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Ailurophile noun

ai·​lu·​ro·​phile

eye-LOOR-uh-fyle

ī-ˈlu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)l

A person who deeply loves, admires, or is a “cat fancier.”

Derived from the Greek words ailouros (cat) and phile (lover), this term describes someone who finds immense joy, comfort, and companionship in feline friends.

Historically, ancient Egyptians were some of the biggest cat lovers, and some famous ailurophiles include Ernest Hemingway, Freddie Mercury, Mark Twain, and Florence Nightingale.

Welcome to Kitty Cat Lounge

Kitties need your help

Polk County Animal Control reported 3487 cats were euthanized in 2025.

We are reducing those numbers by partnering with Saving Paws Rescue of Florida. Kitty Cat Lounge provides a kind and relaxing space for local sheltered kitties – ultimately, giving them a chance at a furr-ever home.

Come, sit and enjoy not only a delicious, locally-roasted cup o’joe but some special time with a kitty that is relaxed and well socialized. There is a big difference in kitties in a home like setting instead of staring out at you from a cold cage at some kitty jail.

If you would like to help our kitties, come in and chat with us about our specific needs and fill out a volunteer form.

Everything we serve is locally made

As a small business, we believe it’s important to help uplift local businesses to do our part in creating a loving, supportive community here in Polk County.

All of our pastries, cookies, breads, and coffee beans are purchased wholesale from small, local businesses. See our partners page for more information.

Community Offerings

Another way we aim to help create a supportive community, is by having multiple pantries around our space for various needs.

We have a Tampa Period Pantry with free menstrual products, a mutual-aid pantry with free food and toiletries which is provided to us by Indivisible Polk, and a free pet food and supplies pantry. All of our pantries are free for those who need it, no questions asked just come and take anything you need. Our pantries are supplied by donations, feel free to donate if you are able. No donation is ever turned away.

In addition to our pantries, we have a free book library outside where you can take or leave a book, and a recycle sneaker project which is where we collect any shoes you have no need for. Useable sneakers are given to folks in need throughout the U.S. and what is not wearable is broken down and reused into several products.

We also have an art wall full of pieces for sale by local artists. There is so much talent in Polk County, but there was nowhere for artists to display their work for free, so we decided we would be that place. Artists that put their artwork on our wall do so at no cost. Contact us about putting up your artwork, we rotate the artwork available!

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