A Cat Lover’s Guide to LA
If Los Angeles had to pick a domestic animal to represent its culture, the obvious choice would seem to be the dog. From its hiking trails and dog parks to its many dog-friendly restaurants, this sprawling city has amenities galore for pups and their people. But, as any resident of Southern California knows, there’s much more to this sunny place than meets the eye. There are levels. And if you love cats, there are places in this town where you can make some real live feline friends. Here are a few:
Iliad Bookshopopens in a new tab
5400 Cahuenga Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601
This beloved shop has all the hallmarks of a used bookstore: It’s shabby and comfortable and spilling over with titles. Tucked in among the shelves are two live-in cats named Apollo and Zeus, who have been residents of Iliad for eight years, since they were 8 weeks old. Apollo, the gray cat, is very tolerant, and Zeus, the orange one, is a little more finicky. (Please don’t pet Zeus’s belly.) Both cats are very social when they’re not snoozing. It’s not unusual for one to hop onto a shoulder or climb into the lap of a customer sitting down in an aisle. Heads up: The bathroom, which has a cat door, is all-creature, and the cats don’t knock.
Dave’s Olde Book Shopopens in a new tab
2123 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
The star of this friendly beachside store is Agatha Christie, a 2-year-old calico with a white sock pattern on her hind legs. Agatha, whose name was voted on by the community, takes her role as full-time shop resident and mas-cat very seriously. She has her own Instagramopens in a new tab and even a line of merch designed by Rodrigo Barreto, a store employee. Agatha has a playful personality. She loves to sunbathe and hang out by the register, where she might size you up before saying hello.
Once Upon a Timeopens in a new tab
2207 Honolulu Ave, Montrose, CA 91020
Shoppers enter this children’s bookstore by first opening a small gate, which helps keep Pippi, a six-year-old gray-and-white rescue, safe inside. Selected with help from the Pasadena Humane Society so that she would be comfortable with kids, dogs, and the occasional loud noise, Pippi has lived at Once Upon a Time since she was a few months old. She is the perpetual Employee of the Month. If you’re looking to win her over immediately, she loves playing with toys (her favorite is a rainbow cat charmer). She’s usually active when the store first opens at 10, and again around four. If you don’t spot her right away, look up above the door, where she might be napping in her bed.
Vidéothèqueopens in a new tab
1020 Mission St, Suite J, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Fridays are for video rentals and visits with cat friends, two of whom pop up at this independent movie rental store once a week to hang out. There’s 11-year-old Jules, a gray shelter cat who will let you pet her until closing time if you so choose, and youngster Jade, a black kitten who’s still getting her bearings but isn’t afraid to come out and play. You can usually find Jules in the International section, while Jade likes to hang out with her human behind the counter and help with DVD checkout.
DIY Home Center
6300 Foothill Blvd, Tujunga, CA 91042
If you’d like to know what your cat might look like on a set of patio furniture, there’s a live cat display happening at almost all times in the middle of the shopping floor. Lulu, one of two cats that live at this home improvement store in the San Fernando Valley, has commandeered one of the patio chairs (you can tell which one by the cat hair coating the seat cushion). The other feline resident, Cheetah, sits by the monitor at the front desk, soaking in the warmth of the machinery up there. Lulu, who is vocal and friendly, also has a cardboard box on aisle nine that she enjoys. Cheetah isn’t as good with strangers, but both are well known by the store’s customers.
International Printing Museumopens in a new tab
315 W Torrance Blvd, Carson, CA 90745
Antique printing presses aren’t the only things of interest at this museum, which is open to the public on Saturdays. If you wander through the parking lot, you might spot an orange tabby named Ottmar Mergenthaler (his namesake was the inventor of the linotype machine). Called Otto for short, this cat was rescued from a dumpster and now likes to hang out with the museum staff. He’s very sweet and affectionate, though he sometimes gets himself into trouble by climbing up too high without knowing how to get down.
Skylight Booksopens in a new tab
1818 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Fans of this independent bookstore in Los Feliz may be aware of the existence of a cat named Franny — she has a dedicated spot in the store’s circular seating area, and she, too, has been depicted on store merchandise. But good luck trying to find her among the stacks, because this 11-year-old cat is elusive. The spirit of Franny embodies this shop, but like any self-respecting Hollywood celebrity, she’s not always easy to spot.
Hollywood Forever Cemeteryopens in a new tab
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
A typical tourist may be interested in paying their respects to the cemetery’s better-known residents like Hattie McDaniel or Judy Garland. A cat lover heads straight for the feral cat colony. The cemetery is home to dozens of cats that have either wandered in off the street or been dumped on the grounds. It takes a bit of looking, and you might get distracted by the peacocks (loud in all ways), but the kitties are there. Their central location is in the northeast area of the cemetery, where you might spot feeding boxes before seeing cats. Some hide up in the trees or in the bougainvillea, while the bolder ones come out and linger near the headstones. A rescue helps to trap, neuter, and return every cat, and the cemetery feeds the colony. They ask that you please do not feed the cats, but feel free to chatter at them from afar.
CatCafé Loungeopens in a new tab
1736 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Perhaps you’re looking to give a cat friend a permanent home, and you’d like to interact freely with some potential pals? This cat café is the ideal place to do it. A couple dozen adoptable kitties occupy a huge space that’s comfortable for people but is really designed for cats (it even has an outdoor catio). You can order beverages onsite, which takes care of the café piece, but the real draw is the time you can spend watching and interacting with the cats. While reservations are recommended, the CatCafé does accept walk-ins.
Crumbs & Whiskersopens in a new tab
7924 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The Los Angeles outpost of this cat café (there’s a second location in Washington, D.C.) is the scene-iest of all the places on this list. It gets the occasional celebrity visitor and seems to have been decorated specifically for Instagram, with its pink walls, neon wall art, and fluffy sheepskin accents. If a photo opportunity is what you’re after, this is the place. You’ll even walk out with an Instax photo taken for you by the staff.
