Mrs. Holly Walker, owner of Riverside Cat Cafe on 3226 North University Street, Peoria, opened the cafe a year ago.
Walker went on a trip to Minneapolis about six or seven years ago and visited a cat cafe. She thought it was really cool. Walker said, “When I came back here, I thought I would love to take my kids someplace like that, and at the time there was nothing even remotely close.” At the time, the closest cat cafe was in Chicago.
Walker did not seriously consider opening a cat cafe until three years ago because she was a school teacher. The idea stuck because she wanted to transition from being a teacher to working for herself.
Since opening River Kitty a year ago, Walker shared that the Peoria area has absolutely been in
sane and supportive. The cafe had a few thousand followers within a couple of weeks of starting a social media page before opening the cafe.
At River Kitty, guests can enjoy a drink at tables and watch the cats play, or they can pay a fee and play with the cats in the cat room.
Walker explained that there are currently twenty cats in the cafe right now. The cafe works with Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) Since opening, River Kitty has been responsible for 253 cat adoptions through PCAPS. Adoption costs vary depending on the age of the cat you want. A kitten adoption costs $100, an adult costs $75, and a senior costs $10.
River Kitty serves a variety of drinks including coffees, teas, lemonades, and coladas. Walker explained coladas, which are like dirty sodas that are named after all of the original cats they started out with. They also have a small selection of baked goods.
Walker encourages pet owners to spay and neuter their pets for their own safety and health reasons and keep up on their pet’s vaccines.
For more information on River Kitty Cafe, please visit https://www.riverkittycafe.com/
Reservations for the River Kitty Cafe experiences are encouraged:
Weekday Warm-up – $6/1 hour every weekday from 9 to 3
Cat Lounge Reservation – $12 every day but Tuesdays
Half Hour Cat Lounge Reservations – $6 every day but Tuesdays
2 For Tuesdays! – $6 Tuesdays 12-7/Thursdays and Fridays only at 12 pm
Bring a donation and get your admission for half price!
Kitten Yoga! – $25
Beginner Crochet with Cats – $22
Crochet with Cats $15
Hours: Monday-Friday
9 AM- 12 PM break 4 PM- 8 PM
Saturday- 10 AM- 2 PM break 3 PM- 7 PM
Sunday- 10 AM – 4 PM.
Menu: https://www.riverkittycafe.com/menu
Check out these cats which are up for adoption:
