Pounce Cat Cafe
Pounce Cat Cafe
5
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Pounce Cat Cafe is a cozy lounge where you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee or tea, sip on wine or craft beer, snack on delicious pastries, and cuddle with adorable cats and kittens. All of the kitties at the cafe are rescue cats provided by Charleston Animal Society and are all up for adoption. Reservation to visit are HIGHLY recommended!
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Mike M
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful and caring space
    Pounce is a great place to visit. It's obvious they truly care about their cats and have created a wonderful and caring space for both the cats and the visitors. Unlike other cat cafes, their cats are all up for adoption so their work is in service of helping the cats find loving homes. I strongly recommend stopping by.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 22, 2023
  • Katrina L
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit!
    Very uniquely decorated, friendly staff, and adorable cats! We had a good time during the hour we booked and fell in love with a couple of sweet kitties. My only complaint would be that the drinks were kind of a let-down since they’re all basic self-serve things you could have at home, but if you drink alcohol you could upcharge to something from the wine bar. My favorite thing would have to be that they restrict guests to be above the age of 12, so there’s no kids terrorizing the cats unlike some other cafes visited! There’s also plenty to do within walking distance of the cafe if you’re looking to save $ on ride shares!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 22, 2023
  • Patty S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A very enjoyable experience had a hard time leaving!
    They let me come in early and when the actual time came I actually had the place to myself! The cats were lovely! I enjoyed the free nonalcoholic beverage and the kitty toys to use with the cats. A handful of them were quick to interact with me. Pretzel hung out with me alot, and then just ten minutes before I had to leave, Hershey, a young kitten decided to crawl on my lap and cuddle up! It made it very difficult for me to leave! I would definitely come back with my daughter! One suggestion. Provide easier parking near the place.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 1, 2023
  • ANewYorker
    New York City, New York196 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best lap dancers ever
    Wonderful idea. The cats really love the staff. There is so much love in the air. Great retail products and fun stuff to do. Lovely ambiance suitable for crazy cat ladies like me.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written January 6, 2024
  • Gagirl23
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    What a wonderful idea and concept. We made a reservation and were so excited and Pounce did not disappoint! We had drinks at the bar then kitties to love for an hour and after they even had lint rollers to send us off cat hair free. Highly recommend!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 15, 2024
  • Chuck C
    Boston, Massachusetts1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent birthday party space!
    We held a birthday party there that had about 18 people. It was a great setup as we could bring catering back into the bar area and people could spend time up front with the cats. The staff was amazing and very helpful in making this a special occasion. We had a blast!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 4, 2024
  • Pioneer51583802683
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Purrfect in every way!
    We had a wonderful time at Pounce Cat Cafe. I’m looking forward to our next visit! Even if you’re not ready to adopt, it is a great way to support a great cause! What a lovely way to provide a foster home until all of these kitty cats find their furever home! Thank you to the staff at Pounce Cat Cafe for all that you do! And thank you to all the sweet kitty cats that made our day in Downtown Charleston very special! ❤️
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 5, 2024
  • Lauren T
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Adorable place
    Such a cute little spot. The kitties were adorable and you get a free drink from their cafe with entry. I’ve been to other cat cafes that didn’t have very good seating but this one did (stools, couches, tables). Perfect for lounging with a cat on your lap:)
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 27, 2024
  • KittyChick
    131 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best hour of my day!
    What a lovely way to spend an hour! I had a quick lunch break while in Charleston for business. I decided to spend it at Pounce, and I’m so glad I did! The kitties were friendly and fun to watch/play with. Most were adopted already- hurrah! So if you are looking to adopt, you should call ahead to see when they are getting new kitties from the local rescue shelter. My favorite was Chicken, who was a big friendly orange boy. This visit to Pounce recharged me for the rest of my client meetings! Take a break from eating and shopping, and pet some kitties for a good cause- win-win!
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 7, 2024
  • Morgan T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great experience!!
    Fabulous staff that truly loves the cats they help. Great, relaxing environment with lots of sweet cats. A great way to find a forever cat to offer them love and socialization.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 5, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles464 reviews
Excellent
423
Very good
26
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
9

Angela H
Charleston, SC23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Friends
I have 3 cats at home and I live in Charleston but I still come to Pounce for some RnR when I’m downtown. The $15 is just my donation to the cause and I get to hang out in a cool place for an hour petting and playing with kitties. Some are feisty, some are sweet, some are just sleeping the whole time. If you are offended when you get scratched or bit, you probably shouldn’t come in for a visit. Cats will be cats and it’s going to happen.

The staff are great; they keep the place clean and the kitties taken care of. If you have a reservation and you know the rules they’re great with people too! But if you don’t check out the website FIRST and just walk in questioning/demanding information, no...they don’t have time for that. They’re trying to keep the cats safe and the place clean. When a group comes in that doesn’t all fit in the entrance and the door is being held open they are probably going to be treated in a very curt manner and abruptly asked to leave so the cats don’t escape! The no kids under 12 rule isn’t unreasonable either. I’m a mother and I used to work in childcare. Young kids are bad, unruly, and not always very gentle. (Of course not YOUR child🙄) Sorry not sorry.

