“When you walk into a regular cafe versus a cafe full of cats, you’re going to feel a really big difference in how you interact and engage in the space,” said Hatt. "People make friends here, it’s really fun to watch."

Hatt believes it is an ideal form of therapy to ease the kind of work-life pressures she experienced during her former life in the world of tech startups.

“It just completely calms you with a nice, fuzzy feeling,” she said.

This form of animal therapy, or purr therapy as it is known, has its roots in Japan, where the first cafes opened 20 years ago. Unlike KitTea and cat cafes in other US cities, the Japanese establishments cater primarily for people who are not allowed to keep pets in their tiny city apartments. Cat cafes, based on the Japanese model, can also be found in London, Melbourne, New York and Paris, among other cities.

After a successful crowd funding campaign, Hatt says the idea for KitTea generated more than enough interest to excite investors. It is early days for the business but the founders say it is making money. There is a waiting list to visit at peak times.