The place to seek out Houston’s most beloved store cats, from cafes and bars to a automobile wash

Some of Houston’s friendliest cats dwell at retailers, eating places and bars. They aren’t simply taking naps and making biscuits. Many additionally juggle extra formal tasks, comparable to welcoming friends, lounging by the register and holding a watchful eye on any visiting dogs.

For the purrfect Caturday, this is our information to visiting a few of these Houston-area cats whereas additionally grabbing a cup of espresso, shopping for new vegetation and even getting your automobile washed.

Patsy “Catsy” Cline has been Doshi House’s superstar cat ever since she wandered over to the Third Ward cafe final summer season. Catsy likes to pose for images with friends and has by no means met a stranger she immediately didn’t like. She spends her days hanging out on the patio, sitting on laps and laptops. The cafe’s employees just lately pooled collectively money to purchase her a heat cat home for winter, they usually even have a Catsy merch line coming quickly to assist pay for her care. Catsy is Doshi House’s worker of the month each month.

Bohemeo’s serves high quality espresso, meals and craft beer, however there’s additionally an enormous off-menu cause to go to: an lovable grey cat named Sadie. Sadie was born on Bohemeo’s out of doors stage and has stayed ever since (apart from temporary journeys subsequent door when she’s hiding from dogs). As the general public face of Bohemeo’s, Sadie may be discovered outdoors on the patio, typically taking a nap within the sunshine or ingesting from the fountain. Last 12 months, Bohemeo’s even produced a “Sadie Art Show” full with Sadie work, stickers and greeting playing cards, with proceeds benefiting the Houston animal shelter Friends For Life. 

For seven years, Stray Vonn has been in control of the bar at RE:HAB Bar on the Bayou, welcoming friends open air on the again patio and taking pictures of half & half (that’s, till the vet mentioned to knock it off). Customers love Stray Vonn, who generally may be discovered sporting equipment comparable to sun shades or a witch’s hat for Halloween, relying on the season. Stray Vonn guidelines the roost, however the Northside bar can be home to Pretty Kitty, who was dumped off on the property, and her daughter Baby Kitty. Dogs are allowed outdoors as nicely, however the cats come first at RE:HAB. The bar additionally used to have geese (who dominated over the cats), however they took off in the course of the pandemic when nobody was feeding them pizza.

Texas Art Asylum is a labyrinthine area in EaDo crammed to the brim with artwork provides, salvaged objects and resale objects to spark your creativity. But search for the comfortable floral sofa and also you’re more likely to discover Shuug hanging out in her favourite spot. Shuug loves folks, so clients generally walk across the retailer whereas holding her. Johnny — who can be pleasant, however extra reserved than Shuug — continuously spends the day sitting in his basket within the worker break space.

Minnie ran inside Montrose’s Southland Hardware in June 2022 when she was a tiny kitten and has lived there ever since. She’s earned the nickname “Nightwatch,” and she or he waits on the door each morning for employees to reach. Minnie can typically be discovered on a countertop in the midst of the shop, hanging out in her home — a cat-sized model of the shop that one of many staff made for her.  As she makes her standard rounds, Minnie likes holding a watchful eye on the various dogs who come into the shop with their house owners.

Lots of neighborhood cats used to cease by East End’s Moon Tower Inn, however now the bar is just about beneath the only real jurisdiction of Bobo, a bit cat with an enormous persona. Bobo is not shy, and he loves consideration. You can discover him napping on a blue tarp within the sunshine, laying on the hearth pits once they’re not in use or sitting outdoors the kitchen window chatting with the kitchen employees. Bobo enjoys getting treats from friends and meowing his complaints when it is chilly outdoors. 

It’s nicely definitely worth the drive out to Blue Heron Farm in Waller to satisfy Motorhead and Grey Boy, the 2 bar cats on the goat farm’s cozy new beer backyard. Motorhead is a social cat who comes out at evening to mingle with friends. Grey Boy, who’s extra introverted, typically may be discovered lounging on the couch within the Airstream, which is the place the bar’s restroom is housed. Guests on the beer backyard also can meet the farm’s many pleasant goats and the resident tortoise, Jeremy. 

Though the grounds of Enchanted Forest in Richmond are filled with magical vegetation, chimes and fairy homes on the market, Taco is a business-oriented cat who may be discovered greeting clients close to the register. The gardening middle has a number of cats, however the indoor store is Taco’s territory. Taco has his personal business card (his title is “resident mouser & register supervisor”) and enjoys neck scratches and stomach rubs. While a few of the cats roam the extra far-flung areas, you may simply spot Baby Grace outdoors within the hut the place the cats are fed day by day or checking on the vegetation and different stock. 

When clients collect at Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy bookstore in Lakewood Forest to play board video games, the most effective video games is looking for Freya and Loki. Freya loves lounging with the gamers, laying within the lids of the video games or attempting to suit into the smallest of bins. Loki, the extra introverted of the 2, tends to cover in fixtures, bookshelves and shows. Freya and Loki, each rescues, have lived on the retailer for years. Customers recurrently convey them treats, collars and toys.

Employees at Aqua Hand Car Wash discovered Casper at a close-by warehouse when he was a bit kitten who had been overwhelmed up. Since then, Casper has known as the Montrose automobile wash home. Casper may be discovered within the ready space, tentatively laying his paws on clients’ laps in hopes of getting stomach rubs. Casper likes to remain contained in the store and loves consideration from clients. Though Casper generally disappears in a single day, presumably to go to associates, he all the time returns to his home on the automobile wash.

Bobbie, a brilliant pleasant and chatty Manx cat, confirmed up at Loose Cannon from out of nowhere and easily by no means left. She loves consideration from the Spring Branch bar’s clients and welcomes all neck or behind the ear scratches. Usually, Bobbie may be discovered hanging out in no matter field is available — typically a beer case field — although in recent weeks she’s been out on maternity go away along with her two new kittens.

El Gato Coffeehouse Cat Cafe is the place to go in the event you’re contemplating adopting a cat and also you additionally desire a snack. Part coffeehouse, half animal rescue, El Gato in Woodland Heights serves drinks and treats (for people) whereas providing a secure, colourful short-term home for as much as 25 adoptable cats at a time. The employees tries to undertake out siblings collectively at any time when potential, comparable to Miley (photographed sporting a vacation costume) and her brother Milo, who had been deserted in a small field and rescued by a foster mum or dad. Visitors are welcome on the coffeehouse no matter whether or not they plan to undertake. But there may be an $18 per hour visiting price that helps fund the nonprofit’s animal rescue work. For those that fall in love with a cat throughout their go to, El Gato provides a sleepover possibility — a seven-day trial interval to find out if the furrever home is an effective match.