The Black Cat Market

Justin Rogers-Cooper

2023-12

This is a secure, accessible, and friendly cat cafe with excellent management, cat-centered protocols, and opportunities for adoption. There’s also a nifty-gifty shop up front with fun clothes, kid-friendly products, and pleasant hand-crafted products.It’s good to make an appointment first, as it’s a busy and popular spot. A half-hour session with the cats is $7 per person. The cat room is full of kittens and cats of all kinds, and a few other cat lovers who are generally pretty gentle and friendly. We had a blast and almost adopted a cat even though we have five already (!).I can’t say enough about the responsible, approachable, and knowledgeable staff on site. We learned they placed over 700 cats with families over the last five years.We really wish we lived closer to this fun and friendly cat world.

Amber Lapp

2024-01

I’m a cat lady through and through, so I have very high standards for how they’re cared for. It’s clear that Black Cat Market is motivated by a deep love and respect for cats, and not by profit.The cat room is large and well maintained. A calm atmosphere is top priority, so they cap the number of visitors each hour. There are tons of toys to play with, scratch pads, cat trees, windows to look out of, and places for the cats to hide away and relax. The staff go to great lengths to make sure the cats are happy, healthy, clean, and comfortable. They know their needs and personalities well, so you can be sure to find a companion that fits your lifestyle.I adopted my sweet cat (pictured below) from Black Cat Market in January! The application process was straightforward, yet thorough and professional. They were happy to answer any questions I had. The fee was very reasonable, with multiple options to pay including Venmo. Upon pickup, I was given a folder with medical records, proof of vaccination and spaying, and instructions for activating my her microchip which I really appreciated.In addition to a bunch of cute, adoptable cats, Black Cat Market hosts gatherings and BYOB craft nights and sells a variety of gifts and cat products. They also support important initiatives in the East End (and beyond). There is even a library of free children’s books which was so wonderful to see.This is an organization I feel really good about supporting. Highly recommend a visit. ❤️

April Rich

2024-03

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Jessica Coleman

2023-05

I didn't have any coffee, but I loved our visit here. Wonderful souvenirs, cat related local artists work, and beautiful cats. 😍 I won't say some details to leave some surprises, but I'll say some of these kitties have some special talents. They all seemed so happy, have a clean environment and it was such a fun group activity when visiting family. We'd love to adopt one of these precious babies and are not ruling it out in the future!Parking: Parking is mainly on the street. Depending on when you go, could be challenging.Kid-friendliness: Super kid friendly place. Guidelines for how to act with the kitties are posted clearly.

Olivia Henderson

2024-01

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Christopher Field

2023-05

Fun place to come and sit among cats. A lot of cats. Be warned: it smells like cats! I made an appointment for my kid and her friend and the three of us hung out with the cats for half an hour. Some cats played with us, some hid, and some looked at us as though we were beneath their time or interest. Overall, it was a very cat-like experience. I left feeling calm and happy, and very centered.There is a small assortment of cat-related gifts by the front desk. The cat room is in the back. It has human-sized chairs and benches. Appointments are recommended.Cats are all cared for and well-fed. When not here, they live at a rescue shelter. They have all their shots and medicals up to date, are all clean and seem well-adjusted socially.The cats are available for adoption. Visiting cats here is a cool way to see the animals as they might behave in a home environment, rather than just a passing glance at them in a shelter cage or using the shelter playroom for a few minutes. You can sit with them in an open space and get a sense of their personalities. Super cool.

Taylor Sopata

2023-05

Was visiting Pittsburgh for work and decided to stop here for a break. Setup the reservation online, no problem. The staff was friendly. I feel lucky as I was the only person in the cat room while I visited, so I got a lot of attention from the cats. All of the cats I met were friendly. There were a lot of very playful kittens as well. The only complaint I had was that there was no coffee or food for sale, which is something you expect when you google "cat cafe" and this pops up.

Meredith S.

2024-01

We’ve visited The Black Cat Market a number of times. Such a great place to chill out with some cats. I love what they do for kitties. This black cat, Reuben, is such a sweetie.

Anna Kelly

2024-01

I have come here many times over the last year and never had a bad experience. Cat cafes involve a large number of animals living in a single area, and with that taken into consideration, the smell is reasonable. There are two bathrooms that are always clean and well-stocked. The check in process is smooth, and the reservation system is easy to navigate and doesn't require a deposit, so people can pay in cash. The cost of a visit is affordable, and the options for frequent visitor passes are even more so. I have always been happy with the number of other visitors in the room at the same time--it feels like the occupancy limits are logical, and they are enforced. It's never so crowded that the cats seem stressed or that I leave feeling like I didn't really get to interact with a cat because there was a crowd or something. Highly recommend! Also, I've attended an event (a paint night) and it was well-run and worth the price.

