El Gato is a quaint little café in the downtown area (508 Pecore St Suite A, to be exact). It didn’t seem like much when I first walked in, but after the woman at the desk gave me the rundown, I stepped through a door and into a virtual Narnia – a kitty wonderland. The room was calm, and Christmas music played softly in the background. Along the wall was a cushioned bench, and on that bench, the main attraction: 12 cats, sleeping peacefully. As I approached the cats, I was reminded that any who had orange collars did not show the warning signs, such as flat ears or a swishing tail, that indicated that they might bite or hiss. When I interacted with the cats, though, none of them were aggressive at all. They all slept and purred as I scratched their heads. A cat named Squirt even sat on my lap while I petted him. None of them were interested in playing in the hour that I was there, but cat toys were littered around the room.

Editor-in-Chief Connie Deng accompanied Holden to the Cat Cafe. She were each inspired by the visit to paint a cat universe.

Along the walls of the room were shelves, upon one of which a cat was sleeping. Suspended in the air was a wooden bridge that the cats could walk across. A bookcase against a side wall had circles cut into its shelves for the cats to climb through. Even the potted plants had platforms for the cats to climb across. Everything in the room had been made specifically for this kitty heaven. The cat was littered with cat motifs; the pillows had cats on them, and the employee in the room was wearing a cat-ear headband, a “nama-stay at home with my cat” t-shirt and leggings with cats faces on them.

My only concern about El Gato was that its location was not ideal, especially since Apple Maps directed me on a route that did not exist. Another condition, while not inconvenient, is important to consider when planning a trip to the café, is that the owners of El Gato recommend scheduling an appointment to ensure a spot with the cats. Otherwise, this was a magical trip, and I would definitely consider going to one of their Sunday events, like Crocheting with Cats or Yoga with Cats. At seven dollars for an hour, this expedition was 100% worth the price.

I rate El Gato a nine out of ten stars.