Cats from Toulouse {France}

The fourth-largest city of France – Toulouse – is known for its churches, pretty river banks, and numerous buildings in pink terracotta bricks. But a trip to Toulouse would never be complete without a visit to its 'bar à chats', Chapristea.

Chapristea is a café filled with a bunch of cats that wander freely, climb the shelves, and nap on the customers' laps. And the best part is, customers can adopt a cat and bring it home.

The cat café is located in the middle of the center of Toulouse, at only a short walking distance from the shopping streets and the Place du Capitole.

A sign-post at the crossroads between the shopping street Rue Saint-Rome and the tiny Rue Jules Chalandes (where the café is located) indicates that you have arrived at your destination.

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Chances are there will be a long line of people waiting outside the cat café, even during weekdays. Don't let this discourage you, because it's worth the wait.

It's possible to reserve a spot in advance, but only for lunch between 12 pm and 2 pm. After that, your only option is to wait until someone leaves the café.

Once inside, a staff member will show you to your place, which will be either on the ground floor near the entrance or on the basement floor.

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Lunch options are extensive: brunches, quiches, salads, croques-monsieur...

After 2 pm, you can opt for ice cream or cake, together with a large variety of teas, coffees, juices, smoothies, milkshakes, lemonades, and ice teas.

Chapristea has partnered with the organization Le Chat Libre de Toulouse to make several of their cats available for adoption. The cats that permanently stay at the cat café were chosen based on their ability to live comfortably with large groups of both cats and people.

However, certain rules apply on how to behave with the cats. For example, customers are not allowed to pick up the cats, to wake them up, feed them, or to photograph them using a flashlight.

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What's better than curling up with a good cup of coffee and a cuddly cat?

What do you think about the cat café of Toulouse? Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this post with your friends, especially cat lovers!