A no-kill cat shelter in Baton Rouge is expanding into a bigger facility, and a cat cafe is part of the plan.
Local nonprofit Cat Haven has operated since 1999 with the mission to rescue cats, place them in forever homes and reduce feline overpopulation. It’s currently headquartered at 11130 N. Harrells Ferry Road, and it’ll move to 530 Shadows Lane, a spot that’s near the Main Library.
Cat Haven’s new facility at 530 Shadows Lane in Baton Rouge will open by the end of 2026. This rendering shows what the facility’s cat cafe will look like.
The goal is to open the new facility in the fall or by the end of the year, according to Cat Haven spokesperson Kelly Hurtado. The cage-free adoption environment will feature over 23 individual living spaces for cats, a surgical suite, medical evaluation rooms and a cat cafe.
“The novelty here is the fact that there’s a place for people to go bring their cats, have a cup of coffee or tea and visit with other cat enthusiasts,” Hurtado said.
Cat Haven board president Wendy Decker said the space will be an oasis for cat lovers. People can make reservations and spend 45 minutes to an hour inside the cafe where there will be coffee, tea, pastries and light snacks. Walk-ins are welcome if time permits, she said.
Cat Haven’s new facility at 530 Shadows Lane in Baton Rouge will open by the end of 2026.
“The idea is for people and the cats to interact one on one,” Decker said. “The cats get a lot of socialization that way, and people get to enjoy the cats in a calming atmosphere.”
The cat cafe will be the first of its kind in the capital region, Hurtado said.
The new, 7,200 square-foot facility will increase capacity from 75 cats to 125. The physical expansion also means an expansion in cat rescue and adoption services.
In 2025, Cat Haven found homes for 940 cats and kittens, part of the overall 23,000 cats they’ve housed since 1999. The nonprofit launched a capital campaign to fund construction and expansion of the new facility. People can donate online, sponsor a room or participate in fundraising events.
