Purrfect Day Cat Cafe

Tucked away in Covington, one local cafe is selling more than just coffee— it’s giving community members the chance to connect, relax and even go home with a new furry friend. 

The Purrfect Day Cat Cafe is not your typical coffee shop — the space feels alive. Cats climb along shelves, curl up beside guests and wander between tables looking for attention. The cafe is a space where many people find refuge, whether they are simply enjoying the moment or trying to find their new companion.

Chuck Patton, owner and “purrprietor,” of the Cafe previously owned an advertising agency with his wife, Tricia Patton. In 2015, they decided to sell their advertising company “Traffic Builders” and reinvent themselves.

“My wife and I were on vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, and I saw a little sign there and sure enough, it was a cat cafe. I asked the lady if we could come in, and she told us there was a four and a half hour wait.” Chuck Patton said. “It just didn’t make any sense. The owner told me a little bit about the concept of a cat cafe and what was going on and how they were saving all these cats, not only in the general area there in Charleston, but even throughout because of how many were adopted.”

Chuck Patton recalls the moment the idea first came to life over dinner with his wife.

“I said, ‘Look, I’ve drawn on a napkin here, but I think we can make this work.’ And we started talking about it. She, at the time, was still working for the company that bought us.” Chuck Patton said.

Tricia Patton told her husband, ‘I think you need to do this. I think you can absolutely make this work.’ 

“I went immediately home, started working on it,” Chuck Patton said, “And within eight months, we were up and rolling.”

Nine years later, Purrfect Day Cat Cafe has grown into more than just a place for cats — it’s become a part of the community in both Covington and Louisville, Kentucky. The cafe offers a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen beverages for guests, along with bakery items. Some of which come from other local businesses like Tuba Baking Company and Najlas Bakery. 

After a long day, visitors can also enjoy a selection of alcoholic drinks. Visitors say the Cafe is a perfect balance of coziness and community, bringing people together in a space that feels like home.

Harley Westfelt, a longtime employee, said the cafe is like a “foster” for these cats before they get adopted.

 “Our cats come from three local shelter partners. The three local shelter partners are Cincinnati Animal Care, League for Animal Welfare and Plaza-Dearborn County,” Westfelt said. “We kind of act as their foster until they get adopted. So they’ll go through the process at the shelters, picking out who is going to be the best fit to come here. Whether that be a cat who’s already pretty socialized or one that they think will end up being a good fit to maybe become more social by coming here.”

Between Louisville and Covington, Chuck Patton says over 18,500 cats have been adopted in the last eight years. 

“1,450 cats are adopted at that Covington location per year. Those numbers alone make it the second-highest adopting cat cafe in the country,” Chuck Patton said. “The number one is the Louisville location.” 

The idea behind the cafe goes beyond simply housing cats — it’s about solving a larger problem. By increasing adoptions, the team is able to  of the system, making room for more cats in need. Without that movement, the entire process slows down. 

In many ways, the cafe is fixing a broken cycle, helping more cats find homes so others can be rescued and brought in by shelters. By focusing on cat adoptions, everything starts to flow, benefiting both the animals and shelters they come from.

But at its core, the mission goes beyond just the cats. 

“It’s about people and community,” Chuck Patton said. “Every cat that enters the cafe comes with a difficult past, and in many cases, so do the people who walk through the doors. The space becomes a place where those stories meet, offering comfort, connection and a sense of purpose. Staff see the cafe as something that belongs to the community — a place where visitors can relax, socialize and feel like they are part of something bigger.”

The reality, he says, is that the cafe has to stay healthy and sustainable to keep making an impact. 

“If we don’t continue to do the right thing, and if we’re not constantly moving forward, we’re slipping back,” he said. 

After eight years, the Covington location remains fully booked nearly every weekend during kitten season, with visitors coming from 10 a.m. until early afternoon. Keeping up that pace requires constant effort and planning, ensuring the cafe continues to serve both cats and the community without losing momentum.

Looking ahead, the Pattons are exploring opportunities to expand the mission. Could the cafe’s model reach other cities or engage people online to increase adoptions? While the organization has proven itself as one of the most successful in the country, growth is complicated. Not every city has enough shelter resources, and the work demands significant time, money and sacrifice from the often-unsung heroes behind the scenes. Still, the team is committed to moving slowly but surely toward broader impact, hoping to help more cats and communities find second chances.

With nine years of operation, 18,500 cats and thousands of community members, the Purrfect Day Cat Cafe is more than a place to enjoy a bite to eat. It’s a place where cats find new homes, people find connection and the community comes together.