Recently, I ventured to The Region Cat Cafe in Merrillville and the experience was nothing short of amazing. The cafe was filled with whimsical paintings and decorations, a plethora of tasty treats, and of course, tons of adorable cats. The day was filled with cuddles and sweet treats and the small journey to the cafe was worth every minute.

For years, I have wanted a precious little kitten to call my own. The idea of coming back home every day and cuddling up with a cat while I watch my favorite shows is something I have yet to do, but so desperately want to experience. Unfortunately, my mom and little sister are both allergic to cats, so my dreams of owning a fur baby are postponed until the day I live on my own. Thankfully, I have a solution to this predicament, and I can still visit cuddly kittens and soak up all their love at The Region Cat Cafe. 

Just off of I-65 in Merrillville sits the small cafe in a strip center. Walking up to the cafe, I knew my high expectations would be met. When first walking in, there is a room to the right of the door with large glass windows that overlook the playroom the cats are kept in. Even if not going inside the room with the cats, cafe-goers can stop in for a specially made drink and watch the cats from the cafe seating area. There is also upstairs seating available in the cafe so people can enjoy their food and drinks while still being able to watch the cats play through the windowed room. 

First, anyone wishing to play with the cats and go in the cat room must check in with the owners and confirm their reservations which must be made in advance on their website. After checking in with the owners, there was a wait before the remaining customers showed up and our reserved time began. We were led into the cat room by an employee where we were explained some basic rules and guidelines regarding the cats. After that, our time began and the cats came ready to play. With at least fifteen cats in the room, everyone had a cat to love on at all times. Some of the cats were sleeping, while others were excited to see us and eager to get playing. We were even given treats to share with the cats and were encouraged to pet them and play with them. Time slots can be booked 50 minutes at a time, and once our time was up, we said our last goodbyes to the cats, washed our hands and exited the cat room. 

After spending time with the cats, customers are encouraged to check out the cafe and gift shop. The cafe offers a large selection of drinks and baked goods to choose from. I wasn’t ready to leave just yet, so I decided to go to the upstairs dining area to watch the cats some more. On the way out, I stopped at the bakery counter and bought cat cake pops and cat cookies! These sweet treats were the perfect way to end our exciting trip to the cat cafe. In the end, I didn’t want to leave, so needless to say I will be returning in the near future. This experience was truly amazing and I recommend it to any cat-lover!