Purr Cat Café Receives Approval to Open in Brighton

Sip coffee and cuddle kittens at Boston's first feline-friendly café in early 2017.

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Boston will finally see its first cat café: Purr Cat Café was unanimously approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals this week to open in Brighton, Universal Hub reports. Owner Diane Kelly expects the spot to debut in early 2017.

That café will be home to around 25 adoptable cats, which guests can hang out with while sipping coffee, surfing free WiFi, and enjoying light eats. Due to health codes, the cafe won’t make any food or drink on-site, but will serve small snacks courtesy of a local restaurant partner that has not yet been named. The space is expected to seat around 40.

The café has been in the works for awhile now, as Eater Boston reported. After securing a space, Kelly sought approval from the city early this November. The storefront in question has been vacant since a fire ravaged through the block in 2012, clearing out the surrounding restaurants there, Universal Hub reports.

“We do think this is the purr-fect location for it,” Kelly’s attorney, Nicholas Zozula, told Universal Hub.

The café would be the first of its kind in Boston, joining the 100-odd others currently open nationwide. A few other feline-friendly businesses have tried to open in the past, such as Le Chat Noir, but have been unsuccessful.

“I don’t know why Boston’s so far behind in the cat-café curve,” Zozula told Universal Hub.

To book cuddle time with these kitties, patrons reserve open slots online for $15. Chances are that schedule will fill up quickly once the café starts booking, but you have a chance to reserve exclusive time with these cats now. The café is hosting an online fundraiser to benefit Boston’s Forgotten Felines, a nonprofit that works to find shelter for homeless cats. Donating to the cause can win you a private party for you, 30 friends, and 25 cats.

Purr will be open daily, with 10 percent of the profits supporting local cat shelters that partner with it.

Purr Cat Cafe, 167 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brighton, purrcatcafe.com.