How Exactly Austin’s First Cat Cafe Blue Cat Works

It’s been almost a week since Blue Cat Cafe, Austin’s first cat cafe, opened last Saturday, and it’s been a busy one. Protesters lined up during the grand opening, there was a celebrity visitor, Adrian Grenier, a television segment on Fox, and four cats were adopted. The cafe released a short introduction video, and here’s a guide on how exactly the Blue Cat Cafe works.

— No, patrons cannot bring their own cats to the cafe.

— Reservations are no longer required. Just pay the $5 entry fee, and you will have unlimited kitty time. There’s also a student discount, and there will be happy hours. Full hours are from Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

— The cats come from the Austin Humane Society. All cats are up for adoption (except for the resident cats wearing red collars) for a discounted rate. Paperwork can be filled out on the spot. A cat carrier is provided, too, so you can take your new companion home immediately.

— Before entering the main cat room, there is an entryway for check-in and items for sale, including cat toys and furniture. Guests are required to sign a waiver.

— There are cat toys and furniture all over the place, from the giant tree in the middle of the room, the see-through floor hovering above, and the cat superhighway lining the walls. There are plenty of toys lying around to entice the cats.

— Dogs are allowed in the front patio, where occasionally, the Austin Humane Society will bring adoptable dogs, too. One was adopted over the weekend.

— Food and coffee will be prepared outside of the building at the cafe’s food truck located near the entrance. If you’re opting to sit inside, a server will place your tray by a separate door by the entryway for pick-up. Everything is vegan, with protein from BBQ Revolution, as to not tempt the cats with real meat. Covers are also provided so you can protect your food if you step away.

— There’s free, open wifi.

— There will be live music on the stage, where the musical instruments also serve as cat beds.

— Cats enter the litter room, which is found behind the mural, through feline-sized holes. An air purifier in the room runs all day.