Lola on the Road: Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center (Ann Arbor, MI)

Welcome to the sixth post in our series, "Lola on the Road". Throughout the summer I visited several cat cafes, and I've been sharing my experiences with my readers. Coffee and cats - two of my favorite things! If you missed the last installment in the series, you can read about The Cat Parlour here. And if you'd like to catch up on the entire series, you can do that here. 

My travels have taken me to cafes in Brooklyn, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Texas. I ended the summer in MI, where I not only got to visit two fabulous cafes but I also got to catch up with old friends and meet a blogging friend and another long-time Facebook friend for the first time (all of whom I met through my cats or through blogging. Cat people rule!) It was a great end to the summer. 

Today I'm happy to share a wonderful cafe that I'm sure you'll love reading about - Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center in Ann Arbor, MI. 

My "Cat Lady" group was welcomed with open arms, and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Allison Manz (Cat Cafe Manager) and Wendy Welch (Director of Marketing for Humane Society of Huron Valley) to chat about the lounge and the cats. There are lots of great things going on at Tiny Lions! Read on to find out more. 

From the outside, you may get the idea that the lounge is on the smaller side...

I wasn't able to get a photo from outside. It was a sunny day, 

and I couldn't get one without my reflection on the glass door! 

...but it's just the opposite! I was surprised at how big the space actually is. 

When you walk in, there is a large room to the left with a few tables.

 This is the first cat I saw. 

Now that's a comfortable cat!

Two people were there working on their laptops, and they were probably "telecommeowting", (more about that later) with this cutie keeping them company. (I don't know about you, but I'd probably be rubbing that belly instead of concentrating on spreadsheets.) 

Looks like someone wanted to divert their attention.  

The larger space is divided into three areas. A large area with several tables and chairs...

...a small living room type area complete with a fireplace..

This must be very cozy on a cold MI winter day. 

...and what I refer to as a "play area". 

Of course, the best part of any cat cafe is the cats. 

The maximum number of cats in the cafe at one time is 15-20. The lounge wants the environment to feel as much like a home as possible until their feline residents find their own forever homes. 

There were 13 cats in house on the day I visited (two were out for dental appointments.) With 13 cats, it was pretty impressive that the entire lounge was so clean and smelled fresh. The staff and volunteers do a wonderful job making sure the cats look great and the environment is welcoming to people. 

These cats tried their hardest to get in the bathroom any time the door opened. 

All the cats were very comfortable in their surroundings and enjoyed the company of all the two-legged visitors. 

I was glad to see such happy cats who are obviously loved and well cared for while they wait for their forever families to walk through the door. It made my day. 

Tiny Lions opened their doors in May of 2016, and to date 711 cats have been adopted. That's a successful adoption rate! The lounge is affiliated with the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV), and it was opened as a non-profit satellite of the shelter. Currently, there are three employees and 200 volunteers. HSHV was running out of room (a dilemma shelters face all too often) and they wanted a way to save animals in other areas from euthanasia.Tiny Lions and HSHV believe that animal shelters can be some of the deadliest places for cats, and they aspire to create a new reality. They do this by helping out other shelters in an effort to work together towards being a no-kill nation. (A topic near and dear to my heart.) 

HSHV is classified as a no-kill shelter as defined by Maddie's Fund (a leader in the no-kill movement)  and has the highest save rate among similar shelters in the state of Michigan. That's impressive! 

Before being transferred to the lounge, all cats are assessed by a feline behaviorist at the shelter to determine if they will be okay in the cafe setting. Some cats are ready to transfer immediately, and some are never ready. HSHV and Tiny Lions want what's best for the cats, and if the lounge isn't the best option for them they are not transferred in. 

The atmosphere is very calm and serene. Even though there were children visiting the cats, you could practically hear a pin drop. Allison and Wendy told me that one of the biggest concerns when they first opened was how to give young children exposure to animals while making the experience good for the cats as well. 

To accommodate this, Tiny Lions changed the way they handle young visitors. The visitor capacity is smaller (toddlers 3 and under are admitted in 30 minute increments only; there is a maximum of two children under 10 per adult) and visits are more structured. For example, cat body language is discussed to make it a learning experience for the children and help make it less stressful for the cats. 

Let's talk about the decor. In a nutshell, it's great! They have a fabulous wall that is catified to give the cats some vertical space and additional enrichment. (In additon to the many toys available for them to play with.) 

The wall was created by a retired employee who is now a volunteer. 

You never know where you might find a sleeping cat! 

