Sheffield has one cat café, and it sits at 7 Cemetery Road. Tabby Teas opened as the city’s first venue of its kind, and it runs on a simple idea: around ten permanent resident rescue cats live there, and visitors book a slot to share their space over tea and cake.
Booking ahead is essential, entry is limited to visitors aged 12 and over, and the house rules put the cats’ comfort first, so plan your visit around them rather than turning up on spec.
The cats come from two local charities, Mill House Animal Sanctuary and Pet Samaritans, who help choose felines that will settle happily in a café setting. That selection process is why the atmosphere stays calm even with a dozen cats in one room.
Key Takeaways
Tabby Teas on Cemetery Road is Sheffield’s first and best-known cat café, home to roughly ten resident rescue cats.
Visits are pre-booked online, and the café takes enquiries by email or social media instead of by phone.
House rules ban picking up the cats, feeding them anything but the café’s own treats, and admit only visitors aged 12 or above.
Visitor Information & Opening Times
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Address | 7 Cemetery Road, Sheffield |
Opening Times | Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30am – 6:30pm (Monday & Thursday: Closed) |
Phone Number | No telephone (Contact via email or social media) |
What Is Tabby Teas?
Tabby Teas is a small café in Sheffield where about ten rescue cats live permanently and visitors book an hour in their company. The Tabby Teas Cat Café describes itself as a place to relax and unwind with cats, with a menu of teas, coffees and cakes alongside the kitty cuddles.
A Relaxed Space Built Around Resident Rescue Cats
The ten residents are all rescue cats, chosen with help from Mill House Animal Sanctuary and Pet Samaritans so that each one suits café life. They are fully vetted and have plenty of space to retreat when they want quiet.
The room is set up for the cats first. Beds, shelves and high perches mean a cat can nap above head height while people drink tea below.
If you are drawn to the rescue side of the story, Sheffield also has several cat rescue centres taking in and rehoming local cats.
Who a Visit Is Best Suited To
The café suits adults and older children who are happy to sit still and let a cat come to them. Reviewers on Tripadvisor rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 156 reviews, and the praise centres on how calm and clean the space feels.
It is a good fit if you love cats but cannot keep one, or if you want a quiet hour out of the city centre bustle. People hoping for lap-fulls of cats on demand may find the pace slower than expected, because interaction happens on feline terms.
Dog owners should note this is a cats-only venue. For four-legged company, Sheffield has plenty of dog friendly cafés instead.
How Do You Book a Visit?
You book Tabby Teas online in advance through the booking links the café shares on its website and Facebook page. Slots are timed, and the café has no telephone, so all questions go through email or social media.
Why Booking Ahead Matters
Space is limited because the number of people in the room affects how relaxed the cats stay. Pre-booking caps visitor numbers per slot and keeps the noise level down.
Weekend slots go quickest. The café is open every day except Monday and Thursday, from 10.30am to 6.30pm, which narrows the window further.
How to Contact the Café and Confirm Details
Tabby Teas asks visitors to send an email or a message on Facebook or Instagram, and states plainly that it does not have a phone. Replies come as soon as staff can manage them, so allow a day or two before your visit.
The café’s Facebook page carries the current booking link and any short-notice closures.
What to Check Before You Go
Check your slot time and length, whether anyone in your group is under 12, and any dietary requirements you want to flag. If you have lost access to your booking, use the log in option on the booking system or message the café about a forgotten account rather than making a second reservation.
Also check the date. With two closure days each week, a Monday or Thursday trip will end at a locked door.
How Do the House Rules Protect the Cats?
The rules exist so the cats keep control of every interaction. Tabby Teas asks visitors not to pick up, surround or annoy the cats, sets a minimum age of 12, and limits food to the treats staff hand out.
The Age Requirement for Visitors
Children must be 12 or above to enter, and this includes babies. Younger visitors are more likely to grab, chase or squeal, which unsettles cats that cannot leave the building.
