the menu at Tabby Teas, you’ll find hot and cold drinks plus a selection of cakes and mini treats. If you’re after something savoury, they also stock crisps and noodle cups in a variety of flavours. Tabby Teas is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am and visits cost £7.50.
