Lola on the Road: El Gato Coffee House (Houston, TX)

Welcome to the fourth 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 Rahway Kitty Hall here. 

As a lover of all things related to cats I knew I would enjoy visiting all of these wonderful cafes, but I am truly amazed by my experiences. I am meeting amazing people who are dedicated to making the world a better place for cats, and I'm gaining invaluable experience from each person I speak to. The impact the cafes have on their immediate communities is remarkable, and the impact on the rescue world is admirable. 

Today I'm happy to share another amazing cafe with you, El Gato Coffee House in Houston, TX. 

When I was in Houston for the CWA conference, there was no way I could pass up the chance to visit El Gato for "Lola on the Road" after seeing photos online. CWA hosted a book signing event on Friday evening, which I wasn't able to attend. When visiting a cafe I like to be there during regular visiting hours so I can get a sense of the day to day activities, so I took a quick cab ride over on Saturday afternoon. (Or should I say "Caturday"?) 

El Gato is located in a quaint cottage in the historic Woodland Heights neighborhood. I fell in love the second I walked in! When you arrive at the cottage, you walk into the boutique (more about that later.) 

While you are checking in, you can order a drink or a treat from their food truck, which is parked right outside. 

You can see their menu here. Vegan options are offered, and I had a vegan mac and cheese Kolache, which was delicious! There is also a full array of teas and coffees.  When your order is ready staff will bring it inside to you, and you can enjoy your food while mingling with the cats. 

When entering the cat cottage, you are in a spacious, beautifully decorated room. Gorgeous! 

El Gato is owned and operated by Renee Reed, who I had the pleasure of chatting with over lunch. Renee, who is a lifelong cat lover, became aware of cat cafes when one opened in Austin. After that experience, her excitement grew and she knew this was something she wanted to do. Renee has a degree in business, along with an entrepreneurial spirit, and opening El Gato allowed her to marry two things she is passionate about. 

I know you're thinking "show me the cats already!" This handsome young man is Franky, who joined us for lunch.

 (It's perfectly acceptable for a cat to sit on the table at a cat cafe!) Cats who are wearing orange collars are described as "sweet and sassy". Franky definitely has some southern "sass" in him. I fell in love with him as he followed me around. 

Emma

Renee told me that one of the most important things in operating a cat cafe is the rescue partner and the distance they are from the cafe. In the beginning, El Gato partnered with Houston Humane, which is 45 minutes away. It was easier to have a vet that was closer when the cats needed care, so she now partners with Friends for Life, a no-kill rescue in Houston. 

Domino, relaxing with one of the Friends for Life volunteers. 

The cottage, which was built in the 1930's, was previously a yoga studio and before opening as a cafe, Renee held pop-up cat yoga classes. The more she thought about the space the more she wanted to keep the feel of an older home. She wanted it to be a place where customers would feel calm. 

The environment couldn't be more purrfect. 

The main room has lots of comfortable spots for visitors to sit and mingle with the resident cats (and of course, take selfies!) It's the ideal setting for people to get to know the cats in a stress-free setting. El Gato has many regular dedicated visitors, which really helps with socialization for the cats. 

The cafe was immaculate, and the cats all looked very well cared for. Their preferences to socialize, snooze or hide are respected, and they are well supervised during visits. 

There is a cat-sized entrance to a storage room where cats can seek some alone time. 

Let's talk catification! El Gato will make every cat owner want to go home an redecorate for their own fur babies. Renee teamed up with carpenter James Waters to create the elaborate cat bridges...

... as well as these adorable hide-a-way beds. 

The cats love hanging out on the bridges...

Little John

Little John decided to take a nap. 

...and apparently it's a great place for a cat nap. There are also cat trees and window shelves for the cats' enjoyment. 

 After you walk through the main room, you go into a small back room with tables and chairs...

...and of course a place for napping cats, or those who just want a sun puddle to take a cat bath in! 

Arthur - who is 11 yrs. old.

There is a pretty bookshelf full of cat-related books that visitors can peruse while they're sipping their "Lavender Meowjito" or "Coconut Meowchata". Or maybe they even read to the cats!  

I left a couple of our books for their collection. 

I hope this kitty decides to share! 

Renee came up with the cutest fundraising idea called Paw Stars. 

For $100 you can get your name (and your cat's name, too!) on their "Wall of Gratitude". The artwork on the wall is gorgeous. 

Hmmm.... I forsee Lola and Lexy's name up there someday soon. 

Please pin us!

Okay, more kitties! 

Zeus - look at that face!  

Addison

Franky - following me around. 

El Gato Coffee House, the first cat cafe in Houston, opened in April 2017 and when I visited on June 9, 2018, they had 138 adoptions! That makes my heart sing! There are usually 16 - 17 cats in house (there were 16 on the day I visited), with the maximum being 20 (allowed by the landlord.) 

