I had the privilege of obtaining a slot to visit the Kokoro Cat Cafe located in Tangram Mall in Flushing, NY, during their grand opening weekend. I am an animal lover and thought the concept of cats getting adopted by potentially meeting their new owner(s) via this cafe is an interesting concept! I’m not able to adopt a cat, however, I thought having the opportunity to visit to meet and have a chance to play with them would be great.
Before heading to the cafe, I completed their liability waiver form. I arrived about 15 minutes prior to my time slot, and opted for the additional premium experience package, which includes a drink, a catsicle treat, and a polaroid photo that has a BOGO deal attached to the frame of the photo. Since this is a new experience for me, I wanted to take advantage of their offering.
Prior to heading into the room, I, along with other 14 visitors, were provided instructions on what to expect and how to behave with the cats during our 40-minute session.
As soon as I walked into the facility, I could already feel a calm, serene mood. During the session, some cats were more reserved and stayed in their areas, while others engaged with us. I was initially afraid of approaching the cats so as not to disturb them, but I took note of how the other visitors were interacting with them with the cat toys that were there, and I tried to do the same.
I noticed that on the wall, each of the cats have their own photos with their respective names and DOBs. I thought it was a lovely idea, and I wanted to make sure I knew which one is which.
What really helped me interact with them is having the catsicle treat. One of the cats named Sesame approached me and really stuck with me until there was no more left! 😭
Before we knew it, our time was up. Upon exiting the facility, each of us was handed a Kokoro Cat Cafe tote bag! ❤️
💲Costs
What I paid during my visit: $20 for admission and $9 for the premium experience package before tax.
💭 Final Thoughts
In my humble opinion, I thought:
- The price point was reasonable for what is being offered.
- The catsicle treat was nice to have at hand, because it gave me a higher chance of interaction between me and the cat.
- Your experience is contingent upon the level of engagement from our feline partners.
- I thought the 40 minutes was enough time for me to enjoy the experience, but it didn’t feel like enough time for me to really know each of the cats. If I really wanted to adopt, I’d need more time to understand each of their personalities and temperaments.
- I got the sense that the establishment truly care for the well-being of the cats.
- Would I go back? YES.