Delaney Bair, Special to The Denisonian
When I came to Denison University, I certainly did not expect to be so close to a facility that keeps a whole room full of cats.
Whiskers Catnip Cottage is a local non-profit cat cafe in Granville, Ohio that allows people to spend time with cats eligible for adoption. As a person who grew up fostering sick and orphaned kittens and who currently has six cats back home, Whiskers Catnip Cottage seemed like the “purr-fect” place for me to explore.
After having spent time at the cottage, I suggest you check out this place because, despite its limited food options, it has an overall reasonable price, a peaceful environment, cats with friendly temperaments and high quality cat care.
This cat lounge was established by Whiskers Animal Rescue and opened in February of 2025. The cottage is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Online reservations for a standard 55 minute snuggle time are encouraged.
Whiskers Catnip Cottage is a quaint little facility. Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a pleasant volunteer worker. Behind the cute little gift shop is a snack area. After your snuggle appointment is confirmed, the worker will go over instructions and expectations for the lounge, which you can see through the clear door.
The cat area itself encompasses three colorful rooms with hardwood floors and no connecting doors. Each room has an intricately designed rug, decorative wall art, lots of cat toys, wall obstacles and blankets for you and the cats to enjoy.
The cats, typically ranging from zero to several years old, have full roam in the lounge. Each day, the lounge will have around 20 cats to interact with.
For a standard snuggle time appointment, it is $15 per person, and for a monthly membership, it is $45 per month. The standard cost is pretty reasonable to begin with, but the monthly membership is also a solid deal.
To supplement your snuggle time, there are other add-ons, including a snack package ($4), cat treats ($1), socks ($3), and choice of a T-shirt ($30) and/or sweatshirt ($45).
The merchandise is cute, with adorable cottage and animal rescue logos on them. Overall, I believe the prices are reasonable, especially since the money goes toward helping cats in need.
If you are wanting an authentic cat cafe with a designated cafe area furnished with tables and chairs, this place is not for you.
While Whiskers Catnip Cottage is considered a cat cafe, it does not provide real cafe food like baked goods, sandwiches and elaborate coffee drinks. Instead, it has a small snack bar with store-bought options like granola bars, chips, juices, sodas and basic coffee.
I purchased the $4 snack package and ended up getting a Nutri-Grain bar and a can of Pepsi. While the snack was nice to have while hanging out with the kitties, I would have liked to have more classic homemade food options, even if that meant just a small warm pastry.
When you think of a cat cafe, you think of a fun and peaceful environment. Well, this place provided just that. Even before entering the cat lounge, the whole vibe of the place – including the small gift shop area filled with homemade cat-related trinkets and jewelry – is whimsical yet cozy.
When I visited, the worker was friendly and kind, which contributed to the pleasant atmosphere. The cat lounge was the ultimate relaxing and playful area to hang out with furry friends, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
It is important for cats in a cat cafe to be socially well-adjusted. No one wants to go to hangout with cats who don’t want anything to do with you. The good news is that Whiskers Catnip Cottage houses mostly social and loving cats.
Right when my sister and I entered the door to the lounge, several cats rubbed up against our legs, wanting affection.
There are some cats, however, who are not as social. All of the cats have colorful collars which indicate something about their situation or behavior, including those who are not as friendly with their human friends.
There was one cat I encountered during my visit who kept to itself and hissed once when I tried to pet it. This is understandable, as the cats are constantly being exposed to new people; though, it would be more enjoyable for everyone if the cats were more relaxed.
The cottage goes above and beyond to provide quality cat care. One Google reviewer said, “When you walk through the door, you can see the love and care that they have for their kitties.” It is quite clear that this cottage prioritizes cat health and safety.
To begin, there is a plentiful supply of cat food, water, and litter (litter boxes are maintained and kept in the corner). Before entering the cat room, you must remove your shoes, keep your socks on and sanitize your hands to prevent dirt and bacteria from spreading in the lounge. The lounge itself is very tidy and the cats are also clean and well groomed. One reviewer from Yelp commented, “it was clean and the cats looked very well taken care of.” This is precisely what I observed when I went there as well.
While I recommend Whiskers Catnip Cottage to most people, there are some important considerations. If you are allergic to cats, or do not like to be around them, this place, which houses so many cats, is not for you. Additionally, for Denison students who do not have a car, it is a bit of a risky walk, as the cottage is right by a busy road.
Ultimately, Whiskers Catnip Cottage delivered with its appropriate pricing, comforting environment, sweet kitties and top-notch cat care. I consider myself lucky to be so close to a highly humane organization whose goal is to provide foster cats with a better life. If you are looking for a fun and rewarding weekend activity with friends, the kitties at the cottage would love to visit with you. You should definitely see for yourself what a wonderful place Whiskers Catnip Cottage is.
Delaney Bair ‘29 is a biology major from Loveland.