How to Start a Cat Cafe in 8 Steps

Opening a cat cafe isn't just about loving cats and coffee. You'll need dual licenses, a space designed to pass health inspections with animals onsite, and staff who can pull espresso shots and scoop litter boxes. The payoff? A business where people decompress with cats, maybe adopt their new best friend, and keep coming back for more.

This guide covers everything from health code compliance to realistic startup costs. No fluff. Just the steps to make your cat cafe actually happen.

Important: Cat cafe regulations vary significantly by city, state, and county. This guide provides general information, but you should verify specific requirements with your local health department, animal control, and business licensing office before proceeding. 

TL;DR: How to start a cat cafe

Here's how to start a cat cafe: Secure dual licensing (food service + animal facility), find a location with proper zoning, design a health code-compliant space that separates food from cats, partner with a rescue or source your own cats, hire staff trained in both service and animal care, and build community through adoption events and social media.

The 8 essential steps:

1. Create a detailed business plan with financial projections
2. Research federal, state, and local regulations for dual licensing
3. Find a location with adequate space (600-1,000 sq ft minimum for cats)
4. Design your space with physical separation between food prep and cat areas
5. Decide on your cat model (rescue partnership vs. owned cats)
6. Budget for startup costs ($80,000-$150,000 typical range)
7. Hire and train staff for food service and cat care roles
8. Market your opening to build buzz before day one

Timeline: 6-12 months from concept to opening day.

The challenge: Navigating dual health inspections and maintaining profitability with higher operating costs than traditional cafes.

The payoff: Successful cat cafes generate $300K-$500K annually with 15-25% profit margins when properly managed.

What is a cat cafe?

A cat cafe is a coffee shop where customers can hang out with cats while enjoying food and drinks. Think coffee shop meets animal shelter. You pay for your latte and often a separate fee for time with the cats.

The concept started in Taiwan in 1998 and exploded in Japan before making its way to the US. Today there are over 200 cat cafes across America, and they typically follow one of two models: partnership cafes that work with rescues to help cats find homes, or resident cat cafes where the same cats live onsite long-term.

Are cat cafes profitable? 

Yes, cat cafes can be profitable, and many do make money. The cat cafe industry is growing at 6.1% annually through 2028, proving there's real demand and profit potential when you build the right business model.

How much do cat cafes make?

The Cat Cafe in San Diego pulls in $50,000 a month. That's nearly half a million a year. Successful cat cafes generate revenue from multiple sources: admission fees for cat interaction time, food and beverage sales, adoption fees from rescue partnerships, private events like birthday parties, retail merchandise, and memberships for regulars.

Here's where cafes mess up: they give away the cat experience for free and hope lattes cover the bills. That doesn't work because your operating expenses are way higher than a traditional cafe. You've got vet bills, specialized cleaning, extra insurance, and dedicated cat care staff to pay for. Charge appropriately for the unique experience you're providing, and your customers won't blink.

Break-even timeline and what speeds it up

Most cat cafes break even within 18-24 months. The ones that hit profitability faster build community before opening through social media and partnerships with local rescues, host regular events beyond just coffee with cats (yoga with cats, trivia nights), and choose high foot traffic locations where people are already walking around looking for things to do.

Monthly operating costs to expect

Budget for $14,000 to $30,000 in monthly operating expenses. Your biggest costs: rent ($2K-$6K), payroll for 3-5 employees ($8K-$15K), food and beverage inventory ($2K-$4K), cat care including vet bills ($1K-$2K), utilities ($500-$1K), insurance ($400-$800), and marketing ($500-$1K).

Labor is your largest controllable expense. Unlike traditional cafes where you might have just baristas, you need people who can handle both customer service and animal care, or staff both roles separately. Keep your labor costs in check or watch your profits disappear.

Protect your margins early: Start tracking labor costs from day one so you know exactly what staffing decisions cost you. Most cat cafes don't fail because of cats—they fail because labor costs spiral out of control.

How to start a cat cafe in 8 steps

1. Create your cat cafe business plan

Your business plan is your roadmap for making this work. Cover market analysis (competitors, demand, what makes you different), financial projections for both cafe and cat care costs, and your unique value proposition. Don't skip this even if you're not seeking investors.

Key decisions to make:

• Franchise vs. independent: Franchises like Orlando Cat Cafe offer proven models and support for $50K-$100K upfront plus royalties. Independent gives you full control and lower costs, but you build everything yourself.
• Cat model: Rescue partnership (lower costs, adoption revenue) or owned resident cats (consistency, full control).
• Revenue focus: Cafe-heavy with cats as ambiance, or experience-focused with premium cat interaction fees.

Cat cafes are two businesses under one roof. Your plan needs to reflect dual revenue streams, higher insurance costs, and specialized staffing that regular cafes don't deal with.

