Must Love Cats: These 3 Cat Cafes Will Pay You Up to $13 an Hour

Cat cafe fever is real, with playful adoption-encouraging cafes popping up all around the U.S.

Not sure you want to fork over a few bucks at a time just to play with cats? Perhaps you can make money working in one of these fine feline establishments.

While jobs at cat cafes differ by location and theme, they have one thing in common: You must love cats. A “cat nanny” job in England required customer service experience, computer literacy, and a positive attitude to be considered for the $11-per-hour position.

Pretty basic skillset. Pretty awesome job. Maybe some purrrrks, too?

OK, you knew the puns were coming. You knew it. Do not roll your eyes at me.

If you’re on the lookout for a cat cafe job in your area, keep an eye on these options. As more cat cafes open, similar positions are likely to soon be available on a sunny windowsill near you.

San Francisco: KitTea

San Francisco’s first cat cafe, KitTea, pays its part-timers $13 per hour plus tips for two different positions.

Cat wranglers are on the front lines of both the feline and human experience. They care for and clean up after cats, monitor the human restrooms, observe the lounge area and welcome guests.

Wranglers must also be up to speed on adoption policies with partner organization Wonder Cat Rescue, as the ultimate goal is to help visitors make a connection that could turn into a purrmanent relationship.

Tea lounge attendants take and prepare orders for tea and snacks, bus and wash dishes, track reservations and complete retail sales.

Applicants for these jobs must be willing to work both weekdays and weekends. To apply for either position, send your resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected].

Minneapolis: Cafe Meow

Minneapolis anxiously awaits Cafe Meow, which is slated to open in fall 2016. The cafe, neighborhood TBD, is accepting applications for two positions.

Baristas will make and serve beverages to guests in the cafe area. They’ll also be informal tour guides for guests about to enter the cat room; when the crowds aren’t pressing in, they’ll tidy the cafe, take stock and assist the cafe manager.

Cat room hosts will check guests into the area, answer questions and sell merchandise.

They’ll also be in charge of “providing customers with bandages if necessary,” along with making sure all cat areas are tidy and mess-free. Hosts should be able to handle cranky customers and/or cranky cats with ease.

“Email us with your name, a brief statement about why you want to join our team, and attach a resume,” the soon-to-launch cafe asks. Its website offers an online form for applicants.

Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles: Crumbs & Whiskers

Crumbs & Whiskers doesn’t have specific positions listed on its site, but sends out a general call for would-be cafe hosts.

“Are you obsessed with customer service, creative problem-solving, and cats?” the jobs page asks.

Naturally, I’m the purrfect candidate.

“The ideal host is high energy, super creative, a people person, and resilient,” says Crumbs & Whiskers of its employee wishlist.

“Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high pressure, entrepreneurial environment. Must be able to commit 6+ months.”

Interested parties can fill in a form on the cafe’s jobs page. Crumbs & Whiskers is so popular in Washington, D.C. — it just completed its 100th adoption in just one year of operation — it’s scheduled to open a branch in Los Angeles soon.

If you’re a fan of felines but you don’t live in any of these cities, you can still work in a cat cafe — just open your own!  Here’s a guide to help you start a cat cafe in your city.

Your Turn: Have you ever considered working at a cat cafe?

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor and podcaster living in Washington, D.C. She likes cats.