by Heide Brandes | Photo courtesy of Don’t Stress Meowt
Cat lovers in Tulsa will soon have a new place to get their feline “fix “ when Don’t Stress Meowt Café opens its second Oklahoma location in mid-November. The popular Oklahoma City–based cat café is bringing its unique blend of coffee, cats, and community to northeastern Oklahoma.
Don’t Stress Meowt made history in summer 2023 as the state’s first cat café when it opened in Oklahoma City’s industrial district. Now the business is expanding to the Farm Shopping Center at 51st Street and Sheridan Road in Tulsa.
“It has been very wanted,” says Madison Diedrich, who will serve as location operator for the Tulsa café. “Adam Fitzpatrick, cofounder of Don’t Stress Meowt, had it in the back of his mind to open a second location but didn’t really plan to do it that fast. Then an opportunity opened up, and he couldn’t stop himself.”
A Successful Start
The rapid expansion speaks to the popularity and success of Don’t Stress Meowt in Oklahoma City. In a little more than a year of operation, the cat café has facilitated nearly 300 adoptions and remains packed with visitors every weekend and most weekdays.
“We could have three adoptions the same day,” Diedrich says. “It can get really crazy.”
The concept behind Don’t Stress Meowt is simple yet impactful — provide a cozy environment where people can enjoy coffee and snacks while interacting with adoptable cats. For a small fee, visitors can enter the “cat lounge” to play with feline residents. The hope is that people will fall in love with and decide to adopt those felines.
“The purpose of everything is to increase the adoption rates of cats right here in our own neighborhood,” says Michaela Fitzpatrick, who cofounded Don’t Stress Meowt with her husband, Adam. “Basically, we are a foster shelter, but our goal is to just give the cats a really cozy, warm, homelike, enriching environment to bring out all their best colors and market them in a unique and special way that will get more of them adopted.”
The café focuses on kitties that might have a harder time finding homes through traditional shelters, such as older or disabled cats or those that might not be considered conventionally attractive.
“We won’t have cute kittens or special unique breeds that get adopted out superquick,” Adam Fitzpatrick says.
The mission to serve hard-to-place cats will carry over to the Tulsa location, where Don’t Stress Meowt plans to partner with a local animal-rescue organization. Although the café hasn’t announced the specific partner yet, Diedrich says it will likely be a foster-based rescue that does not have a physical location.
“By partnering with people who don’t have a storefront, we are able to get the cats in front of people,” Diedrich says.
Expanded Offerings in Tulsa
The Tulsa location will be larger than its Oklahoma City counterpart, allowing for expanded offerings and events. Although reservations are still required to visit the cat room and hang out with resident felines, Diedrich is excited about the possibilities.
“I’m excited to potentially be able to do more events there,” she says. “We really wanted to do cat yoga, maybe even have bingo in there.”
Those offerings will have to wait until after the initial rush of curious cat lovers subsides. Diedrich anticipates a busy first few months, based on the experience at the Oklahoma City location.
As for the café side of the business, Tulsa patrons can expect a menu similar to that at the original location. That includes a variety of “pawninis” — savory and sweet options — as well as coffee and refreshers.
One unique aspect of Don’t Stress Meowt is its commitment to supporting local businesses. In Oklahoma City, the café serves locally made sodas from OKC Soda Co. Although specific local partnerships for Tulsa haven’t been announced, the ethos of the café suggests similar collaborations.
A Good Place
The expansion to Tulsa is more than just a business move for Don’t Stress Meowt. It’s a continuation of the Fitzpatricks’ mission to give back to the community.
“We feed the cats, we medicate them, and we socialize them,” says Diedrich. “This is definitely a really good place because the cats are able to get that socialization. And a lot of people come in here not thinking they’re going to adopt, and then they fall in love. Cats stays in their laps the whole time, and they just fall absolutely in love.”
As Don’t Stress Meowt prepares to open in Tulsa, the team is focused on creating a welcoming space for humans and felines. They are committed to maintaining the same high standards for cleanliness and cat care that have made the Oklahoma City location successful.
With its combination of coffee, cats, and community spirit, Don’t Stress Meowt is poised to become a popular destination for Tulsa’s cat lovers. Whether visitors are looking to adopt, simply enjoy feline company, or just grab a cup of coffee, the café aims to provide a unique and rewarding experience.
If the success of the Oklahoma City location is any indication, Don’t Stress Meowt might soon be Tulsa’s new “cat’s meow.”
For more information, visit dontstressmeowt-catcafe.com.
