FAQs

What is a cat cafe?

We are basically a big foster home for shelter and rescue cats where humans can visit and help socialize the cats while they wait for their fur-ever homes. Those interested in adding a feline family member can spend time in the lounge to visualize how a cat would live in their own home. The lounge lets potential adopters see the cats’ true personalities.

What are your hours?

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday-Saturday 11-7 (lounge closed from 2-3 for cat nap)

Sunday 12-5

Where do the cats come from?

Our lounge cats are provided by Petworks Animal Services, The Bridge No Kill Animal Rescue, and Dos Rios Resque. We are basically a giant foster home for shelter and rescue kitties while they are socialized and wait to find a loving home. Our lounge cats all have a $90 adoption fee and are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on FVRCP and rabies vaccines, have received flea/parasite control, microchipped, FeLV/FIV tested, and ready to go to their furever family! We do NOT take any cats in at the cafe.

I found a stray cat, can I bring it to you?

Unfortunately, we are not a rescue at this time and cannot take in cats from the public. All lounge cats are vetted before coming to the cafe, and we do not have that ability here. Please make a surrender appointment with your local shelter (see our Resource page for a list of local shelters and rescues that can help).

Can I bring my cat with me?

We cannot accept outside cats in the cafe. Our goal is to socialize and find homes for shelter cats who are living in our lounge as though it’s a foster home. And, in general, cats are not like dogs and prefer not to go for car rides or leave their own homes!

Can I bring my dog?

We welcome service dogs in the retail area; however, service dogs are excluded from the cat lounge because of the instincts that dogs and cats have that can result in aggressive interactions. We are a foster home for our kitties and want to keep them safe and happy.

Where can we find you?

We are located at 207 Broad St in Downtown Kingsport, TN. We are in the old Blackheart Salon space, next door to Cornucopia and near the intersection of Market & Broad.

Where can I park?

There’s LOTS of FREE public parking near us: all along Broad St, 364 parking spots in the parking garage across the street at 215 Shelby St, around the corner at the 201 E Market St parking lot, and many more. CLICK HERE for info about all the free parking options in Downtown Kingsport!

Do I need a reservation to visit?

Technically, no. But we only allow 12-15 people in the cat lounge at one time (the number fluctuates depending on how many cats we have at the time), so we cannot accept walk-ins if we are at capacity. Therefore, we highly recommend that you use our online reservation system, especially on the weekends or holidays.

Why do I have to pay to hang out with the cats?

The mission of our cafe to socialize and adopt cats into fur-ever homes is most important, but we can’t do it without money to pay for the cats’ care and housing. The entrance fee allows us to provide this cage-free environment for the cats and also helps to pay for the supplies and vet care that the shelters and rescues cannot provide. Your entrance fee is the primary source of income that allows us to provide this service to the community and includes two choices from our menu, an hour with the kitties in our lounge, and free WiFi. The adoption fees go directly to the shelter, and we do not take any part of that money.

What should I know about hanging out with the lounge cats?

Cats are animals. And they can be temperamental, especially when someone holds or touches them in a way that makes them scared or uncomfortable. They may show their fear or discomfort by hissing or scratching or even biting. So, it is important that ALL LOUNGE VISITORS REGARDLESS OF AGE understand this and use caution when handling any cat. We reserve the right to require anyone to leave the lounge if we feel that the safety, health, or comfort of the cats or other customers is being disturbed at any time. If you don't have much experience with kitties, please take a look at this infographic about cat body language to help you prepare for your visit, and please feel free to visit with staff or volunteers during your visit.

What's with the collars?

Our lounge cats all have collars to help identify them. Two are color-coded. If a kitty has a solid red collar, then that kitty may be a little spicy. So, please approach these kitties with a little extra caution, especially if you don't have much experience with cats. If a kitty has a solid black collar, then that means they are one of our resident cats, and they are NOT adoptable.

What is your child / minimum age policy?

As long as the policy is not abused, we do not have a minimum age requirement. HOWEVER, the following rules help us manage this policy:

Anyone under 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the minor waiver before they may enter the lounge. The parent or guardian must sign in person at the cafe; minors CANNOT bring in a signed waiver.

Families with children age 9 and under are limited to 30-minute sessions only ($6 entry fee per person for everyone in the party) and must complete a “Kitty Consent” test to make sure they understand how to respect the kitties before they can enter the lounge. There must be one adult for every child under 6 years old, and there may be no more than three total children under the age of 6 in the lounge at any time unless the party has rented the entire lounge or event room.