Our presence didn't bother them at all. 

Tiny Lions has a great relationship with the community. They get the community involved in saving more animals by running the "Love Train"– a transportation system that brings animals from other shelters to Ann Arbor for adoption.


Ann Arbor is home to a lot of animal lovers who are frequently asking the lounge for more activities. Currently, the lounge sponsors many activities such as yoga with cats, yoga with toddlers and cats, family mew-vie night, coloring with cats, trivia with cats, a teen camp, and more. (The lounge can also be rented out for private events.) I think the "telecommeowting" is a fantastic idea! For $15, people 18+ can purchase an all day pass to sit and work in a calm environment surrounded by cats. With free WiFi, it's a dream for a student studying for finals or someone who works remotely. For more detailed information on their activities, visit their webpage. 

There is lots of space for visitors to sit comfortably and enjoy their time with the cats.

The fun doesn't stop there! Once your done with your "purr therapy", you can partake in some "retail therapy" with a quick stop at their store, "Paws to Shop." 

Items range from t-shirts, mugs, and books to toys and the best catnip for your kitty. (There was a very cute carrier there that I wanted, but I wasn't able to fit it in my suitcase.) You can shop for some items online here. 

Allison shared with me that it's a challenge to stay on top of things day to day, which includes making sure the cats are happy and healthy and the customers are having a good experience. But it's all worth it when she sees a bonded pair of 13-year-old cats, who were the lounge's longest residents (they were there for six months) get adopted. 

All of the cats at the lounge are ready to go to their forever homes. The adoption fee for adult cats (age 5 months to 12 years) is $90;  for senior cats (age 12+ years) it's $70, and $130 for kittens (when they have them.) The adoption fee includes their spay/neuter surgery, initial health check, up-to-date vaccinations, microchip ID, a 30-day trial of pet illness and accident insurance, a discounted vet exam at the HSHV Veterinary clinic, and access to HSHV's behavior helpline. The adoption application can be filled out here. 

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Tiny Lions Lounge & Adoption Center is located at 5245 Jackson Rd, Suite A1; Ann Arbor, MI 48103. 

Business hours are: 

Monday:         CLOSED (for cat naps)
Tuesday:       10 am - 7 pm 
Wednesday:  10 am - 7 pm 
Thursday:      10 am - 7 pm 
Friday:           10 am - 7 pm 
Saturday:       10 am - 7 pm 
Sunday:         10 am - 5 pm

The cost is $7/hr or $4/half hour, with a discount if you buy 5 hours at once (5 for $25). Groups of 5 or more are $5/hour. Babies who are not walking are free. Reservations are not required, but when the capacity limit is met visitors will be asked to return later. 

Food and beverages are not served on site, but visitors are welcome to bring in their own food. There is a Biggby's right next door where you can grab a quick cup of coffee and a snack to bring in with you. 

I'd like to say a big thank you to Allison and Wendy for taking the time to sit with me and tell me about their beautiful lounge and the wonderful things HSHV does for cats and the community, and for strengthening the human-animal bond.

I also want to thank my friends Sherri, Amber (of Fred and Nymphadora) and Sue (of The Island Cats) for joining me and making it a true cat lady day. Add good friends to cats and coffee and you have the purrfect day. 

Photo courtesy of The Island Cats. 

If you'd like to help Tiny Lions in their mission, you can: 

• Donate: You can make a one-time donation here, or you can turn that one-time donation into an automatic monthly gift. (Tax deductible, of course.)

• Purchase honor and memorial gifts:  Making a memorial or honor gift to the Humane Society of Huron Valley is an excellent way to pay tribute to the special animals, people and events in your life. The added bonus is that your gift will help make the world a brighter place for animals.

• Sponsor a cat: Give a gift to provide a safe place for our animals to call home.  Your sponsorship gift provides food, medicine and veterinary care for all animals awaiting their forever home.

• Amazon Wish List: You can purchase much needed items from their Amazon Wish List here. 

I had a wonderful time at Tiny Lions! It's such a serene setting, and the decor and color palette make it so inviting. I can tell that a lot of work goes into the upkeep of the cafe. I'm looking forward to going back to MI to visit my friend so we can make another trip to Tiny Lions. 

Photo via Tiny Lions Lounge & Adoption Center

Don't forget to follow Tiny Lions Lounge & Adoption Center on social media: 

              Twitter       |       Facebook      |      Snap Chat       |   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 Catfe Lounge in Ferndale, MI. 

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

Dawn