Coffee, Cookies and Cats at the Purrfect Cup Cat Café

Need a breather from your busy schedule? Take some time to unwind at Saskatoon’s first cat café.

On 142 2nd Ave S, just near Midtown Mall, is a cozy cat café that houses dozens of adoptable cats from the Battleford Humane Society. This is the perfect spot to take some time out of a busy day to unwind, grab a hot drink and cuddle with a furry friend.

The Purrfect Cup Cat Café opened earlier this year in May after two years of planning, renovations, and strict COVID-19 health regulations which kept the café doors shut.

The café is run in partnership with fellow locally owned Saskatoon businesses Nutana Bakery and McQuarries on Broadway Ave, and Griffin Takeaway on Ave N. The Purrfect Cup is open every day of the week from 11 am to 8 pm. 

When you open the door of The Purrfect Cup, you’re greeted by a warm aroma of coffee and the friendly staff behind a counter displaying local baked goods. Through a second door to the cat lounge there are comfortable sofas for one, a couple tables for small groups, and a lovely handful of cats running at your feet. Before entering into the cat lounge, you will be required to sign a waiver – don’t worry, it’s not because the cats will seriously harm you. The waiver simply serves as an insurance requirement for the café.

The welcoming, healing atmosphere and friendly staff make the café an ideal spot to read a book, catch up on a podcast while enjoying a hot beverage or a baked treat, whilst being surrounded by cats. There is no time limit for your stay, so you can sit down and relax for as long as you need. 

Cat cafés have become popular throughout Canada following studies that show spending time with animals reduces stress levels. Aside from that wonderful news, here are some other reasons to visit The Purrfect Cup.

1) An Opportunity To Socialize

Within a busy day full of lectures, work and studying, it can be hard to find time to socialize with friends and other people. Cat cafés are a great place to socialize with the staff and other cat-loving customers that you can laugh and bond with. You can also visit with a small group of friends to unwind and catch up with each other over coffee.

2) Some therapeutic effects

Animals are perfect companions to humans. In a survey conducted by Tracking Happiness, people who have pets reported feeling 12% happier than those without pets. Meanwhile a 2015 study conducted at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute showed that physical touch, which includes petting and stroking animals, is proven to raise the levels of the hormone oxytocin in people; this in turn lowers the stress hormone levels of cortisol, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure which induces a feeling of calmness.

In short, a quick trip to a cat café can instantly improve your mood by simply watching the cats walking around and exploring, petting them or watching them sleep peacefully.

3) Supporting Local Businesses and Non-profit Organizations

The Purrfect Cup Cat Café relies heavily on local businesses and animal shelters in and around Saskatoon. A visit to the café and spreading word about its existence either through social media or word of mouth, helps keep the café, as well as the partnered local businesses, running. It also can help the dozens of adoptable cats who populate the café get one step closer to finding their forever homes.

The Purrfect Cup Cat Café regularly posts on their Instagram page and shares photos of their adorable feline friends. Next time you have some free time in your busy schedule and need to let loose or de-stress, consider going to the cat café to hang out with your future favourite cat.