Lola on the Road: Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge (Maplewood, MO) | Lola The Rescued Cat
Thursday, June 6, 2019

Lola on the Road: Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge (Maplewood, MO)

Welcome back to "Lola on the Road". I'm having a blast continuing my cat cafe tour in 2019, and I'm not slowing down yet! Coffee and cats! Two of my favorite things in the world. If you've missed any of the previous posts you can catch up on all of the fabulous places I've visited here

I'm sure you all will love reading about my next stop as much as I loved being there. Today I'm happy to share with you the fabulous Mauhaus Cat Café and Lounge in Maplewood, MO


Mauhaus|Cat Café

When I heard that the Cat Writers' Association (CWA) was holding their annual conference in St. Louis this year, the first thing I did was look up cat cafés! (Surprised? Probably not!) I was very happy to learn Mauhaus was only a 20-minute ride from our hotel, so I took the quick trip over on Sunday morning before my flight home. 

While looking back on my visit and organizing my notes (which are generally scribble so it takes me a while), one word keeps coming to mind; family. Walking into Mauhaus is like being welcomed into a family gathering and fitting right in. I was very warmly welcomed by Alyssa (General Manager), Liz (Storefront Manager), Mila (Lounge Manager), and Bri (staff), who were so nice to give me some of their time on a busy day. 

Mauhaus is located in a storefront on a quiet street in Maplewood, MO. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café



The cats have lots of comfy spaces to occupy while they spend an afternoon watching the world outside. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

When you arrive you enter into the café area. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

A variety of coffees and teas are available for purchase, as well as sweets and savory items (which change daily.) You can view their menu here


Mauhaus|Cat Café


Everything is made on the premises and the café sells a cookbook with all of their recipes. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

The decor is adorable!


Mauhaus|Cat Café

When you enter the lounge area you're in an immaculate, spacious room that's obviously designed for the cats' comfort. There is catification galore! 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

There are floor to ceiling shelves and a superhighway that the cats can walk around the room on. There are plenty of beds, trees, toys and anything a cat could want. Including a warm lap, of which there were plenty when I visited. It was a packed house with many happy visitors that day, which made it a little difficult to get some photos (but I did my best!) 

Mauhaus|Cat Café

Mauhaus, which opened in November of 2016, is Missouri's first cat café. When owners Ben and Dana Valenti went to a cat café while on vacation in Thailand, they instantly fell in love with the idea and thought St. Louis would be a perfect place for something like this. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café
Taylor

As of May 31, they have celebrated 227 adoptions! The café has two volumes of beautiful photo books celebrating the cats who found their forever homes. I sat with Alyssa, Bri, and Charlie as they looked at the books with me and shared their favorite memories of each cat. Much like a family reminisces over old photo albums. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

Charlie knew so much about the cats that I thought he worked there, but it turns out he's one of many regulars. Charlie has been coming to the lounge a few times a week for about two years now, and it's no surprise that he adopted a cat. Claudine, who loves belly rubs, was adoption #128 and doesn't mind that her dad continues to support the Mauhaus kitties. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

Bri was also a regular before becoming an employee about two years ago. One of her favorite things about working here is meeting people who say they are not coming in to adopt a cat, but return a week later and leave with a new family member. Bri says it's "so much fun to see people love the cats". She also says adoptions can be bitter-sweet, but it's nice to see the cats go to their forever homes. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

The maximum number of cats in the lounge at one time is 18, which includes the two resident cats. Taylor and Lorelai were actually the first two cats in the lounge, and well, the rest is history. They now enjoy calling Mauhaus home and greeting other cats as they come in. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

There were about 17 cats in house on the day I visited. They were all very comfortable in their environment and enjoyed interacting with the visitors while under the watchful eye of staff and volunteers. It was nice to see how closely they were supervised, and if a cat seemed a little overstimulated or appeared to need their space, they were taken care of quickly. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

It's a comfortable space for humans, too. There are plenty of places to sit while you eat, drink, or play with the cats. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

When I asked about favorite adoption stories, several staff had the same cat in mind - Marni. Marni, their first long time resident who was there for eight months, was a sassy Tortie who did not like social interaction or being touched. Little by little she started coming around to staff and would tolerate occasional chin scratches. One of the regular visitors, Sharon, had her eye on Marni and would come in every Sunday to spend time with her. Today Marni enjoys her forever home with Sharon and is a very snuggly lap cat who enjoys bringing her mom toys. Liz says Marni's story "really shows that with love and patience, even the sassiest of cats can learn to love." I have to agree! 


Mauhaus|Cat Café

Mauhaus has about ten paid employees. Their rescue partner, Stray Haven Rescue, is always looking for volunteers. So if you're in the area and want to volunteer, check them out. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café
Who's hiding under here? 

Mauhaus|Cat Café
It's Lorelai!

Mahuaus is an important part of the community, bringing people together and giving them a place to unwind. It not only
 helps homeless cats find a home but it also educates people on topics such as FIV and TNR.


Mauhaus|Cat Café

Liz generously donated a mug for my cat café swag giveaway. It's probably no surprise that I wanted to pay it forward and did a little shopping while I was there. There may or may not be a shirt added to the giveaway - you'll just have to wait to find out! There was also another little surprise in my bag that said "catnip" on it. I thought it was catnip for the cats and immediately put it in the closet so Lexy wouldn't rip it open. However, it was catnip tea! LOL! It's a good thing I didn't spread it all over the rug! 


Mauhaus|Cat Café
Pin Us!

All cats (except the resident cats) are adoptable through Stray Haven Rescue. Once the application is filed and approved, the adopter returns to Mauhaus for an interview to make sure the chosen cat is the best fit for the person. A date is then scheduled for the new family member to be picked up. Same day adoptions are not done because they feel adopting a cat is a serious decision and taking time helps everyone involved to make sure this will be a forever home.


