Lola on the Road: Rahway Kitty Hall (Rahway, NJ)

Welcome to the third post in our series “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! If you missed the last installment in the series, you can read about Brooklyn Cat Cafe here.

Today I’m happy to share a wonderful cafe with you, Rahway Kitty Hall in Rahway, NJ. 

I took a lot of photos when I was there! My boyfriend and I spent over two hours chatting with the folks at the cafe and playing with the cats. One of the reasons it has taken me so long to put this post together is because of how many photos I had to go through to choose which ones would be included. 

When my boyfriend and I arrived, we were welcomed with open arms. (I was so excited that they were excited I was coming!) 

Rahway Kitty Hall (which opened in April 2017 and is staffed with all volunteers) is the first cat cafe in New Jersey. It is situated in a storefront, which allows for lots of exciting people and car watching. 

Rahway Kitty Hall was built on the inspiration owner Kristin Barber got from visiting other cat cafes. After seeing Meow Parlour in Manhattan, she knew this was something she wanted to do. Kristin wanted to set up an environment where visitors could see what the resident cats would be like in a living room setting, complete with a TV. Thanks to the Rahway Development Committee, who assisted Kristin with research (and who wanted the cafe in town as much as she did), her vision became a reality. 

I really loved everything about the cafe, especially the decor! The space, a former tattoo parlor, needed a total overhaul when Kristin took over. She and her mom, Carole,  did a fantastic job choosing the color scheme and decorating the space to be a cat lovers' bliss while her boyfriend built all of the ramps and the wall furniture. 

The cafe is bright and inviting, with plenty of catification for the cats to enjoy.

It's very comfortable and pleasant, which I think is a great way for the cats to become accustomed to living in a home-like environment. 

How cute are the wall decals?

There are several areas where visitors can sit comfortably and enjoy time with the cats. 

There is no shortage of toys, that's for sure. Speedie made sure he protected one of the toy boxes....

...while his brother, Rider, had fun playing with some visitors. 

The brothers are a bonded pair and need to go to their forever home together. 

There are two playpens in the cafe, complete with a litter box and a comfy space to sleep. The playpens are used to house new arrivals until they are acclimated, or for a space for resident cats to go for a time out when things get too stimulating. 

Buddy needed a little break from all of the excitement when we were there. 

When we first arrived, Chris and Carole greeted us and started telling us about the cafe. When Kristin arrived (she had been at the vet with her own pets), Buddy immediately responded to her presence. He started meowing loudly to get her attention and to let her know his time out was over and that he wanted to see her. The cats are definitely fond of her. 

Kristin told me about one cat in particular who she noticed was limping, so she brought him home with her. When she got him home he was fine so she brought him back to the cafe. Interestingly enough this kept happening - this smart cat knew where he wanted to be! 

When you enter the cafe you step into a vestibule where you can either remove your shoes or put disposable booties over them. We were greeted by this beauty, Scarlett. 

On the wall there is a collage of cats who have already found their forever home. To date, RKH has found forever homes for 33 cats. 

The maximum number of cats at one time in the cafe is ten. 

Mittens

Sierra

Gordy

Georgia - who definitely had tortitude!

Kristen, who is a full-time school teacher, and her mom have been helping cats since she was a child. 

This is Hillary, who was adopted by one of the weekly Cats and Mats participants.

 Once her new family has moved and is settled, Hillary will be going home. 

Together they built houses outside for the strays before feral cat shelters became popular. She is dedicated to the well-being of the cats and will stop in on her way to work in the morning to care for them.

All of the cats at the cafe are adoptable and come from Angel PAWS (a free roaming shelter) in Colonia, NJ. Angel Paws pulls cats from high kill shelters to help ensure more find their forever homes. Before coming to the cafe the cats go to a foster for two weeks to get them used to being around people. When one cat is adopted another takes its place to ensure there are always ten in house.  Kristin, who has four cats and a dog, told me the greatest joy the cafe brings her is seeing cats being pulled from high kill shelters and being adopted. 

All of the cats were very comfortable in their surroundings, looked very well cared for, and were happy to interact and play with the visitors. 

My boyfriend and Sierra (who just found her forever family!)

Food is not prepared in the cafe, but the volunteers will purchase soft drinks or coffee for you from a restaurant next door. 

There are snacks for the kitties, though. 

Looks like Rider is waiting for some!

On Sunday mornings the cats enjoy participating in Cats and Mats, a weekly yoga class with community members. The instructor of the class is a volunteer for Angel Paws. I've never done yoga with cats, but I can pretty much guarantee that I'd just be lying on the mat petting the cats! 

Georgia loved posing for the camera and aced the head tilt.

Franklin

There are two areas that pay homage to previous cats. Here is the first graduating class of Rahway Kitty Hall. What a cute idea! 

The second is in memory of a cat what was very special to the cafe, Dusty. 

Dusty made his journey to the Rainbow Bridge, but not before he made his pawprints on the hearts of everyone at the cafe. 

The cats are always under watchful eyes during visiting hours to ensure their safety.

And the volunteers are knowledgeable about each cat and their needs, likes and dislikes. They genuinely care about their well-being and safety. 

Scarlett found something interesting on the cat steps. 

Rahway Kitty Hall is located at 209 W. Main Street in Rahway, NJ.

Business hours are: 

Sunday:        11am – 6pm

Monday:        4pm – 8pm

Tuesday:       6pm – 9pm

Wednesday:  CLOSED

Thursday:     4pm – 8pm

Friday:          4pm – 8pm

Saturday:     1pm – 7pm

Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted.  All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  The ratio is 1 parent/guardian to 2 children.

The cost is $10 per hour and you can make reservations here. You can extend your time past the hour if you want more time with the cats, room permitting. 

I agree! 

E-gift cards are available for purchase in denominations of $10 - $50, or a customized amount. This would make a great gift for someone who likes to frequent the cafe, or for someone you know you could use a little stress relief.

I'd like to extend a big thank you to Kristin, Carole, and Chris for being so welcoming and accommodating. I appreciate the time you spent speaking with me. You help make the world a better place for cats, and you show people that a little bit of kindness can mean the world to a cat. 

If you'd like to help Rahway Kitty Hall, they can always use donations of: 

• Paper towels
• Tissues
• Toilet paper
• White kitchen garbage bags
• Laundry detergent
• Liquid hand soap
• Canned cat food: Fancy Feast or Friskies
• Lint Rollers

You can also donate to Angel PAWS here. Or you can attend a Cats with Mats (yoga and cats) class. Classes are $20 each you can get five pack for $80. 

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time at Rahway Kitty Hall and I can't wait to go back. The atmosphere is so peaceful, and it's so nice to see how the cats are treated with respect. 

When I told Kristin I wanted to purchase some shirts and a few other things for a surprise I have for my readers, she was extremely generous and gave each of us a shirt plus one for my surprise, as well as magnets and stickers. Thank you! 

Here are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure: 

Georgia is quite the poser!

Don't forget to follow Rahway Kitty Hall and the cats on social media. 

                             Facebook      |       Instagram

Stay tuned for the next installment in our Cat Cafe series as Lola The Rescued Cat goes on the road. The next cafe to be featured will be El Gato Coffee House in Houston, TX. 

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

Dawn