Renee currently has seven paid staff broken up into three different teams; cat specific, cafe/food truck, and boutique. Volunteers come in on busy days to lend a hand. 

Entrance to the kitty powder room. 

Renee, who shares her home with four cats and a dog, told me the greatest joy the cafe brings to her is seeing cats going to their forever homes. She also loves putting a smile on people's faces. 

I think this is Grace. Notice how the shelves have holes so the cats can easily climb up.

One of her biggest challenges happened when Hurricane Harvey hit and one-third of the city was impacted. The cafe had to close for eight days, and afterward business was down. 

A  concern that was in the back of Renee's mind since the cafe opened was robbery. Unfortunately, this past February the cafe had a break-in, which resulted in six cats being let out. Volunteers from Friends for Life set up traps to find the cats. 

Pictures of the resident "gatos" so visitors know their names. I wish I got a better photo.

Five were trapped by the next day, but Wink, a 9-year-old Ragdoll, wasn't found for ten days. Luckily, there have been no problems since. 

Let's talk about events because El Gato has a lot of them! Visitors can participate in Crochet with Cats, Cats on Mats, Paint with Cats, Caturday Morning Cartoons, Meowvie Night,and Cat Lover'sBook Club. There was also a makeup class where you could learn how to do a perfect cat eye look. (Visit their website or click on the links for pricing and age restrictions.) 

I think this is Walter.

All of the cats at the cafe are ready to go to their forever homes and are adoptable through Friends For Life. El Gato process adoption applications on behalf of FFL right in the cat cottage! The adoption fee is $95. If you're interested in adopting, you will complete an FFL application and an interview will be scheduled with an FFL adoption counselor. 

Renee was generous and did not charge me admission. I wanted to pay it forward, so can you guess what I did? To quote Lola, "never mind, let me just tell you." I went shopping! 

The boutique is lovely, with all types of merchandise ranging from jewelry, clothing, bags, mugs, artwork, magnets, etc. I bought a few t-shirts (including one for my boyfriend and one for a special surprise for our readers), a scarf and a bracelet for my friend who owns the cat sitting business I use, and a few other odds and ends to keep on hand for gifts. 

El Gato Coffee House is located at 508 Pecore Street, Suite A, Houston, TX, 77009. 

Business hours are: 

Monday:         CLOSED
Tuesday:       12 pm - 6 pm 
Wednesday:  12 pm - 6 pm 
Thursday:      12 pm - 6 pm 
Friday:           12 pm - 6 pm 
Saturday:       10 am - 6 pm 
Sunday:         12 pm - 5 pm

The cost is  $10 for adults, $9 for students and $7 for children between the ages of 5 and 17. Children under 5 years old are not permitted in the cat cottage for the safety of the cats and the children. Students must show a valid school ID. On weekdays a limited cover of 15 minutes ($3) or 30 minutes ($5) is offered.  In order to create a stress-free environment for the cats, the cat cottage can only fit a limited amount of humans at one time. Therefore, booking online is strongly recommended to guarantee your spot at your desired time and to avoid a wait (particularly during their peak time on weekends between 2 pm - 4 pm.) Walk-ins may experience a short wait time. 

Guests can also visit just for food and beverages ordered from the food truck, which can be enjoyed on the patio. 

You can also purchase shirts, jewelry, cat collars, and more here. 

I'd like to say a big "Thank You!" to Renee for accommodating me and taking the time to speak with me during busy hours. The staff and volunteers were all so friendly and helpful, and very patient when I asked questions. Thank you all for making El Gato a haven for cats as they wait for their forever families. 

If you'd like to help El Gato in their mission you can: 

• Sponsor a cat: You can sponsor a cat for $75. This includes a shout out from the cat on the "Meet the Kitty" introduction posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You will also receive a promo code for two hours in the Cat Cottage to visit with your sponsored kitty and the other resident gatos. 
• Your name on the Paw Stars Wall of Gratitude: For $100 you can have your (and your cat's!) name on their Paw Stars Wall of Gratitude. (See photo above.) 
• Donate to Friends for Life: You can help the rescue with their costs (including vet care) by making a donation here. 
• Volunteering: You can sign up to volunteer for Friends for Life here. Once you're signed up you can opt to volunteer at El Gato! 

All contributions go towards the care for the resident adoptable cats. Proceeds go towards rent, a caring staff, utilities and other expenses that make the cat cottage a comfortable home for the resident "gatos". Please note the cafe is a not a non-profit.

I had a wonderful time at El Gato Coffee House, and I was impressed with everything. The decor and the layout give the cat cottage its own unique character, with an overall calm and inviting tone. As soon as I walked in I sensed a shift in my energy and I really didn't want to leave. If you're in the Houston area, this is a place you must visit.

Don't forget to follow El Gato Coffee House on social media: 

              Twitter       |       Facebook      |      Snap Chat       |   Instagram     

Here are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure:

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 The Cat Parlour in Pawtucket, RI. 

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

Dawn

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