Ever since Finnegan’s Whiskers – currently the only cat cafe in Suffolk – first opened its doors in Sudbury, our son has been desperate to visit, but with age restrictions in place (they do allow under-8s, but only in more limited sessions), we had to wait until he turned eight to make it happen. And he absolutely loved his first visit.
We booked a slot online for Bank Holiday Monday via the Finnegan’s Whiskers website, which was quick and straightforward. On arrival, you wait just outside the building until a member of the team is ready for you, before being let into a small, secure entrance area (complete with a second door so the resident cats can’t escape!). Here, the team runs through the house rules and provides a place to leave your shoes before you head inside.
And so our first-ever experience at the only cat cafe in Suffolk began.
When we visited, there were six cats, each with their own personality. Ziggy was wide awake and ready to play, while Biscuit had claimed a cosy floor bed and wasn’t budging. Pip lounged in a hanging macramé-style bed by the window, Olive (the only female) soaked up the sun out on the catio, and Bootsy observed everything from a lofty perch near the ceiling. Peanut, meanwhile, had secured a prime spot on the window ledge, stretched out in the sunshine.
For an eight-year-old used to just one (rather elderly) cat at home, this was absolute heaven. He was able to interact with all of them at various points during our one-hour slot at this cat cafe in Suffolk, and was delighted by how friendly and relaxed they all were.
While the cats were clearly the stars of the show, the food and drink impressed us, too. We ordered a couple of lattes, which were lovely and strong, along with a sausage roll and a vegan chocolate chip sea salt cookie. The menu is fairly small, but everything is made in-house and genuinely delicious. Check out the cat-themed teaspoon, too!
There’s also a lovely little selection of merchandise available, from coasters and keyrings to cat-themed socks, plus the option to sponsor your favourite feline, helping with the ongoing costs of food, litter and care.
Ziggy is apparently the customer favourite, and it’s easy to see why. With his striking blue eyes and affectionate nature, he’s absolutely gorgeous. But what really stands out is just how well cared for all the cats are. The space is thoughtfully designed, with plenty of enrichment such as climbing areas, toys, water fountains and resting spots at all different heights. There’s even a separate room (accessible via a cat flap) where the litter trays are kept and where the cats can retreat for some quiet time if they need it.
Visitor numbers are kept low to avoid overwhelming them, and the whole place is spotless and well managed.
Sessions last an hour and cost £8.50 per person, with the option to extend if there’s space in the next slot.
As the only cat cafe in Suffolk, and one where the owners really do seem to genuinely care about the welfare of their resident felines, Finnegan’s Whiskers is an easy recommendation. If you love cats, you’ll love it here.