Every cat lounging in this café is available for adoption. Your afternoon coffee break could end with a new family member riding home in a carrier.
The kitties come from a local shelter, and money from cat room visits goes toward their care. Meanwhile, the café side runs a build-your-own ramen bar, which feels like a delightfully random bonus.
Cats and noodles under one roof? I’m listening.
I like how the whole setup blends a lazy afternoon with a real second chance. You can sip tea, flip through a cat-themed book, then spend time with a rescue who might be waiting for someone exactly like you.
This cheerful little spot sits in South Jersey, and it proves New Jersey has a seriously soft heart. So who’s ready to meet a few whiskered future roommates?
A Cat Café On The White Horse Pike Worth Pulling Over For
Calico Cat Café sits right on the White Horse Pike in Oaklyn, a small South Jersey borough with a big soft spot for felines. From the outside, it’s a cheerful storefront with painted window art that hints at what’s waiting inside.
Inside, the business splits neatly into two worlds. One side is a relaxed café, while the other is a dedicated room where rescue cats lounge, nap and play.
That setup is the whole charm. You can grab a drink, settle at a table and watch the cats through a window before your visit even begins.
Oaklyn sits close to Cherry Hill, so the café is an easy hop for plenty of New Jersey families. It’s the kind of outing that feels low-key, wholesome and a little bit magical at the same time.
The concept also comes with purpose baked right in. Every cat in the room is looking for a home, and the café exists to help make those matches happen.
So yes, you’re coming for coffee and cuddles. You might also leave thinking about a cat bed for the living room.
Every Purring Resident Is Hoping For A Ride Home
Here’s the part that tugs at your heart. Every single cat in the cat room is available for adoption, from playful youngsters to calm older companions.
The cats come from Homeward Bound Adoption Center in Blackwood, a shelter in Camden County. Calico Cat Café gives them a comfortable place to socialize while meeting potential families.
That arrangement benefits everyone involved. The cats get daily attention and enrichment, and you get to see their real personalities outside a shelter setting.
Some cats here have needed a little extra understanding. One resident named Sable, a seven-year-old with cerebral palsy, became known for wobbling sweetly between naps in a beanbag chair.
Stories like that make the place feel special. Cats who might get overlooked elsewhere can shine when someone finally spends quality time with them.
Cats here can find homes fairly quickly, so the lineup may change between visits. That’s honestly the best kind of turnover a café could ask for.
Not ready to adopt? No problem at all.
Proceeds from cat room visits go toward the care of the cats, so your time still helps.
The Cat Room Has A Few Simple Rules, And They Make Sense
Shoes come off or shoe covers go on before you enter the cat room. It’s a small step, and it helps keep the space clean for its furry residents.
Only a limited number of people can be with the cats at one time. That keeps the room calm and gives everyone a fair chance at some lap time.
Gentleness matters here more than anything. These are rescue cats, and many prefer a soft hand and a patient approach before warming up.
Staff and volunteers often stay in the room to help guests. They can share cat names, ages and personality quirks, which makes the introductions feel personal.
Don’t be surprised if a few cats are snoozing when you arrive. Cats will be cats, and sleepy ones may wake up for play once they get used to you.
The room itself is built for feline comfort. There are cat-friendly furniture pieces, plenty of toys and big windows with a sill for lounging and people-watching.
A little patience goes a long way in this space. Let the cats choose you, and the visit tends to feel even sweeter.
Add Treats To Your Booking And Become Instantly Popular
Want to be the most popular person in the room? Add treats to your reservation, and the cats may come running.
Treats are offered as an add-on when you book your visit. The cats tend to crowd around for a lick from the spoon, which is about as adorable as it sounds.
It’s a smart move for shy cats too. A tasty snack can help a cautious kitty feel brave enough to come closer and say hello.
Calico Cat Café also offers bundles that pair cat room time with treats and ramen. Those packages make planning simple when you want the full experience in one go.
Of course, treats are not the only attraction. The room is stocked with toys, so wand teasers and playtime can win over a curious cat just as well.
Kids especially love this part of the visit. Watching a cat gently take a treat can turn a regular afternoon into a favorite family memory.
Just follow staff guidance on how to offer them. Happy, healthy cats are the goal, and the crew clearly keeps their wellbeing front and center.
Nobody Expected A Ramen Bar Here, And That’s The Fun
Cats and ramen might sound like an odd pairing. At Calico Cat Café, it somehow works beautifully.
The café runs a ramen bar stocked with a wide variety of instant noodle options. You pick your noodles, then customize them with an assortment of toppings and seasonings.
It’s not premade restaurant ramen, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The fun comes from building your own bowl exactly the way you like it.
A steaming bowl feels especially good during a chilly New Jersey winter. It also makes a handy snack before or after your cat room session.
The ramen bar is known for being affordable and generous. That makes it a nice option for families trying to keep an outing budget-friendly.
Even better, you don’t need a cat room reservation to enjoy it. You can stop in, grab a bowl and watch the cats playing through the window.
Honestly, slurping noodles while kittens tumble on the other side of the glass is a pretty great lunch break. Few café menus can top that view.
Coffee, Tea And A Cat Cake Pop That Steals The Show
Coffee here is a self-serve affair. A hot coffee dispenser lets you fill your cup and get right back to cat watching.