2. Understand cat cafe regulations and licensing

You need dual licensing to operate legally: a food service license from your health department and an animal facility license from animal control or agriculture department. Licensing requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction. What's required in California is different from Texas or New York. Contact both your local health department and animal control before signing a lease to understand your specific requirements.

Critical compliance requirements:

• Physical separation: Most jurisdictions require floor-to-ceiling walls between food prep and cat areas, not just barriers.
• Separate HVAC systems: Ventilation for food prep can't share air with cat spaces.
• Handwashing stations: Typically required at the exit of cat areas before customers return to cafe seating.
• No cats in food prep: Ever. Health departments are strict on this.

The key to passing health inspections with cats onsite is proving complete separation between food handling and animal areas. Inspectors look for separate ventilation, dedicated handwashing stations, and protocols that prevent cross-contamination. Some states like California require separate rooms entirely. Check with both your health department and animal control before signing a lease, or you might rent a space you can't legally operate in.

Stay compliant from day one: Once you're licensed and open, you'll need to track employee certifications like food handler permits and maintain records for inspections. Homebase helps you track certifications and store documents so you're always audit-ready.

3. Find the perfect location for your cat cafe

Location makes or breaks cat cafes. You need enough square footage for both cafe operations and cat space (minimum 600-1,000 sq ft just for cats, with 100 sq ft per cat as a baseline). High foot traffic beats cheap rent every time. Look for areas near colleges, young professionals, or existing pet-friendly communities where your concept will resonate.

Location must-haves:

• Proper zoning: Commercial zoning that allows both food service AND animals (not all do).
• Space for separation: Room to build floor-to-ceiling walls between food prep and cat areas.
• Parking and accessibility: Customers need easy access, especially if they're adopting cats and need to transport carriers.
• Proximity to partners: Being near rescue organizations makes cat placement and vet visits easier.

Avoid spaces that seem perfect but can't meet health code requirements for animal facilities. That $3,000/month spot means nothing if you can't get your permits approved. Visit your local health department with the address before you sign anything.

4. Design your cat cafe space

Your space needs to work for cats, customers, and health inspectors all at once. The biggest requirement is physical separation between food prep and cat areas with floor-to-ceiling walls, not half-walls or barriers. Plan for an airlock entrance system so cats can't escape when customers come and go.

Design essentials:

• Floor plan basics: Separate food prep room, customer cafe seating, cat interaction area with controlled entry/exit.
• Cat-friendly features: Vertical climbing spaces, hiding spots for shy cats, window perches, washable surfaces.
• Health code compliance: Non-porous flooring, separate ventilation systems, handwashing stations at cat area exits.

Make it Instagram-worthy. Natural light, interesting cat furniture, and a cohesive aesthetic keep customers taking photos and coming back. Just remember function comes before style when health inspectors show up.

5. Source your cats

Partner with local rescues or own your cats outright. Rescue partnerships lower your upfront costs and let you facilitate adoptions (which brings in fees and creates feel-good marketing). Owned cats give you consistency since the same personalities are always there, but you're responsible for all vet care and long-term expenses.

Cat sourcing considerations:

• How many: Most cat cafes have 8-15 cats. Check local regulations since some cities cap the number.
• Personality mix: You need social butterflies, moderately friendly cats, and a few independent ones. All social cats = overstimulation. All shy cats = disappointed customers.
• Health and welfare: Budget for regular vet visits, quality food, enrichment toys, and quiet rest areas away from customers.

Cats need breaks from humans. Plan rotation schedules so your residents aren't working the floor all day every day. Burnout isn't just a human problem.

6. Calculate your cat cafe startup costs

Expect to invest $80,000 to $150,000 to open, depending on your location and the condition of your space. These are general estimates. Keep in mind your actual costs will vary based on your city, real estate market, and specific requirements. Use the SBA's planning tools to calculate costs specific to your situation.

Startup cost breakdown:

• Lease and renovations: $30K-$60K (deposits, cat-proofing, compliance buildout)
• Equipment and furniture: $20K-$40K (kitchen equipment, POS system, cat trees, cafe furniture)
• Licenses and insurance: $5K-$10K (permits, initial premiums)
• Initial inventory: $5K-$10K (food/beverage stock, cat supplies)
• Cats and vet setup: $3K-$8K (adoption fees, initial health checks)
• Marketing launch: $5K-$10K (website, branding, grand opening promotion)

Monthly operating costs run $14K-$30K. If your projections show you'll run out of cash before breaking even, raise more money or scale back your concept.

Control your biggest expense:Restaurant labor costs typically range from 25-35% of revenue, with the exact percentage depending on your service model. Track your labor costs in real time with Homebase so you can adjust schedules before overtime wrecks your budget. Know exactly where every dollar goes before it's too late to course-correct.

