By Tory Irmeger / Photography by David and Drew Photography
Husband-and-wife duo Heath Hanson and Whitney Sickels had traveled across the globe before settling in Chattanooga and opening the doors to Naughty Cat Cafe. Located at the base of Lookout Mountain in St. Elmo, Naughty Cat Cafe offers an experience unlike any other – and all for a cause. Heath and Whitney, both long-time cat lovers, immediately recognized a need to serve the feline population in the area. “We have a pet overpopulation problem, and adoption is one piece to solving that problem,” the duo explains. “Naughty Cat Cafe was born from necessity, and that’s why it has been around so long.”
The concept of a “cat café,” where guests can sip a cup of coffee while visiting with cats, took off in East Asia in the early 2000s and has since spread across the globe. Cat cafés are popular tourist destinations, a fun activity for locals, and a creative model for facilitating pet adoption. “There are over 500 cat cafés around the world, and as crazy cat people we have been to over 80 of them across four continents,” the owners share. “We were familiar with the idea and its proof of being a very effective mechanism of getting shelter cats adopted.” Naughty Cat Cafe houses over 30 adoptable adult cats, and to date they have adopted out nearly 1,300 cats to loving homes.
The lounge at Naughty Cat Cafe offers a safe and relaxing environment for the cats to roam, play, and feel at home until they find their forever home. Cats tend to get a bad rap about being antisocial creatures, but realistically they need socialization just like any other animal. “This model addresses some of the limitations of traditional shelter environments, where cats may be stressed or unable to showcase their true personalities,” says Heath and Whitney. “Visitors can spend time observing and bonding with cats, allowing for better-informed adoption decisions.”
Whether or not visitors plan to adopt, they can look forward to a cozy and inviting experience in the expansive cat lounge amidst the plush seating areas, ambient lighting, and cat-centric artwork all around. Guests can reserve an hour in the lounge for a small fee that directly ensures these cats have the best foster home possible. A complimentary non-alcoholic beverage is included – such as locally-roasted organic coffee – or guests can purchase from a variety of local craft brews and pre-packaged snacks. A capacity limit of 14 people per hour ensures that neither the cats nor guests get overwhelmed.
For the safety of all humans and cats, several guidelines and visiting age requirements are in place to ensure the best experience at Naughty Cat Cafe, all of which are detailed on their website. For these small business owners, “Consistency, transparency, and accountability rule the day. It’s just the two of us, seven days a week, to ensure 100% quality in every instance. We treat our guests like royalty and we treat the cats even better.”
“Cattanooga” is more than a catchy moniker – it reflects a diverse community committed to serving the local cat population. Naughty Cat Cafe gives 100% of the adoption fees to partner shelters, and since opening in 2019, they have generated over $50,000 in donations for these partners in addition to $130,000 in adoption revenue. Despite these successes, Heath and Whitney add, “We cannot adopt our way out of the pet overpopulation problem. If you are unable to visit the café but still want to help, assisting out local TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) groups like SCRATCH, Inc., or Chattanooga Feral Cat Alliance is most needed.”
The café’s sustainable model and playful branding has garnered a devoted following, including visitors who travel from far and wide to Cattanooga’s own cat café. Heath estimates that about 90% of the visitors are from out of town, which in turn keeps the doors open for locals who can give these cats forever homes. The owners share one memory of guests revealing matching tattoos of the Naughty Cat logo they’d gotten to commemorate their favorite place.
Heath and Whitney add, “We would like to thank everyone in the Cattanooga community for their unwavering support these past six years. All of you who have supported these cats by adopting and visiting the café have helped ensure this space will be here for many more years to come!”
