Lola on the Road: Catsbury Park Cat Cafe and Tea House (Asbury Park, NJ)

Welcome to the first post in a new series on the blog: "Lola on the Road." Throughout the summer I’ll be visiting several cat cafes and sharing my experiences with our readers. Coffee and cats; two of my favorite things! The first in the series is the Catsbury Park Cat Cafe and Tea House in Asbury Park, NJ. 

I made a quick trip over to the Catsbury Park Cat Cafe and
Tea House while I was at the Catsbury Park Cat Convention in April. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night, anyway. 

Catsbury Park, the first cat cafe on the Jersey shore,  opened its doors for coffee and treats on September 5, 2017, with the cat lounge opening on September 9.  While you’re waiting for your reservation time, you can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or a treat while you watch the cats in a separate lounge that has glass walls ceiling to floor.  

You can also do a bit of shopping. The cafe has a lot of great merchandise for sale, with proceeds going to help run the cafe. 

When entering the cat lounge area, the first stop is a vestibule that has cute cat-themed knick-knacks. 

There is also a beautiful poem on the wall, dedicated to a cat named Brian, along with Brian's photo. (I wasn't able to get the backstory to this, but if I can, I'll update this post in the future.)

The lounge has this great mural of the Asbury Park Convention Center on the wall. 

There was plenty of catification, cat trees, and beds for the cats to enjoy. 

Catsbury Park Cat Cafe and Tea House is owned and operated by Catsbury Park Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the goal of helping as many kittens and cats find loving homes through various channels. 

They do this through working closely with several shelters in the area, such as  MCSPCA, Associated Humane Society & Jersey Animal Foundation who works with Ocean County Animal Shelter. 

The owners foster kittens in their home, while the main focus of the cafe is adult cats, who remain, residents until they find their perfect forever home. 

Catsbury Park is a place where people can learn about cats and interact with them in a unique and relaxing atmosphere. Coffee and cats. Can it get any better than that? 

Visitors can bring their beverages into the cat lounge to sip on while they visit the cats. I didn't realize visitors could do this, and unfortunately, I had already finished my coffee before I went in. This cute little table area with stools is complete with cat perches and cat hideaways. 

There is a room in the back (where visitors are not permitted) for supplies new admissions to the cafe, etc. It also serves as a quiet space for kitties who need a break when things get a little hectic. 

Cats can slip in any time through the Purrfect Portal installed in the bottom of the door. 

These two girls seem to be having a conversation about being able to fit through the door. 

Did the calico fit? You bet she did! And she received a resounding chorus of "yays" when she did. 

When I visited on April 7 of this year, 151 cats had been adopted since the café;s inception. That's a lot of cats saved from life on the streets. 

Catsbury Park Cat Cafe and Tea House hosted the Jersey Shore's inaugural cat convention, Catsbury Park Cat Convention (CPCC). Forty thousand dollars was raised at the event to help cats in need. Woo hoo! That's success. You can read my post about the convention here. 

The cats all looked well cared for, and there was plenty of water fountains and food available. 

Visitors can purchase treats to give the cats. I don't know who enjoyed treat time more, the cats or the visitors. 

This is Addison, who has been at the cafe longer than most. 

She's so sweet and friendly and deserves a forever home. 

At 2 1/2 years old she's still waiting for her forever home. 

The cafe was crowded when we arrived. Some patrons were waiting for their reservation time (like we were), and some were just hanging out with friends, cat watching and enjoying a treat (of the human kind.) 

The atmosphere in the cafe is pleasant, and the staff were very polite and helpful. They all were willing to answer questions and were very patient with everyone. 

The cafe is located at 708 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ. Business hours are: 

Mondaya;        11am - 7pm
Tuesday:         CLOSED
Wednesday:    11am - 7pm
Thursday:        11am - 7pm
Friday:             11am - 7pm
Saturday:        11am - 9pm
Sunday:          11am - 6pm 

Reservations to visit with the cats are recommended and can be made here. Prices ranged from $5 to $11 for a 30 minute visit, depending on age and day of the week. Visitors under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. You can see a full list of prices and to read the cat lounge rules on the reservation page. The cafe is also available for private events.  For directions or questions, call the cafe at 732-361-8997. 

All of the cats are available for adoption. You can read the adoption guidelines and fees here. 

This guy had an important message to share with all the patrons: 

"Attention, people! Don't go home today without adopting a cat!"

Don't forget to follow Catusbury Park Cat Café and Tea House and the cats on social media. 

Twitter       |       Facebook      |       Instagram

Stay tuned for the next installment in our Cat Café series as Lola The Rescued Cat goes on the road. The next café to be featured will be the Brooklyn Cat Café. 

Have you ever been to a cat cafe? Tell us about your experiences! What do you think of this new series? 
Dawn