The Chatty Cat Cafe offers coffee and claw-some company
Quiet mornings begin with the soft rustle of paws making biscuits and whiskers twitching to the scent of espresso. The gentle swirl of steam rises from fresh lattes.
Around the room, cats stretch lazily on plush pillows. Their soft purrs blend with the quiet hum of conversations. Each cat lounging on the windowsill has its own story, from rescue to recovery to finding its forever home.
Half-cat rescue, half-café, The Chatty Cat Cafe of Zanesville offers a mix of cozy treats and compassionate care. Guests can stop in for coffee or pastries, which are available for pick up, walk-in or delivery while watching the cats through a large viewing window.
Cafe Inspiration
Those looking for more can schedule a 15-minute or 30-minute session in the cat lounge to spend time with adoptable residents. The café also hosts special events and offers opportunities for visitors to support their rescue mission through volunteering and donations.
The Chatty Cat Cafe’s mission is to “…chang[e] lives, one heart, one paw, one forever home at a time,” according to their Facebook profile. The café has over 8,500 Facebook followers who track daily updates on cat placements, events, and limited-time menu options.
Founder Erica Roberts opened The Chatty Cat Café in 2019. She states on her website that it has always been her dream to work with animals.
The “Tail” of Best Friends
What started for Carmie Shook as helping a friend turned into a new lifestyle.
“I have known Erica for probably about 10 to 15 years, but I first heard about it [her business] on Facebook,” Shook says. “I started coming a year and a half ago, and I just didn’t stop.”
Shook’s day-to-day responsibilities now include working with volunteers, vets and even baristas.
“I help clean litter boxes, feed, give water, provide medicine and watch for the general well-being of all cats,” Shook says. “I also transport cats to and from the vet to the café.”
Shook also helps socialize the cats. She spends time with them, making sure the cats feel “nothing but love for the rest of their life.”
Shortly after coming to the café in 2024, Shook adopted her first rescue.
“I started coming probably in May, and then I became a volunteer here around June, and then by September, I adopted a cat [named Cheddar],” Shook says. “That cat brought me so much happiness in my life, and he was my soul cat.”
Shook then adopted Smokey, a gray cat, at just five weeks old. The pair will be getting two more siblings joining their family in September of 2025: an orange cat and a tabby cat named Honey and Pumpkin respectively.
“Life has been great since bringing my cats home,” Shook says.
Adoption Process
The cats at The Chatty Cat Café are up to date on their vaccines, spayed, neutered and dewormed, which makes sure the cats are cared for and streamlines the adoption process. Once interested adoptees have cleared their background check, vet and other necessary information, they are free to take their new furry friend home.
According to the café, over 350 cats have been successfully adopted so far.
“It’s usually within 24 to 48 hours and it’s super easy; they just set up a time and you come in here and get your baby,” Shook says.
As the day winds down, a few cats stretch lazily, their paws kneading on blankets where customers once sat sipping lattes. Behind the counter, Shook picks up cat toys and pauses to give a small calico kitten a scratch under its chin. Its purr rumbles softly, a small sound that carries through the quiet space.
“If you’re looking for a cat, come here because they are socialized and they are some of the sweetest cats you will ever meet,” Shook says. “The vibe here is just so relaxing and it’s just so good.”
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