The cats at Purringtons Lounge were going like adoptable hotcakes before our eyes! By the time you go, this cat will probably be one of them.
  • MB
  • The cats at Purringtons were going like adoptable hotcakes before our eyes! By the time you go, this cat will probably be one of them.

Fact: Purringtons Cat Lounge, Portland's first-ever CAT CAFE, was impossible to get into on its opening weekend last month. Believe me, I tried in vain to get a reservation, but occupancy is limited, for, you know, SAFETY. But I finally got my act together, and am happy to report that all of my cat-related wishes came true, and yours probably will too. Frequent Mercury contributor Suzette Smith joined me in this very important reporting. Together, we ranked Purringtons Cat Lounge—scoring out of a possible five cats—in three key categories: ease of use, health and safety, and, most critical of all, quality of cats. Here, at last, are our findings:

EASE OF USE: 3 OUT OF 5 CATS

SUZETTE SMITH: When I arrived, the staff at Purringtons thought they'd lost my reservations, and that there have been some bugs with their online reservation system. I’m in agreement. The staff are all wearing shirts with cats on them or something about cats on them. I have choices between tea, coffee, Mexican Coke, Meowmosas (yep) or just regular old non-cat-themed beer. Health department rules demand that cats not be permitted into the food prep area, but once you have your crackers plate you can take it into the lounge with you. Throughout our visit a lone man perched in the entry area, and watched the people inside the cafe.

MEGAN BURBANK: Admission into the cat cafe is $8 for an hour, or in our case, $6 each for 45 minutes thanks to our reservation weirdness. $8 seems steep, especially if you get a snack, too. But I guess that's about equivalent to seeing a movie, and probably a better guarantee for mood-boosting, because YOU GET TO HANG OUT WITH CATS!

More adorableness and hard-hitting reporting after the jump.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: 5 OUT OF 5 CATS

House rules.
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  • House rules.

SS: Inside the cafe there’s a staff person amenable to being called a cat whisperer or a cat wrangler (I made those names up because I’m no good) who keeps an eye on the sitch. She makes sure the cats aren’t picked up or cuddled with too much severity.

MB: I want to call them cattendants.

SS: The cattendant told me that there haven’t been any issues and generally aren’t unless smaller children visit.
The industrial design is cold, but Megan thinks that it seems very clean and sanitary.

MB: I love cats, but I don't love smelling like cats, and I'm also faintly allergic to them (a predicament I have tried in the past to overcome through sheer force of will, with limited success), so, yes, I'm very happy that the floor at Purringtons is easy-to-clean concrete. There is no "cat smell." It is, as the Yelpers love to say, super clean. If you're allergic to cats but love them anyway, this is the place to be. Pop a prophylactic Allegra and throw on your best cat sweatshirt!

QUALITY OF CATS: 4 OUT OF 5 CATS

A closeup on Purringtons outer-space themed cat mural.
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  • A closeup on Purringtons' outer-space themed cat mural.

SS: If I had to rate the cats I would rate them as such:
1. Mystery
2. all the other cats

I would describe Mystery as a softtuxedosoftlittlewhitepawbabysoftbabycat. She’s a reallygoodlittlewalkingwithtinylittlewhitefeetandsoftblackfursoftcat. I can say all these things with total objectivity. During our visit, Mystery decided to take a nap in a cat cocoon under a wooden bench. I lay on the floor and waited for her to be done. After a moment, I realized this could be unseemly so I stood up, but my spirit remained (remains!) on the floor with Mystery. For purposes (PURRposes?!) of journalism, I tried to rub my face on all the cats. Suzie was not feeling me. After cuddling with a couple, Pollie retired to a cozy exclusive catnap area. Gracie endured my touch but did not go as far as to acknowledge my presence. Boo chased a feather thing for someone else.

Spotted at Purringtons: This zine from Zach Auburns wonderful How to Talk to Your Cat... series. These cats have good taste in reading.
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  • Spotted at Purringtons: This zine from Zach Auburn's wonderful How to Talk to Your Cat... series. These cats have good taste in reading.

MB: Okay, so there weren't that many cats when we visited. There are supposed to be 8-10 cats hanging around at any given time; we documented a mere five. One of the cattendants told us that they'd already completed several adoptions, through their partnership with Cat Adoption Team. While we were there, a gorgeous, fluffy gray kitty who just sat next to the window while I patted her beautiful soft gray fur was adopted. Her name was Gracie. Good-bye, Gracie! Oh man, but I'd have to be a real asshole to get indignant at the cat cafe for allowing its cats to be adopted. Mazel tov, new kitty-owners! Be glad you're not faintly allergic!

Purringtons Cat Lounge, at 3529 NE MLK, is open Tues-Sun noon-8 pm, $8. Make your reservations ahead of time at here.