Sugar Kittens Café and Cattery is Saving Lives One Cuddle at a Time

by Cassie Bond
Nestled in a strip mall along Route 291 in Liberty, Mo., the Sugar Kittens Café and Cattery is one of the sweetest little shops in town. This cozy spot offers the perfect space to sip a drink and unwind with some furry friends. It’s a unique blend of comfort, community, and compassion.

Opened in November 2020 by Jeff and Lacey Nielson, this 501 (c) (3) nonprofit cafe serves as a charming eatery and a cat adoption lounge, inviting guests to relax in the company of adoptable cats and kittens. Sugar Kittens features a spacious cat lounge where visitors can book 50-minute sessions to play or snuggle with feline companions. The menu is just as appealing, offering over 100 sodas and bottled beverages from around the world and the ever-popular “Fat & Weird Cookies.” In addition to its refreshments, the cafe also boasts a retail section filled with cat-themed merchandise and pet supplies for new adopters. After the success of their first location in Liberty, they opened a café in Lee’s Summit in 2024, and both continue to thrive.

More than just a novelty, Sugar Kittens is on a mission to find loving homes for cats in need while creating a welcoming space for animal lovers to connect. The café usually has 50 -60 cats and kittens on hand to play and cuddle with, and another 20 -30 in foster homes. Visitors who find a cat they like can fill out an adoption application during their visit, and adoptions are finalized the same day when possible. The adoption fee for kittens is $175, long-haired kittens are $250, and Siamese and special breeds are $300. Adults over nine months are $75, and there is a discount when you adopt a pair. All cats and kittens are spayed and neutered, microchipped, checked for feline aids and leukemia, and have all age-appropriate vaccines.

Reservations are encouraged due to limited lounge capacity, though walk-ins are welcome when space allows. The café offers subscription packages for recurring visits, and also hosts birthday parties, as well as special events and bingo with the cats throughout the year.

Unfortunately, many of the most at-risk cats are not good candidates for the cafe environment. To help these at-risk cats, Sugar Kittens Café and Cattery is looking for a local property to build a sanctuary as well. This space will provide sanctuary for the unadoptable cats, including the timid and slightly feral, the declawed cats, and those with FIV and Feline Leukemia.

Whether you are considering adopting or just enjoy spending time with some four-legged cuties, the café has you covered. And every visit and donation helps further this non-profit’s mission to save lives.