Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I bring my cat with me to the café?

A: No, unfortunately not. Although of course we love all kinds of cats, we have to put the health of our own cats first. Although your cat might be perfectly healthy, coming from a different environment means that there's still a possibility of bringing in diseases. All the cats in our café have a quarantine period before arriving and are thoroughly checked by our vet to make sure that they are free of diseases. Other animals are sadly not permitted in the café.

Q: Do I have to make a reservation?

A: Technically you don't have to make a reservation, but we strongly recommend that you do. A reservation guarantees that you can enter the café at the time that fits you best. If you come without a reservation but there is a space free, you are of course more than welcome to come in and enjoy the café. However please keep in mind that spaces are limited.

Q: How can I adopt a cat?

A: Take a look at our 'Adopt' page for more information about adopting our cats.

Q: How does it work in terms of hygiene?

A: The kitchen at DreamCATchers is completely separate from the cats. All of our drinks are prepared in extremely hygienic conditions according to the guidelines of the Federal Agency for Food Safety. The litter trays for the cats are located in a separate space that is not accessible to the public, to make sure your visit isn't disturbed. We also carry out a number of cleaning procedures every day to keep our spaces clean, so that you, and our cats, have a fantastic experience. 

Besides, did you know that cats are particularly hygienic animals?

Q: Where do the cats in the café come from?

A: All our animals come from the animal shelter 'Kat Zoekt Thuis'. We give preference to cats that have been in the shelter for a longer period of time, to give them the chance they deserve to find their dream home. The most important thing for us is to be able to give the cats a better situation here in our café, than where they were before. So when a cat has been living with a foster family in a large house, our café is not really an improvement. Be sure to check out the websites of Kat Zoekt Thuis and the animal shelter of Ghent for more information. Before coming to DreamCATchers, all animals are first placed in quarantine and checked by a vet. They are all neutered, vaccinated, chipped and tested for Aids and Feline Leukemia Virus. 

Q: Not all cats are designed to live in a busy environment or amongst other cats. What if a cat doesn't feel good?

A: It's true that our café isn't the right environment for every cat. If this seems to be the case, often after a few weeks there is some improvement. We work together with Cat Behaviour Therapist Joline De Jaegher to analyse the behaviour of our cats, and when she decides that a cat isn't feeling at home in our café, we look for another solution. As soon as we notice that an animal isn't happy here, we look for a willing foster family.

Q: Circumstances mean that I can't keep my cat any longer, can I bring it to the café?

A: No. We don't have our own quarantine area and therefore cannot take animals in directly. You can always go to the animal shelter of Ghent if you can no longer keep your cat.

Q: Do the cats actually live in the café?

A: Yes, they live here until they find a new home. They are not stuck in a cage and can therefore run around freely during the day as well as at night.

Q: How many people can the café seat?

A: We have space for a maximum of 14 people. We keep this limited so that the atmosphere stays calm and the cats feel comfortable enough to come out and meet their visitors.

Q: What if I'm in the café and all the cats are sleeping?

A: Cats sleep an average of 16 hours per day, so the chance is quite high that the cats will be asleep. They are at their most active in the morning, or just before closing time; these are the best times to visit if you want some cat playtime!

Q: Are children allowed in the café?

A: Yes, children are allowed in the café, but we urge parents to prepare children well before their visit. We advise that you discuss our house rules with the children in advance. Explain clearly that these are not house cats. Because some of the cats have difficult backgrounds, they can't always be stroked. Focus on the fact that they can see the cats, in the hope that we can avoid tears. For the really little ones, we ask to stay as calm as possible, so that the cats aren't afraid to come out and say hello. If the children begin to cry, we kindly ask that they are taken to the shop for a moment until calm is restored. We thank you for your understanding!

Q: Can I become a volunteer in the café?

A: At the moment we have a good team of motivated volunteers. Sometimes volunteers have to leave us, which is when we search for new people. If you send us your details to vrijwilliger@wearedreamcatchers.be, we'll get in touch when we're on the lookout for new volunteers.  

Don't see an answer to your question here? Get in touch!