Melinda Dang

2023-07

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D Butera

2024-04

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Morgan Carpenter-Panuski

2023-09

I was disappointed there was no "cafe" in this cat cafe. Ultimately we were there mostly to pet and play with kitties, but we also chose to go at a time where we would have normally had an afternoon drink or snack, so it was disappointing.However everything else about this place is really great. It seems community focused (they have free books that have been donated for anyone to take) and it's obvious they care about finding safe and healthy homes for the cats who come through. It does smell like cats live there (because duh) but it's kept clean and I was surprised how little cat hair came home on our clothes. We'll be back (with our own beverages next time, but I do hope they get the cafe going at some point).

liz lynch

2024-03

Beautiful little spot to visit with sweet kitties. I’ve been in a few times and the staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable about the different temperaments of the cats, and of course the cats themselves are 12/10, excellent at being cats.If you’re looking to adopt, it’s a great way to see cats in a less stressful environment than a shelter, and if you just want to soak up the kitty vibes it’s great for that too.Kid-friendliness: Lovely place for kiddos to get to know cats.

Emma Skreppen

2024-03

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Rosemary Geibel

2024-02

I absolutely love this place!! It's obvious that the cats are well taken care of and adored by the staff. Black Cat Market and Frankie's Friends (the rescue that provides the cats) are doing amazing things for these cats. There's also a ton of cat merch from small/local businesses available to purchase. The only negative thing I have to say is that it's lacking in the coffee/cafe area, but I think it's deserving of 5 stars regardless.

Geoffrey H

2024-05

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Kidd, just Kidd

2024-03

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Christine Gerner

2024-04

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Nicolas Riquelme

2024-02

They market this place as a “CAFE/COFEE SHOP when in reality, it’s a terrible petting zoo. Their “coffee” was a tiny section in the corner (self service) similar to the 20$ coffee makers you see in corporate offices. The atmosphere was DEPRESSING. The last time I went to a cat cafe, it was exactly that. You order your coffee/latte before you enter the “cat room” that has tables/chairs, music playing, people having a good time. Cats were adorable though.

Erin Wheeler

2024-01

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Rianna Nag

2024-01

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Karalyne Nash

2023-12

went in to spend time with the cats with the intention to adopt, our family recently put down our dog and we're ready to welcome a new furry friend into our home. the appointment process was speedy and simple and soon enough we were in the room with the cats. all of them looked happy and healthy and had lots of toys and love to keep them at ease. we had our heart set on gravy and applied to adopt him that night. Our application was approved in three days after and soon enough gravy (we have now named davey) was ours to love forever! the people here care for what they do and it shows! highly recommend to those interested in adopting a new cat.

Thomas Parker

2023-05

I am really happy there The black cat market is open and available to adopt cats. The sad part is the caps didn’t seem happy. They do sell toys and other items for cats and I think they should let you buy them and give them to cats if you’re in the area, make a reservation, but you have to do and stop by and check it out for yourself

Sarah McCafferty

2024-01

i go to the cat market about once a week and it’s wonderful! they have a lot of cats who are well taken care of, and i love watching their journeys to adoption on instagram. they sell cute gift shop type merch from local artists too that i buy once in a while.i really appreciate that when the owner or an attendant takes us to the cat room they give a rundown of notable personalities, which cats are shy and hiding but would love some attention, which ones are recovering from something medically etc. I hope I make those cats happy too because they always make my day. I’m super allergic to cats but they’re my favorite, so this is the next best thing!I got a membership so i can visit and bring my partner as often as we want and it’s sooo worth it. I also like that they’re open until 6 because if I have a rough work day I can make it there for a 5:30 slot and cheer up :)Kid-friendliness: I see kids there all the time! As long as they can be gentle and read an animal’s cues it looks like a nice place to bring kids. I saw a kid’s birthday party happening one time too so they’re super welcoming to families.

Jenna Tishler

2024-01

I absolutely love this place! They have lots of wonderful cats that you can play with and it's clear that they take care of all the cats very well. They sell cute cat related items as well. It's a great and relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Cecilia B

2024-03

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Xiaoying Tu

2024-03

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Adam Marzullo

2024-03

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Shou Duo

2024-01

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Ana Del Prete

2024-01

An amazing place with thoughtful staff, beautiful kitties, and love everywhere. The cherry on top is the connection to community and supporting others.There is truly no better lazy morning activity than visiting the cat room and helping these kitties become gently socialized and ready for their forever home!