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7. Build your cat cafe team

You’ll need to hire staff who can pull espresso shots and know when a cat needs a break from customers. Most cat cafes run with 2-3 baristas and 1 cat attendant per shift, plus a manager to oversee operations. All staff need food handler permits, and everyone should have basic cat handling training even if it's not their primary role.

Staffing essentials:

• Cross-training pays off: Baristas who can monitor cat welfare and cat attendants who understand cafe flow make scheduling easier and cut labor costs.
• Certifications matter: Track food handler permits, cat handling training, and any specialty skills. Let them lapse and you're not compliant.
• Scheduling gets complex: Peak cafe hours don't always align with peak cat interaction times. You need tools that handle role-based schedules and certification tracking without drowning you in spreadsheets.

Labor costs will eat your profits if you're not careful. Homebase helps cat cafe owners manage schedules, track certifications, and monitor labor percentages in real time so you can make adjustments before overtime wrecks your budget.

8. Market your cat cafe before and after opening

Start building buzz months before you open. Introduce your cats on Instagram, partner with local rescues for pre-opening adoption events, and get local press coverage (cat cafes are newsworthy). Your grand opening should feel like an event, not just another Tuesday.

Marketing strategies that work:

• Social media is non-negotiable: Post daily cat content, behind-the-scenes setup, and customer photos. User-generated content is free advertising.
• Events drive repeat visits: Cat yoga, trivia nights, birthday parties, and adoption days give people reasons to come back beyond just coffee.
• Membership programs: Regulars who visit multiple times a month are your profit base. Offer punch cards or monthly memberships with perks.

The cat cafe down the street that closed after a year? They assumed cute cats would market themselves. They won't. You need consistent content, community partnerships, and reasons for people to choose you over the regular coffee shop that's closer to their house.

Is a cat cafe right for you?

Starting a cat cafe takes more than loving cats and coffee. You need patience for bureaucracy (dual licenses, health inspections, permits that take months), stamina for the physical work (cleaning litter boxes isn't glamorous), and enough capital to survive 18-24 months before breaking even. This isn't a side hustle. It's a full-time commitment.

You're a good fit if you:

• Have experience running a food service business or managing operations
• Can handle the emotional side of rescue partnerships (cats get adopted, new ones arrive, some have behavioral issues)
• Enjoy community building and marketing yourself constantly
• Have a financial cushion beyond your startup budget for unexpected costs

You're not a good fit if you: expect passive income, hate dealing with regulations, or think cute cats will do the marketing for you. 

But if you're ready for the challenge, the reward is real: building a business that brings joy to your community while helping cats find homes.

FAQs How to start a cat cafe

How much does it cost to start a cat cafe?

Expect to invest $80,000 to $150,000 to open a cat cafe, depending on your location and space condition. Major costs include renovations for health code compliance ($30K-$60K), equipment and furniture ($20K-$40K), licenses and insurance ($5K-$10K), and working capital for your first 6 months. Urban locations typically cost more due to higher rent and renovation expenses.

Are cat cafes profitable?

Yes, cat cafes can be profitable. Successful locations like The Cat Cafe in San Diego generate $50,000 monthly ($480K annually). Most cat cafes break even within 18-24 months. Profitability depends on diversifying revenue streams beyond coffee. Admission fees, events, merchandise, and adoption partnerships all contribute to the bottom line.

How are cat cafes legal?

Cat cafes operate legally through dual licensing: a food service license and an animal facility license. Laws vary by state and city. Some jurisdictions require special legislation before allowing cat cafes to operate. The key requirement is physical separation between food preparation and cat areas. Check FDA food safety requirements and your local health department regulations, as most require floor-to-ceiling walls, separate ventilation systems, and handwashing stations at cat area exits.

Ready to start your cat cafe?

Managing a cat cafe team isn't like managing a regular cafe. You've got baristas, cat attendants, and maybe volunteers all working different schedules. You need to track who's certified for food handling and who's trained in cat care. You're monitoring labor costs to protect your already-tight margins. And you're doing all of this while actually running the business.

• Schedule smarter: Build role-based schedules that account for both cafe service and cat care shifts. Set templates for different day parts so you're not starting from scratch every week. Your team gets instant notifications, no more "I didn't know I was working" excuses.
• Track certifications automatically: Know who's current on food handler permits and cat handling training without digging through files. Get alerts before certifications expire so you're never caught off-guard during an inspection.
• Control labor costs: Monitor your labor percentage in real time and get alerts before employees hit overtime. Remember those 15-25% profit margins? Protect them by knowing exactly what every shift costs you before you schedule it.
• Run payroll confidently: Convert timesheets to payroll with one click instead of manual calculations that invite mistakes. Handle tips, multiple pay rates, and PTO tracking without spreadsheet nightmares.

More than 100,000 small businesses use Homebase to manage their teams. Your cat cafe can too. Start your free trial (no need for a credit card).