The ailurophiles residing in Kolkata found a corner they could call home when Abhishruti Dutta opened Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe in 2021. This is Kolkata’s first cat cafe, home to more than a dozen cats rescued, tamed, and loved by the Dutta family. They run Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe in their residential space in Jodhpur Park, creating a cat paradise that people in Kolkata didn’t know they needed!
A little about Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe
First starters, this is not your regular cafe like Roastery or 8th Day. It is someone’s house who has opened their space as a cafe. It has simple aesthetics thoughtfully added with love. It is a place to create connections, share mutual love for cats, and pet stories.
We instantly connected with other guests in the room, the moment we entered with our rescue Kia. Kia is a three-week-old kitten who was abandoned by her mother and lovingly petted by my sister’s friend Divya.
Three of us came to this cat cafe in Kolkata to see how the resident cats would react to Kia. To our surprise, most of them were looking at Kia from afar, inquisitively gauging the unfamiliarity, but they were harmless.
A female cat with motherly instincts approached her and tried to interact. Before visiting the cafe, we had asked the owners if it was okay to bring Kia. They agreed but asked us not to set her free from her cat bag. We did take her out for 10 minutes to make her interact with a guest. She perfectly fit on our palms, and we never had to let her settle amidst other cats in the room.
The owner named this place after the character Mrs. Wilson from Dennis the Menace. She and her family run the cafe themselves, with helpers as needed. Together, they put up a homely atmosphere where you’d love to cozy up.
Along with selling scrumptious continental delights, they spay, vaccinate, rescue, and feed cats both within and beyond their residential space. It is a wonderful place for cat lovers to interact, play, and cuddle the felines dear to the owners.
Location:
P 174, Jodhpur Park, Kolkata, West Bengal 700045
Contact:
+919167419756
Timings:
11:30 am to 9:30 pm
How to get to Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe?
You can get puzzled while navigating your way to Mrs. Wilson’s cafe, so here’s a quick way to figure out how to get there:
Nearest Metro
The nearest metro to Mrs. Wilson’s cafe is the Rabindra Sarobar metro station. From here, you will get an auto rickshaw that takes you to South City Mall. Get down at Leder Land and walk for 550 meters via the lane on the left side. The route winds towards another left, goes straight, passes Blue Mug Cafe, and that’s where you turn left again to find the cat cafe in Kolkata.
Bus route
Consider Jadavpur Police Station as the landmark to reach this place from four different directions. You can come here via Prince Anwar Shah Road, Bypass, Gariahat, or Jadavpur. Bus routes like 47B and ST6 connect Bypass and Prince Anwar Shah Road, while buses 45 and 45B connect Ballygunge to Jadavpur.
When coming from Gariahat or Jadavpur, you have to get down at Jodhpur Park, while Leder Land is the landmark when taking the Anwar Shah connector. From Jodhpur Park, this place is within walking distance. But you can also take a cycle rickshaw to cover about 600 meters.
Taxi
Uber, Rapido, and inDrive are popular cab apps operational in Kolkata. The location on Google Maps is accurate. So, you can easily book a bike or a car to come over by adding Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe as your drop-off location.
Experiencing the Cat Cafe in Kolkata
The last time I Googled “cat cafe near me,” I was spending 3 days in Bangkok navigating Caturday Cafe. Kolkata isn’t a place I thought we could have anything remotely like that. But here we are, so what do I know?
Right from the moment I entered through the alley, the place had a sense of pawsitivity that instantly felt comforting. It is an old South Kolkata residential property that has been turned into a cafe. The balcony is used as the outdoor space and smoking area, with access to one indoor room where most of the cats reside.
It was around 6:30 pm, on a Saturday night, and the place was dimly lit with fairy lights. What instantly drew my attention were the tiny tables and chairs, brightly painted lime green. This is when I knew we had entered the home of feline friends, as the furnishings were just about their size.
