La Gatoteca

La Gatoteca, nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain, is a pioneering cat café that opened in October 2013 under the nonprofit ABRIGA, inspired by Japanese neko-cafés but reimagined as a solidarity-driven initiative to aid homeless cats. This bright, welcoming space houses around 24 adoptable cats, offering visitors a chance to enjoy their company for €8 per hour (including a complimentary drink), with reservations required due to a limited capacity of 16 people for the cats’ well-being. Since its inception, La Gatoteca has facilitated nearly 900 adoptions, providing a sanctuary where cats recover from past hardships and socialize freely, while humans relax, play, and potentially find a lifelong companion—all supported by visitor fees and donations that fund ABRIGA’s rescue efforts. After closing its original Lavapiés location in 2020 due to COVID-19, it reopened in 2021 at a new site, continuing its decade-long commitment to feline welfare with a focus on quality care and education about cats’ needs.