Pause Cat Cafe
Pause Cat Cafe began in February 2017 at the South’s first Cat Cafe. It has always been an independent not-for-profit, with all earnings and donations going towards running and care costs. In February 2024 Pause became a registered charity and now any trading income can be used to further charitable purposes and support other registered charities who share our charity’s objects.
The cafe is a peaceful retreat where you can connect and make friends (human and animal!), know that you are doing good, and be served excellent quality, healthy, kind food and drink. Pause Cat Cafe’s mission is to promote kindness through animal welfare, ethical eating, volunteering and community projects.
Helping people, animals, our community and the environment
Helping animals
The cafe’s furry residents are the number one priority and the cat-alyst of our mission of nurturing bonds between humans and animals. It is home to 14 rescue cats who enjoy the highest standard of care thanks to our dedicated team. We run workshops and talk to visitors to educate everyone about animal care and welfare. We also work with local charities to promote animal adoption, and use our social media to help find rescue animals a new home.
Helping People
Spending time around animals has been shown to alleviate stress, fight depression, address social isolation and loneliness, improve physical fitness and encourage activity, and facilitate healing and resiliency. Visitors to Pause Cat Cafe can reap these benefits, even if they don’t have an animal companion at home.
We also help people by providing the opportunity to train in cat care, hospitality and a range of other skills. We pride ourselves on working with people from backgrounds where they have not had the same opportunities as their peers. We welcome people with disabilities, differences and additional needs, ensuring they gain confidence and skills in a therapeutic setting with the help and love of our animal friends.
Helping the Community
Helping the Environment
Ethical and sustainable food and drink are a huge part of Pause Cat Cafe, which offers vegetarian and vegan artisan food designed and prepared in house by our team with local produce supplied by the best independent specialists and companies that Dorset and Hampshire have to offer. We make eco-friendly choices for our purchases and make sustainability a priority so that we can minimise our environmental impact.
The cafe showcases how you can upcycle and create a kitty haven, with a few bits of reclaimed wood and a heap of creativity! All our climbing frames have been repurposed and the cat boudoirs are upcycled from wardrobes and sheds.
We have been awarded for these efforts including repeat Gold winners in the Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Award in Dorset Tourism Awards and winners of BAPTA Best Cafe.
