Updated: January 17, 2026
Welcome to Purradise! That’s right, Florida is the #1 state for cat cafes in the Unites States. With twenty-two cafes, including a one-of-a kind mobile cat cafe and a unique coworking-with-cats workspace, Florida sits at the top of the cat cafe tree. In fact, Florida is home to about 8% of the cat cafes in the United States.
Florida Cat Cafe Trends
Since Orlando Cat Cafe opened near Disney as the first Florida cat cafe in 2016, year-by-year growth has climbed steadily. Bucking a national trend, 2020 was a blue ribbon year for Florida cat cafe growth, with the opening of five cafes. Since 2021, the state has average openings of three cat cafes per year. 2025 also saw the shuttering of several beloved cafes (including Gainesville’s Feeline Good and Plant City’s Catnip Cafe and Lounge) for various reasons, keeping overall growth in the state flat for the year.
Why Is Florida Tops in the Number of Cat Cafes?
Just as Florida has led the country in population growth the past several years, the Sunshine State also leads in cat cafes. But population growth is only a partial explanation for the state’s cat cafe popularity. The full story recognizes cat cafes emerging as a creative answer to the state’s large stray cat population. A vibrant rescue community has partnered with cat cafes, and the cat-loving Floridians have embraced the concept. Learn about other cat cafe trends here.
Unique Florida Cat Lover Destination
Not only is Florida ranked #1 in cat cafes, it is also home to the only Airbnb in the country where you can glamp with cats! Located near the Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Northern Florida, Purradise Springs is a Cat Sanctuary and Private Retreat where you can stay in a luxury tent with Sanctuary cats. It is the only such experience available in the United States, possibly the world!