If you’re anything like me, you love cats, but you don’t have access to one. My life at college — seven hours from home, in a small apartment, on a student budget — doesn’t have room for a cat at the moment. I want one so badly! However, until I feel more comfortable with my lifestyle and finances, I have to hang out with cute cats another way. Another annoying thing about not having a cat at the moment is that they’re the perfect cure for stress, yet I don’t have one to hug when finals week rolls around.
So, what do you do when you’re in my situation? It’s actually pretty simple: You hang with cats in some of these designated areas around Tallahassee! Here are some of my favorites. They’re all a short drive from (or on!) campus and will leave you feeling loved and full of serotonin after.
- fat cat books
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Located in artsy Railroad Square, Fat Cat Books is super popular among the cat-loving community at FSU. I’ve been here several times with the people in my life who love cats as much as I do. One of the coolest parts about this space is that it doubles as a used bookstore! There are many genres of books with super low prices to look through. If you’re in the mood to find something new to read, you can come here and sit in a comfy chair surrounded by friendly cats! If you fall in love with one of the kitties and can’t bear to leave them, these cats are also adoptable and looking for loving homes!
- fat cat cafe
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A separate extension of Fat Cat Books, Fat Cat Cafe is another awesome cat cafe in Tallahassee! What could be better than a relaxing experience of looking through a cute boutique and having a snack? Being able to pet some fluffy cats while you do it! This nonprofit cafe hosts events such as art classes and has adopted over 1300 cats since 2017! The cats in this space are also adoptable, meaning you won’t have to part ways with your pet soulmate after your visit.
- tally cat cafe
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Looking for an experience to wake you up instead of calm you down? Tally Cat Cafe serves coffee, boba, and other drinks! After sipping on a cold brew, you can spend an hour in the cat room, surrounded by a bunch of adorable cats and their toys. They were super energetic and playful when I went one evening last year. If you don’t want to spend the hour in the cat room, you can opt-out and view the cats through the giant windows as you study and sip! Similar to most of the places on this list, the cats here are also adoptable.
- on campus
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For FSU students, the closest place to play with cats is on our campus! These cats can be found campus-wide, usually having their favorite areas to stay close to. They have varying personalities and so much charm! Students collectively name each cat and take care of them by giving them treats and water, and they just love basking in the sun and having their pictures taken by student fans. They also climb trees and run around playing with each other, leaving many entertainment opportunities. Personally, walking from one class to another is a lot more tolerable when I see one of these cuties on the way.
So, FSU students, there you have it: four of my favorite places to go when I need some cat therapy. I highly recommend these places to anyone who loves cats and needs some animal love. They are also great places to consider adopting from or donating to! Hopefully, you can find some time in your busy college schedules to de-stress by visiting some of these cats. Have fun!
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