9 Lives Cat Cafe: A Cafe for Cats? No... and Yes

I won't go so far as to say 9 Lives Cat Cafe at the corner of Shelby and Orange Streets is unique, but it is a very unusual place. From the name I wasn't sure exactly what sort of establishment it was, until a brave colleague went there and came back with intelligence that it might be a sort of coffee shop, which for me is a great thing, since almost none of the numerous houses of food and drink in Fountain Square open before Lunch. Apparently most hipsters are not morning people. My Pathfinder said it also involved cats, which is the reason for the enigmatic name.  "How does it involve cats?" I asked, to which the reply was "Go and see!"

Okay, suspense over: The space is one long, narrow store front, one side of which is a fairly standard coffee shop that also serves pastries and light fare.  The other side is what looks like a long living room, with couches, easy chairs to sit in as well as various towers, shelves, and scratching posts for the bunch of cats that inhabit that room.  The cats are up for adoption, and if you're in the market for one, you can be admitted to the room to interact with the feline princes and princesses, if any of them deign to notice you, and allow yourself to be adopted by one of them.  There is a long row of windows in the wall that separates the two sides, with a counter and stools on the coffee side so you can sit and watch the cats do what they do while you sip your coffee.  It really is quite mesmerizing, and very relaxing as well.  As oddball as it seems, I think they're onto something there.

I couldn't stay long so I ordered my large coffee and an eclair to go, and it was FIVE dollars and some change!  My shock and horror abated somewhat, however, when the eclair arrived. It was HUGE, enough for like 3 people (though of course I ate it all), filled with French cream and very tasty.  I was just about to leave but had to pause and watch a big tuxedo cat climb a set of shelves along the opposite wall which were arranged like steps.  He reached the top and looked down.... Was he/she going to pounce on one of the humans below?  Slip off and fall to an ignominious impact with the couch?  I just had to see....