Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

Shoreditch is home to many hidden gems, none of which (in my humble cat lady opinion) can top Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. I visited last Friday with my Mum as a belated Mother’s Day surprise, from one crazy cat lady to another.

When we arrived I was unsure of what to expect, as cats are quite unpredictable creatures. There are twelve cats in total who roam freely around the two floors of the cafe, but they seemed to all be sleeping or hiding when we arrived. We ordered coffee and cake while we waited for the cats to come out of hiding. I’d just finished my generous slab of red velvet cake when the cats started to appear.

I was given a good kneading by Alice; a little black kitten who jumped straight onto my lap, purring away, and met Wookie; a gorgeous half Persian, half tabby softie. All of the cats are friendly and inquisitive, especially if you’re up for playing. They’ve got laser pens, bubble wrap, a giant wheel and catnip mice – everything a cat could possibly dream of.

For the next hour and a half, we got to play with the cats and it was really lovely to see all their different personalities; some chased around and playing with toys, while others relaxed, lapping up the fuss and attention.

Overall, it was a really lovely experience and something a bit different. It’s only £6 per person to visit the cafe, which goes towards feeding and looking after the cats. You do have to book in advance but it’s definitely worth the wait if you’re a fellow cat lover. It’s simple to get to from Liverpool Street tube station, and you can take the scenic route through Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane on your way. There’s so much to do and see in East London; every time I visit I feel like I’m only scratching the surface, but this is somewhere I’m sure I’ll visit again. You can book your visit to Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium here. Have you ever been to a cat cafe before?