The rule is absolute, so a family visit needs planning around it.
Letting Cats Choose the Interaction
Kitty cuddles happen when a cat decides to approach. Sit down, keep your hands low, and let the cat sniff you before you stroke it.
Leave sleeping cats alone. A rescue cat woken by a stranger’s hand learns to avoid people, and that undoes months of settling in.
Cats that hide are choosing rest over company. Following one into its hiding spot removes the escape route the setup is designed to give it.
Treats, Food and Respecting Their Routine
Only the treats handed out by staff should go to the cats. Ten cats fed by every table would gain weight fast, and human food can upset a cat’s stomach or worse.
Keep your own plate covered or close to you. Cats sharing a room with cake will investigate, and the food rule protects them from a stolen mouthful of something unsuitable.
Cats living in a café still need predictable feeding and quiet times, much like the routines a cat sitter keeps going at home while owners are away.
What Can You Eat and Drink While You Visit?
Tabby Teas serves a selection of teas, coffees and cakes, and your booking covers a seat in the café with the cats. The menu stays deliberately small so the focus remains on the room rather than the kitchen.
Teas, Coffees and Cakes
Loose leaf and bagged teas sit alongside coffees, and the cake selection changes with what has been baked. Drinks arrive in covered or lidded form where possible, which keeps curious paws out.
Ordering is straightforward. Pick what you want when you arrive so you are not up and down mid-slot, which helps the cats settle around your table.
Dietary Options and Menu Checks
Vegan cake is part of the offering, so plant-based visitors are catered for. Message the café ahead of your visit if you need gluten-free or have an allergy, since the menu is small and stock varies day to day.
The current menu is listed on the café’s own site. Checking it before you book saves disappointment if you are travelling across the city for a specific cake.
A Calm, Cat-First Day Out in Sheffield
Tabby Teas gives Sheffield a genuine cat café: ten resident rescue cats, timed slots you book online, and a short menu of teas, coffees and cakes to enjoy while the cats decide whether to join you.
Get the practical parts right and the visit runs smoothly. Book ahead through the café’s links, email or message rather than ring, avoid Mondays and Thursdays, and make sure everyone in your party is 12 or over.
Once inside, the house rules do the rest of the work. Hands low, no lifting, no feeding beyond the treats you are given, and the cats will come to you in their own time.
Looking for someone to give your own cat that same level of care while you’re away? I provide calm, in-home cat sitting across Sheffield, with visits from £14 per 15 minutes or £20 per half hour, plus photos and videos through a free app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sheffield have a cat cafe?
Yes. Tabby Teas at 7 Cemetery Road is Sheffield’s first cat café, home to around ten permanent resident rescue cats. It opens every day except Monday and Thursday, from 10.30am to 6.30pm.
Do I need to book Tabby Teas in advance?
Yes, visits are pre-booked online through the links on the café’s website and social media pages. Tabby Teas has no telephone, so any questions about your slot go by email, Facebook or Instagram message.
Can children visit Tabby Teas Cat Cafe?
Only children aged 12 and above can enter, and the rule includes babies. The age limit keeps noise and sudden movement down, which helps the resident cats stay relaxed.
Do cats enjoy living in cat cafes?
Cats settle well in a café when the space and the cats are matched carefully. Tabby Teas works with Mill House Animal Sanctuary and Pet Samaritans to pick cats suited to the environment, and the room offers high perches and quiet spots for retreat.
Are the cats at Tabby Teas rescue cats?
Yes, all of the permanent residents are rescue cats, and each one is fully vetted. Two local charities help the café select cats that will be happy living there.
What should I do if my cat needs care while I am away?
Book in-home visits so your cat keeps its own territory, food bowls and litter tray. I offer two visits a day as standard across S7, S8, S10, S11 and S17, with feeding, fresh water, litter tray cleaning, playtime and photo updates, and a free 30-minute meet and greet first.
