Updated: December 2024
Time to hit the books! Go to a cat cafe for a study buddy!
It’s finals week and we are here to help. Get you set to slay with a solid place for studying, caffeine, and treats. Plus cats. That’s right, we’re sending you to your local cat cafe. Cat cafes get an A+ in beating stress, and not much is more stressful than finals. If you have a cat cafe near campus, you have the answer book for finals success. We’ve done the homework for you by pulling together the cat cafes with special finals discounts, amenities, or particularly well suited for studying.
This could be you!! The Planet Perk has maybe the coolest Study Hall in the country. Photo: Planet Perk/Osh Kosh
Finals Stress, What Stress?
Everything is fine. This is fine.
Just add Caffeine. All the caffeine.
Add sugar. Trust us, a little sugar and carb boost is practically a health food during finals. Ok, we made that part up. But a little comfort food is just what the professor would order, especially when served up in festive feline form.
Purr Therapy: The Positive Power of Cats
Now add cats. Why cats? Because everything is better with cats, naturally. There is actual research that says spending time with cats has a positive effect on your health and well being. Pet people intuitively know that pets improve their lives. Now a growing body of research supports the axiom that companion pets are in fact good for us and help fight the toxic effects of stress.
Let’s call it: Purr Therapy. Research shows that petting a cat helps your body reduce the stress hormone cortisol almost immediately. One study out of the University of Minnesota, published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, found that having a cat may reduce your chance of a stroke or heart attack by one third. Dr. Adnan Qureshi, lead researcher on the study, links cardiovascular health to psychological stress, and suggests that cats help reduce the stress and anxiety that cause high blood pressure and heart problems. It’s science.
Now THIS is a study group! The Planet Purrk Club at Planet Perk in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin is a study hall/coworking space with maximum cat therapy!
Cat Cafes: The Ultimate Finals Stress Buster
So where can you go to find coffee, treats, and cats? If you’re super lucky, your own kitchen. Or you can visit a cat cafe. What is this strange wonder, a cat cafe? For the uninitiated, a cat cafe is magical place where you hang out with cats. Each cafe has it’s own enchanting interpretation, but the essential ingredient is cats. The menu of beverages and treats varies, from upscale to prepackaged, gourmet lattes to Keurig pods. Trust us when we say: you want to go here.
La Gattera/Instagram
Something quite extraordinary happens when you go to a cat cafe. Cat cafes are happy places. Almost immediately, you’ll forget the world outside. Soon, you’ve made a fast feline friend or three. Like magic, your stress is simply gone. And you don’t have to wait for finals stress before heading to your local cat cafe. A study sesh with cats is always an A+ idea.
Instagram/Purringtons
Study with Cats
So you’ve been holed up in the library and glued to the screen for hours, just go to a cat cafe already. Take a restorative little break, or stay and study with cats. Go for the coffee and free wifi, stay for the new study buddy.
Find a Cat Cafe for Finals Stress, Now
With over 250 cat cafes now in the United States, chances are you can find one near you.
Where ever you are, know that every single cat cafe is the perfect place to lighten finals stress. Find a cat cafe near you on our interactive map. We 100% guarantee that you will immediately feel better about everything in your life, including the academic stress monster. Some lucky students have a cat cafe located within walking distance of their campus. Many cat cafes offer special deals to students during finals or welcome them with discounts all year long.
Here’s our super-duper, updated list of cat cafes ready to help you survive and thrive during finals.
Alabama
The Lotus Catfe, Alabaster: Offers a student discount between 3 pm-6 pm! You could also level your chill with Kitten Yoga or other class at the only cat cafe-yoga studio in the world! They also offer a yearly student yoga pass!
Arizona
El Jefe Cat Cafe, Phoenix: Three floors of bright comfort with thirty-five cats is the purrfect place to destress! Just three miles from the University of Arizona campus.
Arkansas
Gibson’s Cat Cafe, Conway: Gibson’s is Finals Central for all the colleges in Conway, including the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College, and Central Baptist College. Gibson’s puts students 1st this important week (and all year long).
- Open till Midnight 12/9 – 12/13
- For this week only: from 6 pm – 12 am hours, students may bring or order in outside food. -Please purchase beverages at Gibson’s
- 10% discount of your purchase with a valid student ID
Cheers to Gibson’s for going the extra 10 miles for the students this week! Oh yes, they have great cats too!