Don’t expect a barista steaming milk behind an espresso machine. The setup is simple, but the coffee beans are good, so your cup still delivers.
Tea drinkers have choices too. The selection includes boxes from familiar brands like Celestial Seasonings and Twinings.
Craving something sweeter and more playful? The café also offers boba and dirty soda with add-ins and toppings.
Then there’s the cat cake pop, which may be the cutest snack in South Jersey. It’s a tiny treat that fits the theme perfectly and pairs nicely with a warm drink.
The menu is intentionally small, and that’s fine. Calico Cat Café keeps the focus on the cats, while the drinks keep you cozy along the way.
Grab something warm, find a comfy seat and settle in. With a purring rescue in view, even plain coffee somehow tastes a little better.
Murals And Local Art Cover Nearly Every Surface
Look up, look around, then look up again. The art at Calico Cat Café stretches across the walls and even onto the ceiling.
Cat-themed artwork fills the space with color and personality. Murals add playful charm, including a cute one featuring the word kitty.
Much of the art comes from local creators. That gives the café a hometown feel that fits right into the Oaklyn community.
The creativity continues in unexpected places too. Even the bathroom gets in on the fun, with a papier-mache cat and fish hanging overhead.
Window art on the storefront sets the tone before you open the door. It’s a friendly signal that this place doesn’t take itself too seriously.
All that color makes waiting for your session feel less like waiting. You can wander the room and spot new details in every corner.
The art also makes a great backdrop for photos. Between murals and whiskers, your camera roll may fill up faster than expected.
It’s a reminder that small businesses often shine through personality. This one has plenty to spare.
Bookworms And Board Gamers Get Their Own Cozy Corner
Scrabble, Bananagrams and Twister all live in the café’s cozy corner. So does a small library packed with cat-themed books.
Here’s a fun twist. The library is set up so you can actually borrow books, which feels wonderfully old-school.
Board games make the café side a great hangout between sessions. Friends can compete over word tiles while the cats nap nearby.
The chairs are comfy, and the wifi is fast. That combo makes Calico Cat Café a surprisingly handy spot for studying or getting some work done.
Laid-back music plays in the background. The overall vibe stays relaxed, so it’s easy to linger longer than planned.
Picture a study session with cat breaks built in. A chapter here, a peek through the window there, and suddenly homework feels less painful.
Not every visit needs to be a big event. Sometimes a quiet table, a warm drink and a good book are exactly enough.
And if a cat spots you through the glass mid-page? Consider it a gentle reminder to book your next session.
Kids, Birthdays And Family Days Fit Right In
Got a kid who talks about cats nonstop? Calico Cat Café might become their favorite place in New Jersey.
The space feels calming for children and adults alike. Kids can meet friendly rescues, then relax with snacks, games and books on the café side.
A half-hour session can be a great fit for younger visitors. It gives them plenty of time for cuddles without testing anyone’s attention span.
Staff walk guests through how to interact with the cats. That guidance helps kids learn kindness and patience in a fun, hands-on way.
Here’s a bonus for party planners. The café can be rented out for birthday parties, which sounds like a dream for little cat lovers.
Families also appreciate how clean the space stays. Shoe covers and a tidy cat room help everyone feel comfortable.
It’s a wholesome outing with a lesson tucked inside. Children see firsthand that rescue animals deserve love and second chances.
Who knows? A simple Saturday visit could spark a lifelong love of animals, or even a family adoption down the road.
Book Ahead, Show Up Hungry For Noodles And Plan Your Route
Calico Cat Café is located at 918 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, NJ 08107. It sits right next to a Wawa, which might be the most New Jersey landmark imaginable.
The café is open every day from 9 AM to 9 PM. Those long hours make weekday evenings and weekend mornings equally easy options.
Reservations are the smart play. Since only a limited number of guests can be in the cat room at once, booking ahead on the café’s website helps secure your spot.
Sessions come in half-hour and one-hour options. Packages can also bundle in treats and the ramen bar for a fuller visit.
Costs can add up for bigger groups or longer sessions. Check current pricing before you go, especially if you’re planning for a whole family.
No reservation? You can still enjoy the café side and watch the cats through the window.
Oaklyn also has an art studio, a theater and an ice cream spot nearby. That makes it easy to stretch your cat café stop into a full South Jersey day trip.
Come For The Cuddles, Leave With A Softer Heart
A purring cat on your lap has a funny way of slowing time down. At Calico Cat Café, that feeling comes with a bonus of real purpose.
The 4.8-star rating on Google speaks to how much this little spot means to its community. It’s the kind of place people return to again and again, often with friends in tow.
The staff and owners clearly care about both guests and cats. That warmth shows up in the clean space, thoughtful rules and attentive help in the cat room.
Sure, the menu is simple. Nobody comes here for fancy espresso drinks, and that’s perfectly okay.
What you get instead is quieter and more meaningful. Rescue cats get attention, comfort and a real shot at a forever home.
I believe that’s exactly the kind of outing New Jersey families can feel proud of. It’s sweet, local and rooted in second chances.
So book a session, build a bowl of ramen and let a cat pick you. Just maybe measure your living room for a cat tree before you go.
