The Cat's Whiskers
BEST FOR
Ages 10+
ENTRY
from £8
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A rescue cat café in York where you pay by the hour to sit and let the cats come to you, but under-10s aren't allowed in.
This one's for the grown-ups and older kids only. Anyone under 10 isn't allowed in the café at all, so it's not a stop for a day out with younger children, more something to do with a teenager who's mad about cats or an adult visit while someone else has the little ones.
You book an hour at a time, £8 a head, and that fee goes towards looking after the cats rather than buying you a coffee, though drinks and cakes from a local bakery are there if you want them. The cats are all rescues, from a trust near York and another in Lancaster, and they've got a private room to retreat to if they've had enough of visitors. You don't bring your own toys or food, and you don't pick the cats up. It's their home, not a petting zoo, and the rules make that clear.
An hour is the session length and it feels about right: long enough to actually get a cat to settle near you, short enough that nobody outstays their welcome. The building is Grade II listed and old York shows in the layout, the only toilet is up 27 steps with no lift, and the ground floor is the accessible bit if that matters to you. There's also no vehicle access right outside between 10.30am and 5pm unless you've got a Blue Badge, so factor in the walk from a car park.
It's shut on Tuesdays, and Sundays finish earlier at 4.45pm. Walk-ins happen on quieter days but booking ahead is the safer bet if you've got your heart set on a particular slot.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 10 and up, or adults visiting on their own
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended. Walk-ins accepted on quieter days
- Parking
- Pay and display car parks nearby
- Food
- Drinks and cakes made locally by White Cherry Bakery
- Wheelchairs
- Ground floor fully accessible. Upper floors via stairs only
- Getting there by bus or train
- Train station 15 minutes walk away
- Under-10s aren't admitted, so this isn't one for younger siblings to tag along to.
- The only toilet is up 27 steps with no lift.
- No vehicle access outside the café 10.30am to 5pm unless you hold a Blue Badge.
- Closed all day Tuesday, and Sundays close earlier at 4.45pm.
Plan your visit
Is this suitable for young children?
No, under-10s aren't allowed in the café at all. It's really an adult and older-kid visit.
How much does it cost?
£8 per person for an hour. That goes towards the cats' care and there's no obligation to buy food or drink on top.
Do we need to book?
Booking ahead is recommended, though walk-ins get in on quieter days.
How long do we get with the cats?
Sessions run for one hour.
Is there food and drink available?
Drinks and cakes from a local bakery are on offer, but you're not obliged to buy anything.
Can we bring our own cat, food or toys?
To all three. The cats are chosen to live together and the café already has toys they're used to; outside food can make cats ill.
Is the café accessible for wheelchairs or buggies?
The ground floor is fully accessible, but the only toilet is up 27 steps in a Grade II listed building with no lift.
What about parking?
There's pay and display parking nearby, and Blue Badge holders can park right outside. Otherwise there's no vehicle access outside the café between 10.30am and 5pm.
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