Being welcomed by a feline friend
The outdoor space is the balcony area of the residential property. Here, there was a spotted cat who not only welcomed guests but was also very friendly. She would go to anybody willing to pet her, and surprisingly nudged me quite a few times for back strokes. I sat there happily for 30 minutes to get a seat inside, and by then, quite a few people were waiting outside for a table.
Exploring the garden
The cat cafe in Kolkata has a garden where the feline residents are allowed to waltz around and release themselves. They, however, require monitoring when they are outside the air-conditioned cafe room. Some of them constantly try to find a way to sneak out, and there are strict instructions never to open the door without the owner’s permission.
The inside experience
I feel bad for smokers since most cats stay indoors and are absolute treats. They are friendly, undisturbing, and surprisingly, none of them bite. Some of them might not want you to hold them, but they don’t come in your way. Those who are not or are unwell stay in a separate room and are not allowed in the cafe area.
There are comfortable seating arrangements across tiny chairs and benches. The room’s aesthetics include an old tape recorder, cassettes, a pinboard full of cat art, cat toys, and mantles for the felines to jump or rest.
What the cats eat
As we entered the room, we saw bowls full of dry food, water, and deboned fish, arranged on plates in a row. Most cats have a specific spot where they rest and watch guests come and go.
They are not playful cats that jump around like toddler kittens. They seemed old enough just to want to eat, sleep, walk around the room, and repeat. Can’t blame them, given the heat in Kolkata and the comfort of AC that they enjoy within the closed door.
What we ate
Mrs. Wilson’s cafe serves continental food from their home kitchen. The items here are freshly cooked and served with love. While the wait time can be a little longer, since they don’t operate like a big restaurant chain with lots of staff, they still manage to make the food taste pretty good.
We had ordered one Fresh Lime Soda for 160 INR, two Hazelnut Lattes for 200 INR each, one plate of Fish Fingers for 380 INR, Chicken Thai Fry for 360 INR, and Peri Peri Fries for 220 INR. The total bill was 1,520 INR without tax.
I really liked Thai Chicken Fry, and I feel it’s a must-try in fried items. Zomato recommends Chicken Schnitzel, Fish Fofos, Spinach Pasta, Mango Delight, Mutton Platte, and Oreo Sundae.
What’s applaudable is that 20% of their sales go toward caring for pets and local strays.
What I liked about the cat cafe in Kolkata
There were plenty of things to like about Mrs. Wilson’s cafe:
- The homely vibe is warm and welcoming
- The felines are friendly, interactive, and harmless
- There are clear instructions to maintain the safety and sanctity of the place
- There is a bell at each table for prompt service
- The place did not smell bad, even with so many cats around
- The laid-back and slow cafe experience was very different from the usual Kolkata scene
- It was easy to navigate the cafe with the help of Google Maps
- The effort they take to open and close the door of the air-conditioned room each time to ensure the cats don’t run outside
- The owners are doing an amazing job being a rescue home for so many feline friends
What I didn’t like about the cat cafe in Kolkata
I found cat fur in the fish fry that we ordered. This could be a common problem, given that this place houses so many resident cats. While cat fur is said to be harmless, and all cats here are vaccinated, swallowing fur can irritate our digestive system. Be careful about what you order here. Next time I come here, it will be for the coffee.
What I loved most about the cat cafe in Kolkata
I am convinced cat people are the nicest because they can love an animal without being sure that they’d be loved back. Mrs. Wilson’s Cafe isn’t only about the loving family that rescues cats and runs a homely cafe around them, but it is also about everyone who walks in and understands how this place is different from other cafes.
People don’t rush their orders, don’t complain about the wait line, and are patient with how the cafe runs and adjust accordingly. Most guests speak in a low voice to avoid disturbing the sleeping cats. They play with them, cuddle them, and gently adore them.
The vibe of the place brews with the unspoken camaraderie between understanding guests and helpful owners. I think the character of each person stepping into this space speaks volumes, and what they have in common with the owners is their love for felines.
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