Paws For Thought Cat Cafe — Restaurant in Test Valley

Really and truly a little slice of kitty heaven! Straight away you can see that welfare for the kitties is top priority. There is a double door entry system, making doubly sure that no kitties can worm their way out into the road. Especially important, seeing as the cafe does open out into a road!

The cats have many hiding spots, and many spots up out of the way of human reach. This fulfills two of the five core welfare needs outlined by the Cats Protection - "a suitable environment" and "choice". They have everything they need - scratchers, teaser toys, and plenty of places to perch and watch the world go by. The toys allow them to "exhibit natural behaviours", another one of the core welfare needs outlined by CP. I also spotted a little hole in the fireplace, which I'm guessing lead to somewhere the cats could rest undisturbed. I was very impressed by this!

Each cat has a backstory, told on the little menu folds on each table. It's a great tool for going on a kitty hunt and identifying each one! I really liked how they've detailed each cat's personality, as well. It gives you more of an idea for who might want to be approached, and who may not want to. For those cats who are awake (after all, they do sleep a lot!), their good health is immediatley obvious, as they are alert, in good shape and happy to play when they want to. I can see, given the condition of each cat, that the owners are clearly meeting another CP welfare need - "protection against pain, suffering, injury and disease". It is also heavily implied, from each cat's body condition and behaviour, that their dietary needs are being met. This meets another CP welfare need. (All five Cats Protection Welfare Needs met. Well done, Paws for Thought!)

The menu has a lovely selection for a cafe, and I do like the fact vegan options are also avaliable. Everything is well-priced, as is entry and merchandise. I really love the vibe at Paws for Thought - from the relaxing music, to the neutral creams, browns, and golds of the decor - this really is a place for relaxing interspecies bonding.

Their website is also a great experience, clearly stating their rules, which again serves to protect the welfare of the kitties. I probably missed it in the cafe, but the only thing I would add is reviewing these at the door, or a print out on each table. During our visit, there was a schoolchild approaching and following cats that were actively moving away from him - I at one point interviened to save him a swipe, but it would have been nice to show him the rules as a reminder. He always had an adult following him about, but they didn't seem to do much to interrupt his behaviour.

The last thing I will add is a small nod to PfT's social media. I was scrolling through their Instagram, and saw the most heart-meltingly sweet tribute to a frequent elderly visitor who had sadly passed away. It really warms my heart that they care this much for their regulars, even noticing that he hadn't been in for some time. It says a lot about the empathetic nature of the owner and staff!

TL;DR - Paws for Thought Cat Cafe is a great place! All five Welfare Needs for Cats, outlined by the Cats Protection, are met. Website is clear and consise. Decor is beautiful and store is clean. Cats are clearly cared for and in great shape. Staff are lovely!

The first time we saw the place was when we visited Romsey to view The Cathedral. We were told that they were fully booked. It is prudent to book before one visits and also to read the rules. For example, one is not allowed to pick up the cats. also this might seem obvious to some people, others might not realise.

If one has children, I would advise them to look at the rules carefully and perhaps even speak to a member of staff over the telephone. Although we did not have children with us, I have read some of the comments and when I booked, the question was put to me about children attending. Thus, to avoid disappointment, I would advise people to liaise with members of staff before booking if one has children that he or she plans to bring with them.

We managed to book for a Sunday and the place was busy.

An aspect of this place which is quite interesting is that the members of staff took the time to create information about each cat and this is located within the menu. For example, they include the name of the cat and the toys that the cat likes.

There is room to sit both inside and outside and everything is tidy and looks clean.

It would be lovely if the owners could have a second hand book library. I am almost certain that some people would really like to read a book while also enjoying the company of cats.

We attended again in August 2024 and it was lovely because we had the opportunity to meet some of the other cats, including one with a very loud meow who used the cat treadmill (Xena). Luna still occupied her space on the cat tree and Emmy attempt to take a bite of my panini. Once again, thank you to all of the members of staff who worked so hard so that cat enthusiasts could enjoy the...

First time visit and mixed experience. I booked an afternoon tea for 2 for my mum's birthday. Booked over the phone with no issues. When we got there, we were welcomed to our table which had a covered cake stand with cute little cakes and scones on it. The lady came to ask what drink we wanted and I asked what sandwich choices we had. This is where I was disappointed. We were told we couldn't choose as they were already made. The lady said I should have told them sandwich choices on the phone when they asked if we had any dietary needs. We don't have any allergies or anything so I said we had no needs. I wasn't asked my sandwich choices. The sandwiches served were ham, BLT, chicken salad and prawn - my mum didn't like any of them but there was nothing else on offer. As they are a cafe that serves sandwiches and paninis I thought they would perhaps offer an alternative, but they didn't. My mum made do but neither of us like prawns so they went untouched. Scone was ok, and jam and clotted cream were nice (pretty standard). Just a niggle, but a lovely home made scone would have been nice. Also instead of the shop bought cakes, allowing customers to choose a cake from the cabinet would be a nice touch, as they looked very yummy. The cat experience was also mixed -the building doesn't lend itself to this very well as it's long and narrow. The cats nestle in areas around the tables which makes it awkward to pet them as you are encroaching on other people's tables whilst they are eating. We were sat at the front and encouraged to walk around to see the cats, but again I just found it awkward having to get so near to other people whilst they were trying to have lunch. Nice idea but not...