Cats and coffee under one roof, Northern Ireland’s first cat cafe is expected to open in Belfast this summer.

Kittywinkles is hoping it will become one of the newest niche businesses in Belfast. It will offer a unique experience where customers can book a visit, order coffee, tea and snacks, and browse wi-fi while cats snooze, scurry and saunter around them.

Kittywinkles is raising funds via crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, used by Northern Ireland companies such as Brewbot and bike light firm See Sense to get their businesses up and running, and raised over 10% of its target in just two days.

Kittywinkles founder Caitlin McClelland

Founder of Kittywinkles Cat Lounge, Caitlin McClelland, says, “a cat lounge is a way for people to interact with cats in a relaxed and comfortable environment. There are a growing number of people who live in rented accommodation and apartments away from home who either aren’t allowed cats, have a busy lifestyle or can’t afford to have a pet. Kittywinkles provides the chance to spend some quality time with animals.”

Cat cafes have been a phenomenon in Asia for decades but they didn’t hit the UK until Lady Dinah’s opened in London in 2013 after a successful crowdfunding campaign of its own. There now 9 cat cafés in the UK.

Kittywinkles will open in Belfast this summer if it successfully meets its goal of £20,000 by 24th June, offering exclusive rewards to project backers, like early access to the lounge or the chance to name one of its resident cats.

They have 11 days left to meet their funding goal and you can back them by > clicking here <.