The Cat's Whiskers is York's only cat cafe, located in a beautiful Grade II listed building in the historic city centre with views of York Minster. This award-winning cafe serves hot and cold drinks and delicious, locally made cakes from The White Cherry Bakery, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients where possible. The mission is simple: highlight the endless benefits of spending time with cats in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The resident rescue cats are sourced from partnerships with local rescues including Cat Rescue and Welfare Trust and Animal Care at Lancaster, offering second chances to cats who struggled to find homes elsewhere or were surrendered by previous owners.
The resident cat family at The Cat's Whiskers includes 25+ rescue cats with remarkable individual stories—Poppy (found in a school car park, overlooked for her black and white coloring), Bonnie and Arthur (calico sister and brother), Patsi (abandoned in a shed, hand-reared), Freya and Enzo (rescued from a multi-kitten household), Gus and Indy (seized from a hoarding situation), Pumpkin (found abandoned at Halloween), Zeya and Milo (best friends), Snowy and Olaf (both profoundly deaf white brothers), and many others. Each cat is cherished and has access to private areas if stressed. Reviewers praised the beautiful, well-looked-after, happy, playful cats with distinct personalities; friendly, knowledgeable staff who show toy preferences and share cat facts; excellent layout with climbing areas and toys; reasonable food prices; and the welcoming, clean environment. Visitors highlighted it as one of the best cat cafes they've visited, with many planning return visits.
Entry: £9 per person (one hour, paid at booking by card/PayPal). Located at 46 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF. Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 10:45am-6pm; Tuesday closed; Sunday 10:45am-4:45pm. Ages 10+; ages 10-13 require 1 adult per 2 children (staff request ID to verify age). Maximum group size 8; private hire available (minimum 16 guests). Booking essential; walk-ins accommodated when not fully booked. Cannot run over 1 hour; no children's parties. Menu includes espresso, cappuccino, lattes, hot chocolate, various teas, soft drinks, smoothies, and cakes (£2.50-£7.95)—vegan and gluten-free options available. Two-hour sessions available by booking consecutive slots. Ground floor accessible for limited mobility; only toilet on 2nd floor (27 steps). Blue Badge holders can park outside 10:30am-5pm; others use nearby pay & display (15-minute walk from train station). Contact: meow@thecatswhiskersyork.co.uk or 01904 626480.