In honor of National Cat Day on October 29th, I decided to celebrate ahead of time with the two things I love most: coffee and cats. Conveniently, I was able to find both at Crumbs & Whiskers, DC's very first cat café. This café offers your typical coffee and snack selection with an atypical twist—caffeine accompanied by cats.
The First Impression
I was instantly intrigued by the café while walking around the city of Georgetown. With further research, I learned that this small chain currently offers locations in Los Angles and Washington, DC.
Crumbs & Whiskers opened in 2015 with a mission to help improve the lives of shelter cats by taking them out of shelters and fostering them in a fun environment. Additionally, the café allows for coffee connoisseurs and feline lovers alike to play with adorable and adoptable rescue cats. In conjunction with the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue foundation, the DC Crumbs & Whiskers has helped to facilitate the adoption of 140 cats.
Upon walking in, I was greeted by a particularly extroverted cat sporting a precious bow tie. Yes, every cat was decked out in a customized cat bow tie. After getting the official lowdown on the cats – and a stern reminder that human food is meant for humans – I was free to roam the café.
The Menu
The café counter at Crumbs & Whiskers offered a variety of hot and iced teas, coffee drinks – including the very appropriate "cat-uccino" – and macarons. All drinks and treats were provided by their partner café, Olivia Macaron.
The Cats
After settling down with my coffee, it was time to get catty. With 18 in-house cats, I was quickly overwhelmed with cuteness. Some wandered around, others were taking cat-naps, and a few were ready to play. Fortunately, Crumbs & Whiskers stocked the café with plenty of playthings to entice the cats.
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Crumbs & Whiskers is nothing like your stereotypical crazy cat lady's home. The two-story space definitely felt warm and fuzzy (pun intended), but with an open, modern layout and Insta-worthy decorations. It featured plenty of soft surfaces to sit, study, enjoy a cup of coffee, and cuddle with the kitties.
The Verdict
Crumbs & Whiskers offers several ways to get your cute and caffeine fix. Reservations are available for a quick walk-in, for 75 minutes, or for 8 hours – perfect for a day of stress-free homework.
Whether you're looking for an off-campus study space, are looking to adopt, or just miss your feline friend from back home, Crumbs & Whiskers offers the purr-fect combination of caffeine and cat.