submitted by Jean Luc, Spokescat, Orlando Cat Cafe 🐾
Ten years. That’s a very long time in the life of a cat. Why, I’ve personally aged at least… well, let’s just say I’ve become considerably more distinguished.
But ten years is also a long time in the life of a dream.
And when I look back at what began ten years ago at Orlando Cat Cafe, I have to admit that even this handsome, sophisticated feline never could have imagined what we would accomplish together.
More Than 3,700 Second Chances
The number that means the most to me is 3,700+.
That’s the number of cats and kittens who have found their forever homes through Orlando Cat Cafe.
Think about that for a moment.
More than 3,700 cats who arrived needing someone to believe in them. More than 3,700 stories that began with a shelter cat and ended with a family. More than 3,700 times someone walked through our doors, fell in love, and said, “Yes. This is my cat.”
As a cat, I know there is nothing more important than finding the right human.
To every person who has adopted a cat from us over these ten years: thank you. You didn’t just adopt a cat. You changed a life.
And to all of you who have come to visit, play with the cats, have a cup of coffee, tell your friends about us, share our posts, make donations, or simply cheer us on from afar—you have been part of every one of those 3,700+ happy beginnings.
250,000+ Guests—and So Many Stories
More than 250,000 guests from around the world have walked through our doors.
From right here in Florida to visitors from across the country and around the globe, people have come to Orlando Cat Cafe looking for something a little different.
Maybe they came for the coffee.
Maybe they came because they love cats.
Maybe they were tourists looking for a memorable Orlando experience.
And maybe—just maybe—they came in expecting a fun afternoon and left with a new member of the family.
That’s the magic of a cat cafe.
For ten years, we’ve watched strangers become friends, families discover the joy of cats, children learn compassion, and people who needed a little happiness find it waiting behind our doors.
I like to think that every guest took a little bit of our magic home with them.
From Florida’s First to a First for the Country
Ten years ago, Orlando Cat Cafe became the first cat cafe to open in Florida.
That was a pretty big deal.
But apparently, one first wasn’t enough.
Today, Orlando Cat Cafe has become the first cat cafe in the country to offer a franchise opportunity.
That means the dream that began here in Florida can now travel far beyond Florida.
Imagine that: more cat cafes, more communities, more people experiencing the joy of being around cats—and, most importantly, more shelter cats getting the chance to find loving homes.
I may be biased, but I think that’s a pretty wonderful legacy.
It Takes a Lot of Humans to Help Cats
Of course, no cat—no matter how charming, handsome, or photogenic—can do something like this alone.
So, I want to offer a very special thank you to the incredible Orlando Cat Cafe team. You have cared for thousands of cats, welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests, cleaned more litter boxes than any human should ever have to clean, and somehow continued to smile through it all.
You are the heart of this place.
And to our wonderful partners at SPCA Florida: thank you for trusting us with the cats who needed a little extra help finding their people. Our partnership has allowed us to turn a simple idea into something that truly changes lives.
To Minch Coffee Company, thank you for being such an important part of the Orlando Cat Cafe experience. After all, cats and coffee are a pretty terrific combination—and you’ve helped make that combination possible.
And to every person, organization, business, volunteer, donor, media partner, community leader, friend and family member who ever said, “I believe in what you’re doing”—thank you.
You helped keep the dream alive.
Ten Years Later…
When I think about those first days, I don’t think about numbers.
I think about the cats.
I think about the first adoptions. The shy cats who finally came out of their shells. The kittens who grew up in loving homes. The families who returned to tell us how much their adopted cat had changed their lives.
I think about the people who walked through our doors and became part of our extended Orlando Cat Cafe family.
And I think about what comes next.
Ten years is not the end of the story.
It’s the beginning of the next chapter.
There are still cats waiting for homes. There are still people who haven’t discovered the magic of a cat cafe. And there are still communities across the country where a place like Orlando Cat Cafe can make a difference.
So, on our 10th anniversary, I have just one thing to say:
Thank you.
Thank you for believing in the dream.
Thank you for opening your hearts—and your homes—to shelter cats.
Thank you for visiting us, supporting us, sharing our story and helping us grow.
And most of all, thank you for proving that sometimes, the smallest creatures can make the biggest difference.
Here’s to the first ten years.
Here’s to 3,700+ forever homes, 250,000+ guests, countless cups of coffee, thousands of purrs—and whatever comes next.
With gratitude, whiskers and a very full heart,
Jean Luc
Spokescat, Orlando Cat Cafe 🐾
Visit the Orlando Cat Cafe at 532 Cagan Park Ave., Clermont. Reservations Recommended, Call (352) 989-4820
