Alley Cat Cat Cafe — Restaurant in Stratford

First off, first time for me but my daughter has been to many cafes in Japan. She was sadly disappointed as well as myself in many things. First off the smell of the sectioned off cat area is gross and poorly kept. Dismayed at the dirty eyes of almost all cats. They look dirty and not cared for. Strong odour from a couple of them. I understand they are from shelters and are hoping for adoption but a good bath prior to them being placed and presented to the public may be a better result for them. Secondly most of the supplies are tattered and worn out and look to have not been replaced since opening of 2019. Staff in the kitchen area are not really polite and actually forgot to make our sandwich which we ordered upon arrival. They told us to go ahead and play with the cats and they would knock and let us know when the lunch was ready. In other cat cafe’s there are tables set up and you eat and drink with the cats around you. It is a calming and therapeutic approach. Of course when I went to the counter to remind them I had the excuse of we were waiting for you to play. Ahhhh no, you were busy gossiping to one another. Positive is, the sandwich when they got their crap together was amazing. Best thing about the place. So not really sure if this is a worthwhile place. Why are their staff or volunteers in the tiny room with you. We know how to treat cats and really don’t need supervision at ALL times. Ridiculous. Could be a beautiful place but sadly the cleanliness is far from what it should be. Space seems to be the issue which I understand can be tough. $15 for a lemonade and egg salad sandwich after paying 23 to play with the cats. Double dose of money. Not really fair compared to others that offer free coffee or vending machines for cheaper options. I know that cats are costly but ladies there is a reason for your cafe to be clean clean clean. Those cats stunk and so did their areas. Maybe the volunteers could do some grooming on them during their shifts instead of talking people’s heads off. We really want to play with the cats not them. Will not return but I would love to see you make some changes to improve the lives of those cats and better their chances at...

First time visiting this place. I did not read the reviews prior because I would have gone regardless. But now, after my visit, I am reading the reviews, and I agree with some of the reviewers' experience. At this time, I can not give a complete review about my experience because we got to the place 25min before they close. Food: I did not try. They had their snack options already closed. Drinks: we ordered 3 milkshakes. Price is fair due to the purpose of the place. But I agree with some reviewers as most items for merchandisers do not have prices, and it's hard to shop if the price is not visible. especially if the owners are busy with customers. We need to interrupt them asking prices for each item. (I bought two shirts and the price was ok) The place was clean (outside where tables were available for customers). I did not have a chance to visit the cats as they were closing. To spend time with them it needs to be booked online. I did not know that. They should have an option to book a visit for those customers who are"in house", for example, if its not busy, and they have customers willing to pay on spot, they should let them enjoy the time with the cats. One thing that caught my attention when I first saw the cat area was the presence of a Frenchie (French Bulldog) walking among the cats, and he seemed very friendly. I assume this dog is probably from the owners, and it was there because they were closing the place (end of shift). But, for someone who really loves cats like me, this could be a concern. I questioned myself: "why there is a dog in the middle of the cat room?" Dogs can disturb cats and change their behavior... Also, it says on the website: "Dogs are allowed only in the coffee area"! So, I would appreciate it if someone could explain to me what /why there was a dog with cats while you still have customers visiting and playing with cats.... Maybe next time, I will stop by with more time and arrive there earlier, so I can share my experience while...

Went here with a friend on a Sunday morning around opening. At first it was quiet, but it filled up quickly.

The setup is simple: you don’t have to buy food/drinks to see the cats, instead it’s $6 for 30 mins or $11 for an hour, and you just sign a quick waiver, remove your shoes, and wear socks (or $2 if you don’t have any). Super straightforward.

The cats were definitely the highlight. There were around 10+ when we visited, including some kittens. Most were social and curious, with a few very affectionate ones. It was sweet to see, and a staff member came in to share details about some of the cats with families, which was a nice touch.

The space itself wasn’t really our vibe. The cat area felt a bit cramped once more people came in, and there was a strong litter smell that made it harder to relax. The floors and furniture also felt a little unkept. Not dirty exactly, just like the upkeep could be improved. There was litter underfoot, the cat’s furniture was really busy, and some of the cats had runny noses/loose fur. Would also appreciate a sign stating that the stairs led to the litter area. The cafe side also felt dated and not super cozy, so we didn’t end up ordering food or drinks. The staff didn’t seem very engaged with us.

One important note: accessibility could use attention. When we left, a wheelchair user was also trying to exit, and the heavy, non-automatic door plus the ramp made it pretty awkward, even with multiple people helping to hold the door. It would make a big difference if the entrance were easier to navigate.

Overall: As cat lovers the cats were cute and the pricing is fair, so I’m glad we went once. But between the smell, the vibe, and accessibility issues, I don’t think I’d return regularly. Nice as a one-time visit if you want to play with some sweet cats or if you’re...