The Tipsy Tabby in New Market is New Hampshire’s only cat cafe. Here’s everything you need to know about the unique establishment.
When I moved into my new apartment a few years ago, almost everyone I knew suggested that I get a pet. It was my first time living alone, and my loved ones thought it was best if I had some type of built-in companionship as I navigated the highs and lows of this unfamiliar step into adulthood. Ultimately, I chose to pass on the idea of having a pet of my own until I felt more capable of taking care of a living creature by myself, but I’ve still been seeking ways of enjoying that type of companionship in the meantime.
Enter: Cat cafes. The idea for this themed attraction was born in 1998 in Taipei, Taiwan, with the introduction of “Cat Flower Garden,” the very first known cat cafe in the world. Visitors pay a cover fee to gain access to a cat lounge portion of the cafe where they can spend time playing and relaxing with adoptable felines, all while sipping on a cappuccino and biting into a pastry.
These spaces became even more popular when they cropped up in Japan, as many residents there were unable to have their own pets due to the size of their apartments. Cat cafes presented people with a third place where they could gather with friends or spend time alone as they enjoyed the company of cats and the emotional regulation the animals bring to humans.
The first cat cafe in North America opened in 2014, and over the last decade or so, many more have swept the nation. Owners of these businesses partner with local humane societies, animal shelters, and cat rescues to essentially foster animals looking for forever homes. Those societies, rescues, and shelters technically own the cats and oversee the adoption process for anyone who visits a cafe and bonds with one of the furry friends there.
It’s an interesting concept rooted in the idea of kindness and empathy. Many cats are often scared or stressed when living in a shelter, making it more difficult to determine their personalities and help them get adopted. By allowing cafes to foster them for a little while, it makes adoption more likely and also provides a safe space in the community for people to go when they want to feel less alone.
In New Hampshire, The Tipsy Tabby is doing exactly that by welcoming visitors six days a week at its Main Street location in Newmarket.
The Tipsy Tabby, Newmarket
Location: 90 Main Street
Hours: Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; closed on Mondays
The Tipsy Tabby is owned and operated by Kaitlyn Ferretti, who previously worked in Atlanta at a veterinary dentistry practice. Ferretti wanted to create a space that combined her love of coffee and tea with her love of cats, and thus this adorable cafe was born. The cafe portion of The Tipsy Tabby is open during standard operating hours, but the cat lounge requires an appointment (more on that in a minute).
Free WiFi is provided, and overall, The Tipsy Tabby is a quaint, quiet, welcoming environment for those who want to read, work, soak in the mill town scenery, and spend time scratching a couple of cats. We’ll go over the menu items below, but first let’s talk you through how to set up an appointment to visit Ferretti’s cat lounge.
How it works
To keep the cats safe and prevent stress, cat lounge visits are by appointment only. Walk-ins are sometimes allowed in 15- to 30-minute time slots if the lounge isn’t already booked up. Either way, all guests must sign this waiver in advance. It’s a standard part of the operating process for cat cafes as it provides another layer of protection for the animals.
To reserve your spot online, click here to schedule a 50-minute block of time at The Tipsy Tabby’s lounge. Adult tickets cost $14 per person, children’s tickets for little ones between the ages of 4 and 13 cost $10, and children under four are admitted for $1 each. Military and senior tickets are available for $12 per person.
Once you select the date, time, and number of tickets needed, input your contact and credit card information on the following page and sign that waiver we just talked about. Then, when you arrive at The Tipsy Tabby at your designated time, check in with a staffer and confirm your reservation. You’ll have the chance to grab food and drinks while you wait to be brought into the cat lounge. Food is permitted in the area where the cats live, but staffers politely ask that you refrain from feeding the felines any of your human food while you’re hanging out with them.
Menu items
For the humans in your group, a variety of coffees, teas, and seasonal drinks are available at The Tipsy Tabby, as is a selection of baked goods sourced from Durham’s Sweetened Memories Bakery. And, in a nod to the OG cat cafe inventors, Taiwanese bubble tea is served as well. A full menu can be found here. As an added bonus, you might even get some adorable cat-themed latte art.
Additional food items, like instant Ramen and nut butter sandwiches, are offered if you want something a little heartier to eat.
Meet the cats
The Tipsy Tabby keeps a current list of cats available for adoption through its rescue partner, Manchester’s Darbster Kitty, that you can visit inside the Newmarket lounge. Every cat at the cafe has been neutered or spayed and has received its most recent vaccines.
It’s important to note that not all of the animals will be up for playing when you’re there for your designated time slot. You may be catching some of them during nap time or when they’re feeling a little antisocial, and that’s okay. Taking a minute to just relax and enjoy their company might do your soul some good anyway!
