With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Quality Kitty Time Awaits At Pasadena's Feline-Filled Tail Town Cat Cafe
Tail Town's Gwendolyn Mathers holds Bianca, a brown tabby calico whose sister Wendy also resides there.
(
Susanne Whatley
/
LAist
)
Walk into the lounge at Tail Town Cat Cafe in Pasadena, and you're liable to be met by the persistent meows of Freddy. The ginger and white feline has what cafe operator Gwendolyn Mathers calls "that classic ginger characteristic."
"He's definitely vocal," she says. "He'd like to be the boss of the lounge. He's very loving and very people focused. He'll greet you at the door and not let you leave ever again."
Freddy is among 37 cats playing, sleeping and vying for a visitor's attention on a recent morning at the storefront on Washington Boulevard. They range in age from four months to eight years old, with "lots of different personalities."
"This is a great space to just come and enjoy some cat time, some cuddles or some play," says Mathers, whose mother was a veterinarian. Her childhood responsibilities included bottle-feeding many a kitten.
Support for LAist comes from
She says Tail Town opened as a business in July 2021 and is transitioning into a nonprofit while partnering with Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles to provide adoption opportunities and quality cat time for customers. It’s open Fridays through Sundays for people to interact with the residents or join events such as Kitty Bingo, Meow & Paint (the Black Velvet Edition is Oct. 20) and trivia nights.
Kitty Cafe
Cats play and rule the roost at Tail Town in Pasadena.
Cats rule the roost and chill out at Tail Town cafe in Pasadena.
(
Susanne Whatley
/
LAist
)
Cats rule the roost and chill out at Tail Town cafe in Pasadena.
(
Susanne Whatley
/
LAist
)
Cats rule the roost and chill out at Tail Town cafe in Pasadena.
(
Susanne Whatley
/
LAist
)
Cats rule the roost and chill out at Tail Town cafe in Pasadena.
(
Susanne Whatley
/
LAist
)
"They can hold them in their laps, play with them and really get a sense of who the kitties are," says Mathers, whose aim is to find homes for the felines. "The purpose of Tail Town is to help get kitties out of kennels, out of that traditional shelter environment that is stressful. It's unhealthy for the cats, both physically and psychologically."
A few small tables and chairs are provided, and drinks are sold in the lobby. But it's mostly about the cats in the 2,000-square-foot space. The brightly-lit lounge features couches, cat beds and shaggy throws for residents to curl up on or crawl under. Green laser dots from a projector skitter across a cement floor scattered with cat toys. Music plays.
We have some long term residents who have been here about a year, but we know the right home will come along soon enough.
"They can live here as long as they want until they're adopted," says Mathers. "We have some long term residents who have been here about a year, but we know the right home will come along soon enough."
A visitor inquires if there have been some cats that the staff hoped would stay forever.
Support for LAist comes from
"Yes," Mathers replies. "Everybody has their favorites and we've had some kitties for a long time. It really feels like we're losing part of the family when they go. But gosh, when you get those photos in their new homes with their new families, it just makes everything better."
Conversely, were there some that she wasn't particularly sorry to see carried out the door?
Mathers laughs. "We'll have some loud or chatty cats or some troublemakers that we still adore but they're into everything. They steal toys and food. We're chasing them through the lobby. When they go, you know, we're happy -- we're happy for everybody involved. It makes things exciting."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
Best of LAist