Mauhaus|Cat Café

Mauhaus is located at 3101 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, MO 63143. Business hours are: 


Monday:        CLOSED
Tuesday:       CLOSED
Wednesday:  9 am - 8 pm
Thursday:      9 am - 8 pm
Friday:           9 am - 10 pm 
Saturday:       9 am - 10 pm
Sunday:         9 am - 8 pm

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children (12 and under) for an hour visit, with a complimentary $5 beverage and 20% off any food or additional beverages. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome, space permitting. (There is a limit of two children per one adult guardian in the lounge.) If you'd like to book a private party you can see details here.  


Mauhaus|Cat Café

I'd like to extend a huge "Thank You" to the staff (and visitors) who spent time with me, sharing their love of the cats and the café. I had a wonderful time and just loved being there. I was impressed with everything, including the cleanliness, the catification, and how well respected the cats are. 


Mauhaus|Cat Café


Don't forget to follow Mauhaus Cat Café & Lounge on social media: 


              Twitter       |       Facebook      |     Instagram



Stay tuned for the next installment in our Cat Cafe series as Lola The Rescued Cat goes on the road. The next cafe to be featured will be Purr Cat Café in Brighton, MA. 

I did something a little different with the collages this time - tell me what you think. 

Have you ever visited a cat café?

Dawn     

Would you like to comment?

  1. What a lovely place! I love those beds lined up in the window.

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  2. what a great review (love the pictures) and space. we love seeing so many of these places popping up and giving cats so many more chances to get adopted

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  3. What a delightful place and I especially love the wooden cat climb on the wall!

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  4. What a great cat cafe! We can see how content and happy all the cats look. :)

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  5. That is an awesome design! I love the beds in the window - too cute!

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  6. How I LOVE this! And like Eric and Flynn's momma, I LOVE those beds n the window they are so charming and so perfect for our smallest family members. Wonderful review of a CatCafe I wish I could visit. Thank you for it.

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  7. These cat cafes look like heaven on earth. The one proposed here in VT got fully funded! Now it just needs to pass state regulations, hopefully.

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  8. That place is sure beautiful and those sweet kitties are so lucky to have such a nice place to wait for thier homes to show up.

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  9. This cafe looks great. I like the walkways up by the ceiling. And I like that you can get your food and beverages right there. At the Meow Parlour, I had to go down the street for the cafe part. I look forward to your review of the one in Brighton. XO

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  10. What a great place! Everybody here likes Ginger and Cecil. Can't wait to see what you post next! - Tom x

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  11. Lovely report and wonderful images! Our cat cafe has regulars and I think they are so valuable to a cafe, as are the rescue volunteers.

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  12. Up until last year in Houston, I had no idea we had a cat cafe here. I was at Los Gatos in Houston and loudly complained that we don't have anything here nearly as cool. And they told me we did! I still haven't made my way over there though.

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  13. Love the collages! I was actually thinking as I read the piece that you've stepped up your graphics game with this one! Mauhaus looks like a really cool cat cafe. Interesting that they have two actual residents. Another great piece in your series!

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  14. Aw I love these posts! What an amazing way to showcase adoptable cats. I especially enjoyed reading about Marni. I had actually wondered if the less social kitties would be left out, since it seems like a cafe with a lot of people coming in and out would opt for working with only friendly cats. That's awesome to hear that they are open to giving the less social ones a chance too.

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  15. What an amazing place and I love the way they did the cat highway for them, those cats are so fortunate to be living in such a wonderful enviroment till they get adopted.

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  16. Cat cafes sound like a great place to visit! I'll have to visit one sometime. I really love the photo of the pet beds in the window! You take wonderful photos!

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  17. Another wonderful, cozy kitty place. Awesome.

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  18. What an amazing place. I wish they had cat cafes and dog cafes here but there is a weird health rule against pets near food. I think this one sounds like such a Win Win - people relax and enjoy and cats get socialized and adopted. It looks so comfy for both. Great pics.

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  19. Mauhaus looks like a pawsome place to visit! Those little cat beds are so adorable. The kitties seem to feel very comfortable there. I have only been to the cat cafe nearest to me in Ferndale, MI. It was a terrific experience!

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  20. I love the climbing wall, and beds in the window are so cute. The black cat is gorgeous. I haven’t been to a cat cafe, if one ever opened here I would definitely go. I think it’s a wonderful idea for people traveling that need some purr therapy. Of course I usually travel with Plush so... Brighton Mass huh? That’s not far for me to visit. Maybe a good place for a cat bloggers meet up?

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  21. Thank you for the tour, Dawn. Mauhaus looks like an awesome cat cafe! I will be in St. Louis on business next week. I hope I can visit!

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  22. Ow, ANOTHER cat cafe I need to visit. My life is going to be end-to-end cat cafes for the next ten years.

    What a wonderful post and I love the pictures. Each cafe is so different but they are all founded on commitment to cats and love.

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  23. We LOVE this post and photos! Those IKEA beds are so adorable and WOW! What an awesome adoption rate so far!

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  24. Great post--it looks like such a wonderful -welcoming place!

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  25. Oh I just love this idea! So many cuties! I mean, adoptables and coffee what a great team! I'd love to see the dog world do that, too! Love the series!

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  26. Looks like a wonderful Cat Cafe. I wish I'd been able to join you. We keep hoping you can come to SC and visit one of our Cat Cafes near us.

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  27. I'm thrilled to see such a glowing story on Mauhaus. Speaking as Charlie's mom, they have "adopted" him too! It's a wonderful community of cat lovers there. I can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for a cat cafe.

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