Since its opening on June 1, Sip & Purr Cat Café (2021 E. Ivanhoe Place) has helped dozens of cats find their “furever” homes. Katy McHugh, the founder and owner of Sip & Purr, was originally inspired to open this new edition to Milwaukee’s East Side when she visited a cat café in Amsterdam. She wanted to open her own café where people could enjoy kitty company and in turn, adopt cats who need a home. With the help of the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), she put together her business plan in the spring of 2017.
Just over a year later, on opening day, McHugh beams that the support and enthusiasm the public has shown for the café is “more than [she] ever dreamed of.” Leading up to the opening of the café, her small business earned a healthy social media following, and when she posted a job for a “cat concierge” she received more than 200 applicants in 72 hours. McHugh has lived in the Milwaukee area since the late ’90s and recognized the city’s openness to new concepts. “I’ve traveled a lot,” she says, “and Milwaukee is a hidden gem. There’s something special about it.” McHugh feels Milwaukee tends to “rally around our own, especially if it’s for a good cause.”
Sip & Purr takes special care to ensure that both cats and humans are comfortable in the café. The dining area is separated by a glass wall, allowing guests to simultaneously view cats and eat in a clean space. This is the first cat café in the Midwest to serve guests with a full kitchen alongside their beverage options. McHugh carefully planned the food and beverage side of the business while coordinating all of the kitty logistics. She explains, “Any time someone buys something they are supporting the cats and our mission.” Supporting the cats isn’t the only benefit. For example, the Door County Oat Bar with Cherries & Dark Chocolate is a flavorful and delicate treat.
A limited number of people are allowed in the cat area, so visitors are encouraged to make a reservation in advance if they want to ensure they have time to play with furry friends. Even if you are not interested in adopting a cat and just want some feline time, you are a welcomed guest. According to McHugh, “Keeping the cats socialized and friendly makes them more adoptable.” All of the cats are from Lakeland Animal Shelter, and arrive at the cafe microchipped, medically examined, and spayed or neutered. McHugh decided to partner with Lakeland because their “open cat colony concept” fits the model of the Sip & Purr kitty lounge, where there are no cages, and cats are free to roam as they please. The shelter decides which cats will live at Sip & Purr, and these “fur-iends” reside at the cafe until they are adopted.
When she isn’t running her new business, McHugh works with Southwest as a flight attendant. “I always wanted to be a flight attendant since I was a little girl,” she says. It was this job that allowed her to research other cat cafes around the world and help make Sip & Purr a reality.
You can follow Sip & Purr Cat Café on Facebook and learn more at their website sipandpurr.com.
