Creating the Perfect Cat Café Experience at Home: DIY Tips for Coffee and Cat Lovers

There’s nothing quite like the cozy, calming vibe of a cat café—purring cats, the gentle aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and a laid-back space that feels like a little slice of heaven. But what if you could bring that peaceful café magic into your own home? Whether you're a devoted cat parent or just dreaming of those cat café vibes between visits to Cat & Craft, we’ve got the ultimate DIY guide to help you create the perfect at-home cat café experience.



Let’s blend your love for cats and coffee into a relaxing ritual that you (and your feline friends) can enjoy every day.


☕ Step 1: Set the Mood with a Coffee Ritual

Cat cafés are as much about the coffee as they are about the cats. Here’s how to elevate your home-brew game:


Upgrade Your Brew Method

Choose a method that fits your style and brings you joy—whether it’s a pour-over, French press, AeroPress, or espresso machine. The process of making your coffee can be a soothing part of your morning ritual.


Pro Tip: Support local! Buy small-batch or locally roasted beans to recreate that café-quality flavor at home.


Create a Coffee Station

Designate a cute corner or cart for your coffee gear. Include:

  • Your favorite mug(s)
  • A jar of beans or grounds
  • Brewing tools
  • A small plant or framed quote for ambiance
  • A sprinkle of cat-themed decor, naturally 🐾


Try a Café-Inspired Drink Menu

Recreate some café classics—or invent your own feline-themed brews!

  • Purr-over Coffee
  • Mew-chiato (Macchiato with a touch of vanilla)
  • Catpuccino (Cappuccino with cinnamon)
  • Kitten Cold Brew (Cold brew with a splash of oat milk)

Make it a weekend treat to experiment with different flavors, syrups, or latte art (even if it’s just a heart that vaguely looks like a paw print).


🐱 Step 2: Make Your Home a Cat Paradise

Your cat deserves the VIP lounge experience too! Here’s how to create an enriching and comfortable environment they’ll love to hang out in—especially while you sip your coffee nearby.


Design a Cozy Cat Corner

Choose a sunny window or quiet space to create a chill-out zone for your cat:

  • Add a soft blanket or bed
  • Place a scratching post or cardboard scratcher nearby
  • Use a window perch or shelf to give them a view of the outside world
  • Tuck in a few favorite toys or even a tunnel for variety

Bonus: Add a diffuser with pet-safe calming scents (like lavender or chamomile) for a spa-like touch.


Vertical Space is Key

Cats love to climb and observe from above. Install wall-mounted cat shelves, a tall cat tree, or a multi-level condo to give them a sense of ownership over the space.


Rotate Toys for Enrichment

Just like we get bored of the same TV shows, cats can tire of the same toys. Keep things fresh by rotating a few new toys each week—wand toys, puzzle feeders, and interactive balls can keep them entertained while you sip your brew.


🛋️ Step 3: Set the Vibe

The atmosphere of a cat café is warm, peaceful, and inviting—here’s how to bring that same energy to your home:

  • Soft Lighting: Use warm string lights, table lamps, or candles (battery-operated for safety!) to set a cozy mood.
  • Background Music: Create a relaxing playlist of soft jazz, acoustic coffeehouse tunes, or ambient cat café sounds (yes, they exist!).
  • Comfy Seating: Add cushions, throws, or even a floor pouf to make your cat café space cozy for both of you.


📖 Step 4: Unplug and Be Present

One of the best parts of visiting a cat café is the chance to slow down and unplug. Make your at-home café experience screen-free, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.

  • Read a book or magazine
  • Journal with your cat curled up beside you
  • Simply sit and sip while watching your cat nap or play

This quiet, intentional time is good for your mental health and strengthens your bond with your cat.


🐾 Bonus: Invite a Friend (Human or Feline!)

You’re already halfway to a full-blown cat café if you've got multiple cats. You could even host a “Caturday Brunch” with a fellow cat-loving friend—coffee, pastries, and plenty of purrs included.


🏠 Conclusion: Cat Café Vibes, Anytime You Want

Recreating the cat café experience at home is easier than you think—and it’s a great way to slow down, appreciate the little things, and spend quality time with your favorite furry companion. Whether it’s a full Sunday morning ritual or a simple weekday coffee break, blending your love of cats and coffee is always a win.


Want more inspiration? Stop by Cat & Craft for your next fix of cozy, caffeinated, cat-filled vibes—and take those ideas home with you!


Tag us on Instagram with your home cat café setup using #MyCatCafeAtHome—we’d love to see your cozy creations! 🐱☕🛋️

Orange and white cat resting next to a bowl, looking at the camera with one multicolored eye.

Chester's Unique Eyes Will Make You Stop and Observe

January 19, 2026
The first thing people ask about me is what happened to my eyes. Sadly, when I was living outside, my left eye kept getting infections. Those are all gone now, but due to those infections, I often have a watery left eye. And the coloration is very different than my right eye. The doctor doesn't know if I can see out of my left eye but that's okay. Whether I can or not, you'll see I do just fine when you see me chase around a toy. After I'm done playing with my toys, one of the things I like to do is lounge. And you can find me lounging in strange positions.  Some people feel bad because of the issue with my eye. Don't. Come and watch me play and run around and you'll know there's nothing wrong with my ability to love and enjoy the company of you two legged creatures.

