Since opening its doors in 2017, Mac Tabby cat cafes in North Carolina have successfully matched hundreds of cats with loving homes, while also bringing joy to many visitors.

In recent years, cat cafes have gained considerable popularity across the United States, as reported by Yelp, transforming into a mainstream phenomenon. Originating in Taiwan and Japan during the 1990s and early 2000s, these cafes now play a significant role in local communities by sheltering stray cats and facilitating adoptions for customers. These cafes, which offer coffee, snacks, and sometimes alcoholic drinks, serve as a relaxing retreat for both humans and felines, according to owners and regular customers speaking to YSL News.

“If anyone is searching for me when I’m not home, they just have to come here,” said Jet Taylor, a 67-year-old regular at the Mac Tabby in Concord, North Carolina. He is particularly fond of gray tabbies and black cats and visits the cafe nearly every day to enjoy reading his aviation and motorcycle magazines while snuggling with the cats.

“My visitors enter the cat room one way and exit it feeling calm and content,” shared Cindy Skop, the founder of Kitty Cat Lounge in Lakeland, Florida, which opened in 2023 and collaborates with Saving Paws Rescue of Florida.

So far, 2024 has seen the highest increase in cat cafe listings on Yelp compared to any previous year, with significant growth observed in North Carolina, Florida, and Hawaii following the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘A Touch of Magic’

The Mac Tabby chain encompasses three locations: Charlotte, Concord, and Salisbury. At each cafe, you can find around 15 cats from the rescue organization Princeton’s Meow. Over the past eight years, nearly 1,900 cats have found homes through patrons, as reported by Lori Konawalik, the owner and “chief cat wrangler.”

“When we first opened, people were unfamiliar with the concept and needed a lot of explanation,” Konawalik, 45, explained. “Now, most visitors come in already aware of what to expect.”

Beyond their charming atmosphere, cat cafes provide a better quality of life for the cats, as noted by Deanna Roach, who has adopted two cats from Mac Tabby in Charlotte.

“Cats that find their way to Mac Tabby have essentially hit the kitty lottery,” Roach remarked.

In Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is situated, local shelters have been overwhelmed for the past two years, leading to increased euthanasia rates per animal control reports.

Polk County, home to the Kitty Cat Lounge, has seen the highest cat euthanasia rates among Florida counties in recent years, according to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. YSL News has obtained data showing that over 3,500 cats were euthanized in 2024 alone.

Many cat cafes require reservations to maintain a comfortable atmosphere in the cat room, typically separate from the cafe area. On her first visit to Mac Tabby, Roach reserved three half-hour slots in the cat area because she anticipated needing more time. Eventually, she and her husband adopted two female tabbies, Dori and Miki.

“Dori was an outdoor cat for a long time, and she needed to learn to trust me,” Roach, 58, recalled. “Miki was the complete opposite, practically begging for affection!”

Post-pandemic, more Americans are owning pets, which has contributed to the rising demand for cat cafes, said Tara Lewis, a trend expert at Yelp. Since 2019, searches for “adopt a cat” on Yelp have surged nearly 500%, Lewis noted.

“These cafes are the ideal venue for cat enthusiasts to interact with adorable adoptable felines before making the decision to take one home,” Lewis added, having recently enjoyed a visit to Meó Maison, a Parisian-style cafe that opened in Washington, D.C., in 2023.

Roach observed that cat cafes are increasingly appealing to college students and renters, who often face restrictions in pet ownership. Skop noted that many young individuals from nearby universities come to unwind after a tough day, and Konawalik mentioned that out-of-towners frequently seek out cat cafes as well.

“Being in a room filled with at least 12 attention-seeking cats can instantly transport you back to childhood, it’s truly magical,” Roach described warmly.

How Popular Are Cat Cafes?

When Mac Tabby launched its first location in 2017, it was only the second cat cafe in North Carolina, according to Konawalik.

“Now, there’s nearly a cat cafe in every city,” she notes.

Analysis from Yelp shows that online searches for “cat cafes near me” skyrocketed by 78,700% from February 2020 to February 2024. During that period, the number of cat cafes across the nation surged from around 75 to over 200, based on a review of business profiles on the Yelp platform.

“It’s hard to go anywhere in Florida without coming across a cat cafe; they’re popping up everywhere,” Skop commented, 56.

‘She’s Saving People Too’

At Mac Tabby in Concord, Taylor has carved out his own cozy corner, where one afternoon he enjoyed a sugar-free vanilla latte while tackling his 2024 tax returns. He often glances at the cafe entrance, and when there aren’t many visitors, he sets his work aside to join the cats in their room.

“Some cats love playing with little spring toys or feather wands, while others simply want to curl up in your lap and nap, and honestly, I find that just as rewarding,” Taylor explained.

Though Taylor hasn’t adopted a cat from Mac Tabby, the presence of the cats has positively impacted his mental well-being since flooding damaged his and his wife’s home and his health declined.

“I’d bet that if you monitored my heart rate, it would drop when I’m petting a cat,” he said.

Settled comfortably in his spot, Taylor watches as visitors arrive stressed from daily life, yet leave feeling more relaxed.

“Walking into the cafe, you can leave all your worries at the door,” Taylor said. “I once told Lori that alongside rescuing cats, she’s also helping to rescue people.”