Chennai’s popular cat café finds a new home in Besant Nagar with a bigger space

If you’ve ever wished your coffee came with a side of cuddles and an occasional stare from a cat, we’ve got news for you. Ubasti Café, the beloved cat café that was previously located in Uthandi, has found a new home in Besant Nagar. And this time around, it’s gone all out, with a refreshed look, more room to roam and plenty of space for its furry residents to stretch their paws.

Chennai gets a new cat café experience with more space, food and furry companions

Tucked behind a bus stop at a busy intersection in Besant Nagar, the café is hard to miss. Housed in what was once an old bungalow, the newly revamped space has a certain charm that makes you want to slow down. The ground floor is dedicated to the café, while the first floor is where the real VIPs, the cats, hold court.

We headed straight upstairs and were greeted by a small battalion of cats, all seemingly busy settling into their new digs. The upgrade is quite the treat for the feline residents, too. Alongside the indoor lounge, there’s now outdoor space and a special tunnel for the cats to crawl through, explore and get up to their own little adventures. An existing tree inside the bungalow has also been turned into a lookout spot, giving the cats a front-row seat to the goings-on outside. And who wouldn’t want to watch the world go by from their own private perch? With both indoor and outdoor areas, the new Ubasti feels roomier, giving its residents more freedom to explore while visitors get to enjoy their company without feeling as though everyone is fighting for elbow room.

Before you enter the lounge, there’s a small ritual to follow: swap your shoes for a pair of slippers specially kept for the space. Once inside, you’ll find a series of boards laying down the law on café etiquette. The message is simple —these cats may be adorable, but they’re not plush toys waiting to be passed around.

The signs remind visitors that all the cats are vaccinated, dewormed and receive regular veterinary care. They also make an important point: cats are animals, and even the friendliest among them can be unpredictable. Not every cat enjoys being handled, and a little respect goes a long way.

The lounge rules are straightforward. Wash your hands before petting the cats, never poke one that’s eating, and resist the urge to scoop them up as if they were cuddly soft toys. Respect their space, keep an eye on little ones, speak softly and, whatever you do, don’t share your food or drink with them. In short, let the cats call the shots.

And there’s more to Ubasti than its cat lounge. The new space brings together a café, pet shop, grooming services, cat boarding and a pet spa under one roof. Whether you’re a seasoned cat parent, a hopeful adopter or simply someone who melts at the sight of a furry face, there’s something for everyone.

The food menu has had a makeover of its own, with a wider selection of dishes to tuck into. Think pizzas, pastas, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, chicken poppers, fish and chips, and more. It’s a menu designed for those who fancy making an afternoon of it because a quick coffee can so easily turn into a long lunch when there’s a cat snoozing nearby.

According to Tasmia Papa, who runs Ubasti Café, the new outlet is about much more than providing a cosy corner for cats. She envisions it as a community space where people can connect, work, discover their love for animals and, hopefully, find a feline friend to call their own. The café is also looking to establish itself as a co-working space, offering people an alternative to the usual office desk or coffee-shop corner.

For those who can’t have a cat at home, there’s still a way to lend a helping paw. Visitors can sponsor a cat, while the boarding facilities offer a space for feline guests when their humans need a little extra help. The team is also keen to collaborate with artists and creatives to host workshops and events, turning the café into a lively hub for the local community.

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