California
Chico Cat Cafe, Chico: Awesome offerings for college students all year round! Over 30% discount! They also have a very generous Mempurrship ($75/year for students).
Colorado
Purrfect Pause Cat Cafe, Boulder: Students enjoy a 20% discount!
No Co Cat Cafe, Loveland: Calling all NCU and CSU students! NoCo has the purrfect pairing for finals: free Prime energy drinks (while supplies last)… and cats! And you get the student discount too!
NoCo Cat Cafe has the purrfect assignment for finals: cats and free energy drinks! They go together like A’s and B’s!
Connecticut
Mew Haven Cat Cafe in New Haven, Connecticut is located less than a mile from Southern Connecticut University and under three miles from Yale University. Always a student fave, Mew Haven offers student discounts and also special 3 hour Study/Work sessions.
District of Columbia
Meow Maison, Georgetown is a favorite of Georgetown University students, which is within walking distance of the cafe. Students can often be seen napping with cats.
Florida
Whiskers Workspace, St. Petersburg: Students enjoy a 50% discount with valid student ID! This new cat-coworking space is St. Pete’s top study spot! Close to Stetson University College of Law, University of South Florida, Eckerd College, and more. Variety of settings offered, from full cat lounge to private rooms. Free wi-fi, printers, and kitchen amenity access. And, yes lots of friendly, adoptable cats! Hourly drop-in, day passes, and membership options available.
Whiskers Workspace has everything students need to prepare for finals, including a 50% discount!
Indiana
Region Cat Cafe, Merrillville: With a number of colleges in the area, Region is THE place to not only relax with cats but also get a delicious bowl of hot soup. That’s right: Region a has a soup of the day (and full menu), every day for a very affordable price. Winner winner, cat cafe dinner!
Head to Region Cat Cafe for kitties and their Soup of the Day!
Catmosphere Cat Cafe, Terre Haute: The new Catmosphere Cat Cafe is already a favorite with students. Located in the 12 Points District, it is just over a mile from Indiana State University and five miles from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Catmosphere has a special $8 study session every Sunday for students with a college id. Of course students can come anytime to study with cats or even play video games or just relax.
Catmosphere is Terre Haute’s student destination, for finals and beyond. Special (quiet) Sunday Study Sessions all year long.
Michigan
Karma Kat Cafe, Mount Pleasant: Karma Kat caters to students all year long with a special student rate! Just under a mile from the Central Michigan University campus, Karma also offers Volunteer Spots where students can burn off some extra energy cleaning, organizing and keeping Karma Kats happy. With 40 cats, Karma is THE place to destress in Mount Pleasant!
Mississippi
Cattiesburg Cafe, : Students enjoy 1/2 off admission to the cat lounge every Wednesday (w/ student id), all year long!
Cattiesburg Cafe has the fluffiest study buddies in Hattiesburg! Photo credit: Cattiesburg Cafe/FB
New Hampshire
The Tipsy Tabby Cat Cafe, New Market: With at least 10 colleges in the New Market area The Tipsy Tabby is the purrfect destination for Finals Week. Tipsy Tabby has a menu made for students that includes Ramen noodles and nut butter sandwiches! Use discount code FallFinals24 during online checkout until 12/17 for a 20% discount.
North Carolina
Frabjous Catfe, Wake Forest: Every Monday night is College & Adult night at Frabjous. Purrfect for studying and students enjoy 15% off their visit with their college ID.
Ohio
Tabby & Fido’s Cat Cafe, Bowling Green: Located right on Main Street near the BGSU campus, Tabby & Fido’s is a natural for students during finals & beyond.
Gem City Catfe in Dayton, Ohio is a student hot spot all year round. Gem City Catfe serves students from Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, and more. Offering more open work space than any other cat cafe in the country, Gem City also boasts a spacious upstairs study/work area that is a designated Quiet Zone! You can certainly opt to study in the cat lounge (for a fee), but we can’t guarantee you won’t be distracted. Gem City is open over 80 hours a week, with 13 hour days Monday thru Friday!
Gem City Cat Cafe is THE place to study (or destress) in Dayton! Not only are they open over 80 hours a week, but they have the most open study space in the country. Oh yes, they also have cats!
Oregon
Playful Paws Cat Cafe, Bend: Oregon’s only cat cafe is stepping up to take care of students during finals by offering a nice student discount! Lots of options for seating, from comfy chairs to tables.
Pennsylvania
Dexter’s Cat Cafe has everything students need (and more), and they are less than a half mile from campus.
