PHX Cat Cafe blends coffee, community & cat rescue in Phoenix

In the heart of downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row, the PHX Cat Cafe offers more than lattes and cappuccinos. Visitors can sip coffee while spending time with adoptable cats in a space designed to encourage rescue and adoption.

Founded by Carrie Schwartz, the cafe – formerly known as La Gattara – transitioned from a for-profit business to a nonprofit rescue. Most of the cats come from trap-neuter-release initiatives, and the cafe also hosts unique events like cat yoga, painting with cats, and private parties.

Carrie Schwartz, the CEO of PHX Cat Cafe, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the cafe’s mission and the role of cat rescue initiatives in the Valley. Joining Schwartz are two of their cats, Cadbury, and Jelly Bean.

PHX Cat Cafe is a non-profit organization located at 2nd street and Garfield in downtown Phoenix. There is a full-service coffee shop, as well as a cat lounge.

“They get to meet the cats in a pretty natural environment,” Schwartz said, “…cause the cats are all free roaming, climbing on shelves, playing…as people hopefully love their personalities, we do our application process and just make sure it is a good fit for everybody in the home.”

Both Cadbury and Jelly Bean were found on the Phoenix streets, and treatment began to help rehabilitate them.

“We are a 513 non-profit rescue ourselves,” Schwartz explained. “So all of the cats that you see in the cafe are from our rescue.”

Pictured below are some of the cats that are available for adoption.

Photos courtesy of PHX Cat Cafe