We hope to stay a family-friendly place. To do that, children age 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the lounge, and children under 6 must have one adult PER CHILD who is actively and directly supervising that child AT ALL TIMES. We CANNOT and DO NOT provide daycare services. The cats require enough of our attention, so PLEASE watch your kids and do not allow them to disturb our cats or our other guests.

EVERYONE—regardless of their age—will be asked to leave if they do not follow lounge rules. We are creating a relaxing, safe environment. So running, yelling, roughhousing with the cats, or otherwise disrupting the cats or other customers etc. will NOT be allowed. Any behavior that threatens the safety of our cats or other lounge patrons is subject to a zero-tolerance policy.

I fell in love with a lounge kitty—how can I adopt it?

Our shelter and rescue partners provide the adoptable kitties that live in our lounge. So just fill out the application form for the kitty you are interested in, and if approved, you can adopt your new BFF! Our lounge cats all have a $90 adoption fee and are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on FVRCP and rabies vaccines, have received flea/parasite control, microchipped, FeLV/FIV tested, and ready to go to their furever family!

To adopt a kitty from Dos Rios Resque, fill out the application HERE! Please email it to dosriosresque@gmail.com when completed.

To adopt a kitty from Bridge Home, fill out the application HERE! This application is submitted online.

To adopt a kitty from Petworks, fill out the application HERE! Please email it to meow@boopsandbeanscatcafe.com when completed.

Do you offer private parties?

Yes! We’d love to host your party. Please email us at meow@boopsandbeanscatcafe.com for more information or to book. You cannot book events online at this time.

Do you offer special events?

Yes! Follow us on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) for information about upcoming events like pop-up adoptions, cat bingo, cat yoga, Vet Talks, sensory-friendly events, game nights, trivia nights, and more.

Can I visit without going into the cat lounge?

Absolutely! Maybe you’re allergic or you’re with someone who loves cats but they aren’t necessarily for you, then we invite you to come visit our store where you can browse unique cat-themed merchandise and a variety of local art and jewelry, grab a drink or a snack, and watch the kitties through our observation windows. So, you can always feel free to stop by without booking an experience with our cats.

What kind of food do you serve?

Because of health laws, we are not a “cafe” in the traditional sense. So, the only food and drinks we serve are pre-packaged / bottled / self-serve. A drink and/or snack is included with your admission. We also allow you to bring in food and drinks from our neighbors downtown (just don’t feed human food to the kitties, no matter what they tell you, and please clean up after yourself!!).

Are you a non-profit?
No. For lots of reasons, we have chosen not to operate the cafe as a non-profit, although our shelter and rescue partners are. We are a husband and wife who own this as their small business. Our partners are not able to cover the cost of supplies or medical care for these kitties once they get to the cafe, so we use the money from our entrance fees and retail sales to pay for those things (plus the light bill, the water bill, the rent, insurance, etc.). The adoption fees go straight back to the shelter, and we do not take any part of those fees.

Can we still donate even though you’re not a non-profit?

Yes! But please know that your donation will not be tax-deductible. You can order from our AMAZON WISH LIST HERE if you’d like to support the lounge cats. We also accept donations for our shelter and rescue partners at the cafe and bring those donations to them for you.

Can I take photos?

YES! Pictures (no flash please) and videos are encouraged, and we’d love for you to tag us on social media. If you post photos or videos of the kitties, we’d love for you to include their names so they can get more exposure to potential adopters.

Why do I have to sanitize my hands before I go in the lounge?

First of all, good hygiene is really important in life in general! Second, we want our lounge to be SUPER clean and healthy. The kitties are susceptible to all sorts of things you can bring in on your hands, feet, and clothing (especially ringworm, which could cause us to have to shut down for weeks, which we definitely don’t want to do!). We can’t prevent everything, but we want to do as much as possible to try and keep our kitties healthy and happy.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations for Cat Lounge Visits must be submitted by email to meow@boopsandbeanscatcafe.com at least 24 hours in advance of your booking to be eligible for a refund. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are not eligible for a refund but may be rescheduled. Cancellations for Special Events are non-refundable because we book and hire instructors based on the number of participants. You may transfer your ticket to someone else, but please notify us by email to meow@boopsandbeanscatcafe.com. Private Events must be cancelled a minimum of 7 days before the event to be eligible for a refund.