Dexter’s Cat Cafe, Indiana: Your finals headquarters for IUP! At under a half mile from campus, Dexter’s has a special focus on student needs. From 20 minute, $4 Express Visits with cats to plenty of seating, ample electric plugs, and free wi-fi, Dexter’s is a welcoming place for students. No purchase required to use their space to study or work! To study in the cat lounge, they recommend purchasing the 45 m. visit.
South Dakota
The Cattitude Cat Cafe, Sioux Falls
Open more hours than any other cat cafe in the country (maybe the world?!), Cattitude is made for students! They offer Augustana University students a 10% Augie Discount all year long. Not only do they have a full, extensive menu, the kitchen starts at 6:30 am and the cat room opens at 7 am! A true Cattitude for success!
All. Day. L:ong. The Cattitude Cat Cafe in Sioux Falls has the right attitude for student success: caffeine, delicious food, and long hours!
Texas
Meowdy, study paw-dner! Come to the Cozy Catfe in Arlington or a study pal and private workspace room, unlimited coffee! Photo: Cozy Catfe
Cozy Catfe, Arlington: Let’s get cozy! Calling all UT-Arlington, TCU, and area schools! This deal is bigger than Dallas: your very own private study room -with a feline study buddy- and unlimited coffee for only $10/hour. Yes, UNLIMITED coffee! Designed for 1 person.
Vermont
Queen City Cat Lounge, Burlington: Burlington’s new cat cafe is located about 10 minutes from campus and is already a student favorite. They offer 3 hour study blocks for $30 on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the school year.
Virginia
Aristocat Cafe, Harrisonburg: Aristocat has plenty of wonderful tea, coffee, and outlets to help students recharge during the James Madison finals week.
Catnip Cat Cafe, Norfolk: Wonderful Meowmbership deal that any cat lover in the Norfolk area should take advantage of: 40 visits for $199. Free coffee/beverage included!
Wisconsin
BaristaCats Cafe & Sanctuary for Wayward Cats, Whitewater: Just a mile from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus, BaristaCats is favorite for students during finals, and beyond. Great study spot with top study buddy kittie
Whitewater’s secret to finals success! BaristaCats has the best study buddies!
Planet Perk, Oshkosh: This is genius! An absolutely original, brilliant place for students and kitties. The Planet Purrrk Study Hall is FREE with a cafe purchase and student ID. The Study Hall is open all day, all week: M- F 6:30am to 6:30pm, Saturday 8-5 pm, Sunday 9 am- 6:30pm. A+++
Happy campers at The Study Hall at Planet Perk! Photo: Planet Perk/FB
The library doesn’t have cats, but the Planet Purrk Study Hall does! Photo: Planet Perk/FB
Wyoming
Cats N Coffee Connections, Cheyenne: Situated in a charming converted house, Cats N Coffee offers both a cafe area and also rooms that can be reserved for study. Get a room! Students can reserve a room to study as group (2 hour room limit). $10 /person for 2 hours.
Catz-N-Coffee has a variety of study options available, including private rooms that can accommodate study groups…and cats!
Calling All Parents: Give the Gift of Cats
How about giving the student in your life the gift of cats? Set your student up for happiness and success with a gift certificate to a cat cafe! Find a cat cafe convenient to your student on our map and directory. Most cafes having flexible offerings, running from $10 and up. An increasing number of cat cafes are offering membership options. Gift certificates and memberships usually transfer electonically so you can easily surprise your student when they need it most -right meow!</
There is also a lot of unique cat swag available at cat cafes, sure to delight any cat lover on your list. Many cafes have online stores so you can shop right from home; see list of some in this blog post or just check your fave cafe’s website. And you can feel good knowing that the proceeds from your purchases go directly to help kitties find furever homes.
DIY Finals Stress Buster: Watch Cat Videos
What if you don’t have a cat cafe near you to melt your stress away? Good news! Watching cat videos will actually boost your energy and positive emotions, and lessen negative feelings. So says a study by Indiana University researchers. That’s right: watching cat videos online actually improves your mood. The research suggests that internet cats may actually be a form of pet therapy. Try it!
Don’t you feel better already?!
We wish all students the best of success in Finals and we look forward to a very happy new year!
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Founder of That Cat Life, the premier site devoted to cat cafes and cat destinations. Lover of cats and the people that love and rescue them. Mom to cats, dogs, and birds. Current home crew includes Ronan, Whiskers, Betty White and Sweet Pea.