Tabby Teas — Restaurant in Sheffield

I mean the idea is great, but what you've got in reality is very different. Rather than been a cafe with cats in it, this is more like a disorganised jumble sale of cat toys and second hand furniture with people roaming around disturbing some poor uninterested cats and other paying customers.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the whole experience was the double standards of the staff. The rules clearly stated "no disturbing sleeping cats" for obvious reasons. For our group this included sitting next to a sleeping cat, looking at a sleeping cat and walking past a sleeping cat to get to the counter. We were shouted at by the staff as if we were either daft or cruel. We read the rules, we understand. "No looking at sleeping cats"

For others however, it was quite alright for them to stroke and nudge sleeping cats even when the cats were lashing out and biting. This selective ignorance seemed to be some form of favouritism, because whereas we were just enjoying our coffee other customers were keen to shout and bawl about their own cats at home. My tip: if you want to go within 5 foot of a sleeping cat (baring in mind they'll all be asleep because they're cats) you best have some bloody good anecdotes about your cat to tell the whole cafe about. If you haven't, you'd best make some up.

The second disappointment was the layout. We were made to sit on the floor on some cushions and when we got up to order our drinks someone had already sat themselves down in our seat to get a closer look at a nearby cat. Likewise, if you wanted to sit down to stroke a cat on another table it was unclear if the table had been booked or if it was indeed even a table. By the end there was probably more people in the cafe than there was chairs, despite everyone paying to be in there and the majority having booked. Is this busy hectic environment safe for cats?

I can't help but feel if they laid it out like a standard cafe with tables and chairs it would be better for all concerned, including the cats and the staff. It would be clear who was sat where. You could then have a dedicated petting area to go and get a closer look at some cats. There would also be more room this way so you're not falling over other people and cats.

The cat cafe in Manchester is a prime example. Plenty of room and a strictly limited amount of bookings makes for a better all around experience.

The coffee was nice and the Fanta was cold. The cake was ok. Price of entry couldn't really be justified with the way it was being run, but food and drink prices were reasonable. The cats were great, in particularly the ginger one that looked like a pancake, but I think the people need to take this back to the drawing board and look at how the overall experience can be improved.

I won't be going back...

I've been volunteering at this cafe for over a year now. Coming in once a week to help out for two hours. I did not expect to be writing this to be honest, but seeing these wild allegations of "animal abuse" that are being made on reviews and other online platforms, I felt that I had to speak up for the cafe. Though i can probably guess who's behind these allegations and the real reason why there being made based on what I've heard and seen at the cafe, I won't be making any personal comments against one. Doing so would be tasteless and being a volunteer, I don't have a full enough picture of the situation anyway so I'll just be speaking about my own experience with tabby teas.

Really, my experiences have been nothing but positive and they contrast completely with what these negative reviews are saying. From what I've seen, staff members have always been polite and profressional both during open hours and when we're setting up the cafe. I have not had a negative experience with anyone and staff have always been good to me, as well as patient while i was getting used to everything when i first started to volunteer. The cafe is so chilled and welcoming as well. I've loved going there in the past year and its really helped when i've been feeling sad or lonely. Its been such a boost to my wellbeing and I'm continuing to volunteer now even just as i've started full-time employment.

In terms of the cats, again contrasting with the negative reviews and their rather baseless and wild allegations of "animal abuse", I've seen them be treated with nothing but respect, care and love. Staff are affectionate to the cats, stay attentive to their needs and provide many toys to keep them entertained. Balancing this, the cats even have their own jungle on the ceiling where they can rest and have some alone time. There are so many cushions, blankets and boxes as well to keep the cats comfy with volunteers, like myself, cleaning the cafe daily with the support of staff to balance this with hygiene. Sure, on the odd occasion, I may have seen a cat seem uncomfortable from a customer being too handsy but i've never seen such incidents escalate and i notice staff members respond promptly by providing polite reminders about the cats' boundaries.

Based on my time volunteering, tabby teas is not just a great cafe but also a valuable sanctuary for cats to feel cared for and loved. Its a great place that brings joy to many people, myself included, and i cannot...

I love cat cafes. This one is a fairly new place so I'm curious to see how it develops in the next few months. The cats are amazing and have really great personalities. I love how they're all different in their own way. We were made to feel really welcomed by the staff and the cakes are good. The coffee is great, loads better than actual coffee shops around Sheffield! I'd love it if you had more options food wise, but I am sure that in time this will happen.

I have never owned a cat cafe and don't know much about them, but here are some observations which I hope you will find useful, rather than take them the wrong way:

I hope in the future, as the business grows, you will be able to get a bigger space. I feel like both the cats and the customers would benefit from this. I have seen a lot of strong personalities in the cats and they may appreciate a bit of breathing space from each other and customers. I understand they have a separate area, this is just in regards to the shop floor. I think a bigger space may also spread people out a bit more which would then make it easier for the cats to socialise with one group or person at a time!

The decor is great considering how cats tend to ruin furniture. But I'd love to see it just a bit more cozy or inviting. Soft furnishings would go a long way. Or even a bit of colour. The way it is now just gave me the impression that it was done a bit too much on the budget side and it feels a bit austere.

Charlotte is amazing with the cats. The rest of the staff doesn't seem as in tune with the felines. You can tell that they like them, but they seem a bit out of touch with feline behaviour. I'd definitely get all staff to be as playful with them as she is. If the cats come from shelters and don't have a great background, having people like Charlotte teach them how to play with humans and socialise, would go a long way towards the well-being of both the cats and the business.

I look forward to seeing the cats again! They are fantastic and you've got some great characters...