Tatiana and Tiana Bring the Tortitude to The Cat Cafe

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We're a bonded pair of sisters who were living outside. When we showed how friendly we are to the people who were taking care of the colony we lived in, they decided that we'd do well inside. And when one of us (Tatiana) suffered a damaged eye, they decided to move us to a foster home for The Rescue House.  Once we decide we like you, we quickly become tripping hazards, so make sure you shuffle your feet around us. And we hope there's plenty of room on your bed, because we're going to want to join you there at night. We sometimes both squeeze onto the lap of the staff here. We may only have three eyes instead of four, but we can definitely see our way into your heart.

Bonded Pair Peter and Paul Climb High

December 18, 2025
If you come to visit us and don't see us right away, you should look up. No, not high enough. All the way up to the top of the eight feet tall palm tree. There's a good chance that's where we are. It's where we first went when we arrived and it's still our favorite spot.  Don't worry about us getting stuck. We scared all the people here a few times when we jumped right from the top of the tree to the ground. We've decided that while we can do it, it's easier to land on the lower palms instead. And when we do, our favorite thing is to get pet.

Kenja Climbs into The Cat Cafe Clowder

December 15, 2025
When I was a kitten, I was scared and needed a place to feel safe. That was a tree near a colony of community cats. The feeder soon found that I was interested in human attention and they got me to The Rescue House. Now I'm here and it won't come as any surprise to you that I like being up high, including the top of the palm tree that's eight feet tall.  When I'm on the ground, the thing I like the most is attention. I'll follow you around and if you give me a chance, I may hop up onto your shoulders. Sure, the wand toys are fun, but attention from you is what I really like.

Daiquiri's Cocktail of Colors Are Beautiful

December 5, 2025
Two of my kids and I went up to a feeder and said hello and showed them how friendly we are. That's when we entered The Rescue House system. My two kittens grew up and got adopted from here, so hopefully it's my turn.  I'm a playful and affectionate girl, but if I get too much attention, I'll let you know by getting mouth or paws on. That's okay. Just get a wand toy and play with me so that I can get my excess energy out and I'll be ready for pets. If you can handle a cat who's a little capricious, I may be the right girl for you.

Daiquri Follows Her Kittens Into The Cat Cafe Clowder

November 18, 2025
When a person feeding a colony of cats came to help us one night, I and my two teenage sons ran over to say hello. The feeder decided that we belonged inside and got us to foster home for The Rescue House. And now, all of us have made our way to The Cat Cafe.  First up were my sons. Bramble and Manhattan got adopted quickly after they arrived, because they were so fun and entertaining together. And now that I've arrived, I've shown all of the staff and volunteers where they got that from. One thing you'll have to be careful of is that I love to get paws and mouth on with people I like. This means I'm not going to be good in a home with young children or elderly people. But if you don't mind a love bite or two, you'll enjoy me.

Roly Poly Thriving at The Cat Cafe

November 7, 2025
I've come a long way since I was captured by employees at a Costco. I'm a smart and quick cat, and it took them all day to do it. It was a bit of a shock for me to go into a foster home because I had never lived inside. But I soon learned to like it. I needed to get some dental work done, and had to go back to the foster home to recover from that. As soon as I did, I rejoined the clowder at The Cat Cafe.  Just like the first time I arrived, I'm playful, fast, and fun. I like to chase around toys, especially mice and balls. And sometimes, I make the other cats toys as well. Come and see how fast I can make it around the room and enjoy my speed!

Leo and Hope Entertain Visitors

November 3, 2025
Our lives got off to a fortunate start when a kind person found our pregnant mother caged in an abandoned building. Shen went to a foster home for The Rescue House and gave birth to us. We stayed with her until we were old enough to be on our own. After that, we got adopted and though we had a home of our own. Unfortunately, things changed for our adopter and we went back to The Rescue House.  We've been at The Cat Cafe for a while and everyone likes us. We greet the staff and visitors with loud meow and entertain them by licking condensation off of cups and doing other silly things. But we sure could use a home of our own. Maybe yours? Hope and Leo are the ginger and tortie and Twix and Kit Kat have the candy bars.

Meet Mellow Monty at The Cat Cafe

October 24, 2025
The first thing you'll notice about me is that I'm missing an eye. That's because it was badly infected and someone took me to a doctor to get it treated. They left me there after it was. The doctor got me to The Rescue House, and after some time to recover, I joined the clowder at The Cat Cafe.  I'm not the most active cat our there, and I like relaxing and observing things instead of sticking my paws into the action. That doesn't mean I don't like interacting with people. Pet me right and I'll start to make air biscuits for you and rev up the purr motor. If you're looking for a mellow and calm cat who will spend his time by you but not pester you for attention, I'm your boy.
Gray and white cat sitting on green surface against a colorful wall, looking directly at the camera.

Alexander is a Unique Cat

October 17, 2025
Hi there. I'm Alexander. I was living in a home where there were too many cats, and none of us were getting fixed. As you can guess, that meant the population of us felines exploded. As the people in the cat room like to say, without the cats being fixed, the 12 cats in the cat room would quickly become 20. Fortunately for us, The Rescue House was able to come in and take care of things. All of us got the care we needed in order to get a chance to thrive, and that includes getting fixed. For me, it meant I became a special cat. I'm cat number 20,000 for The Rescue House. They're setting a goal of raising $20K by the end of the year on my behalf. Please visit rescuehouse.org to donate and let them know you're doing it in my name.  Thanks for supporting The Rescue House. They saved me!