Our Mission

Our mission at The Cat Lady Café is to provide a relaxing environment where guests can enjoy a cup of coffee and spend an hour with adoptable cats.  All cats are available for adoption from the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.  Click here to learn more about the adoption process.  All of our resident cats spend their day socializing with our guests, which offers exercise and enrichment.  This also allows their personalities to shine, so we can be sure to match them with the purr-fect adoptive home. 

My Story

In 2017, I traveled to London to visit a friend who was staying there for the summer.  She discovered a cat café and just knew that I would love to visit.  She was correct—I was in love with the concept and decided then and there that I would bring one to South Bend!  I have volunteered with the Humane Society of St. Joseph County for 15 years and served on the Board of Directors since 2009, so animal welfare and cat rescue are definitely “my thing.” I’ve spent my career working for nonprofits doing events and fundraising but have always had an interest in being my own boss.  

Like any dream, it takes time and effort, money, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to bring something to fruition.  In the fall of 2020, I enrolled in the SPARK Business Accelerator, as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at Saint Mary’s College.  This is where I learned how to put my dream into a solid plan and was connected with mentors in the finance, small business development and marketing profession.  Entrepreneurship is not for the faint at heart and I’m forever grateful to my SPARK sisters for being some of my biggest cheerleaders!

Thank you for visiting the cats, enjoying a yummy drink and for many of you, adopting one of the cats and welcoming them into your family.  We love having them here but love it even more when they get to have a home of their own.