This place is all about the cats and getting them adopted to the best humans is what is most important. It’s not about dumb people or their feeling getting hurt. My advice: just go on the website first and READ IT, make a reservation, don’t be rude, and just enjoy your visit ♥️
Written March 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kelsey
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
A wonderful place & a great cause! Must visit for any animal lover!
Friendly staff and COVID safety was considered for humans and animals.Exceptionally clean environment. The cafe offered some included drinks and inexpensive yet tasty alcoholic options. We added the cat whisperer package upon making reservations(make sure to make a reservation online) so we got a toy, catnip, and treats to use during our visit. I would highly recommend adding this- the cats love playing with you and getting those treats!
Overall a great way to spend an hour with some friends and some beautiful cats. This place also helps to socialize these cats and allows people to interact with cats that are adoptable and spread the word to help them find homes.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alex .
Nashville, TN161 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
If you've never been to Cat Cafe before, you're in for a treat! You pay admission, and then you have access to 10+ cats for an hour (plus a drink, alcoholic or non!). These adorable kitties are friendly and you have lots of room to spread out, sit, enjoy, play, relax, and just be in their company. After several days of traveling, we loved our quiet time with them. My favorite, a orange male tabby, was the sweetest little thing, and thankfully was already adopted! I like that you also hear that good news, as it uplifts your spirits even more. Bonus: you can schedule an evening slot like we did to have something to do at night that isn't just visiting bars. Highly recommend!
Written March 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie P
Cordele, GA490 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Couples
What a perfect way to raise money for the cats and get the kitties some extra love! For a small fee, Pounce allows you to play and visit with the current resident cats up for adoption. The back of the room is separated and offers cozy, comfortable seating in a bar area offering wine, beer, or non-alcoholic beverages. The cats have a marvelous place to play and live in a safe environment. I love this concept! It was so nice to be able to be around some friendly cats while out of town.
Written December 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

soltarread
Denver, CO6 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
So disappointed in this experience...The cafe itself was set up nicely, the cats were friendly and social, and the bartender was very friendly. Very nice concept. The issue our group had was with the front desk. The short of a long story, our cat experience was arranged by our adult kids as an adventure for the mystery trip they sent us on. We didn't know where we were going until we opened an envelope that day. Reservations were made for a group of 6 and a group of 4 for the same time, Pounce Cafe made and accepted the reservations. When 10 of us walked in together, the negative tone was set. The front desk gal was apparently caught off guard. We weren't aware that walking in as 6, then 4 following behind would have been acceptable, walking in as 10 was not. The majority of our group went into the room with the bar, only a couple stayed in the room with the cats, and there were no other visitors there, just our group. I was going back to the front desk, to volunteer to have some more of our group wait in the bar or go outside, when the front desk gal lit into me about how we scammed them about the size of our group. Our group consisted of 62-67 yr olds, we were not a belligerent, crass group. A professional conversation could have easily remedied and deescalated the situation. The front desk gal was so angry, rude, unprofessional and made sure we knew we were not welcome, so we decided it best we leave. Sad representation for The Pounce Cafe
Written November 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MICHELLE H
Tampa, FL39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The concept is to socialize and get shelter cats/kittens adopted and this place nails it! I was visiting Charleston for only 2 days and luckily got a reservation on the same day. I highly recommend reservations. It's a very simple process to make one. Many walk-ins were turned away while I was there and that, I think, is a good thing. When I got to the cafe they check your reservation, give you a drink ticket and you go through the cat area; through another door to the bar/seating area. You order your drink and wait for your group to be let back into the cat area. I ordered a coffee but they have wine/craft beer/soda available along with snacks from a local bakery. The menu is online also so you can figure out what you want before you go so you have max kitty visiting time! They suggest you come 5 minutes prior to your visit. You have exactly 1 hour to visit with the cats. It was such a cool experience! Cat lovers will definitely NOT want to miss going here at least once during their visit. I highly recommend!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Savannah H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
This was extremely fun! I have been a few times around when it first opened. I enjoyed it then and did now thanks to the friendly staff and how well the cats are taken care of. I brought along my sister, boyfriend, and roommate who all have never been before and they all loved the experience as well. My roommate takes in foster cats all the time and said she could tell that the cats are very well taken care of and loved as well. There were two new cats who were still adjusting to the environment but the staff handled it wonderfully when they got a little scared of people.

For future first timers, I highly recommend that you do an online reservation instead of walk-ins as it can get booked very quickly throughout the day during Charleston's tourist season especially.
I also recommend that you remain patient and remember that this is a café. The cats can and will get tired and want alone time. There is no harm in letting them be for a couple of minutes while you and friends sit down and chat or pick up any of the books they have laying around in the café while you wait for them to reenergize, eat or go to the litter box.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Candace Coker
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
My daughter and I are cat lovers and our favorite part of this experience was interacting with the cats, of course! There were so many kitties hanging around, playing, resting, eating, etc., many of them waiting calmly to be taken to their furrever homes the next day! The pouncers were great, professional and friendly, answering questions, and helping people with adoptions.

The atmosphere was calm, with relaxing music in the background. The bar area was nice, with merchandise to purchase - even cat wine! My daughter bought a mask with a cat mouth, nose and whiskers - adorable!
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Korky62
Gloucester, VA338 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
My daughter and I stumbled across this place our first night in town. Being that they were closed, we decided to check it out the next day and I’m glad we did. Pounce has a couple different packages to choose from. We bought the one hour package that came with one drink each. You can choose from bottles soda, water, wine and more. The cat cafe is a great way to spend time with cats that are up for adoption. You can see what their true personalities are like. Oh, if you just want to spend some time in a soothing atmosphere and interact with the cats this is for you. There are several sofas, chairs and stools to sit at, plenty of cat toys and about a dozen cats. The cage is so clean, there are no smells at all. They sell tee shirts, catnip and more. If your looking for something different to do, Pounce Cat Cafe is the place!
Written October 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wesley G
Asheville11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
My wife, two of our friends, and I went to the cat cafe, which was a wonderful opportunity for my wife to enjoy a feline friend (or 12) since we don't currently have a cat at home. The staff was helpful and friendly and for our lunchtime visit it wasn't crowded. We would definitely recommend checking it out if you like cats, and we wish we had one in our area at home. Thanks for a great time!
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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