The Dancing Cat's cage-free lounge environment provides previously homeless adult cats a place to wander and play. Given a chance for their authentic kitty natures to emerge, they can find wonderful forever homes, and leave the shelter behind.

About

The Dancing Cat, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a cat adoption lounge located near downtown San José, California. The Dancing Cat’s mission is to find homes for at-risk adult cats from the San José Animal Care Center by giving those cats an open, cage-free environment in which they can mingle with people and other felines. For a nominal admission donation guests are invited to spend an hour with these adoptable cats in a relaxing, living room-like space. Your donation goes toward the continued care and feeding of our adoptable cats. The organization, run almost entirely by volunteers, exists thanks to guests’ and partners’ continued generosity.

What to Expect

A visit to The Dancing Cat may range from active and playful to cozy and quiet. If cats are snoozing, simply relax and enjoy their calming presence. If the cats are awake, you are invited to socialize, play, and join in their fun. If there are fewer than ten cats in the room when you visit, it's because some have been adopted — a happy event! We bring new cats in to The Dancing Cat on the days that we're closed to the public in order to give them a chance to adjust to their new surroundings.

Some guests come exclusively to spend time with cats, while others bring their laptops, books or sketchpads and spend their hour working. If you’re looking to interact with cats, you’ll find many toys and treats to interest some of our feline residents.

From time to time, the Dancing Cat hosts events such as Purr Yoga, craft workshops, and music nights. Tickets for those events will be made available when the event is scheduled. 

Interested in adopting?

Guests who are interested in adopting are encouraged to fill out an application prior to visiting the lounge. Please click here for more information on the adoption process.

Our HISTORY

Founded by Ann Chasson and Mary Rubin, The Dancing Cat first opened in May 2015 as a 4-week pop-up. The project was so popular that our doors remained open for five months through November 2015. In that short time The Dancing Cat welcomed over 2000 guests and found wonderful homes for over 50 cats.  The tremendous success of The Dancing Cat pop-up demonstrated that Silicon Valley is a prime location for a permanent cat adoption lounge.

In May 2016 The Dancing Cat joined forces with Silicon Valley Pet Project to reopen its doors.  After two years we were proud to announce that the goal of sustainability had been met and as of September 1, 2018 The Dancing Cat began operations as an independent rescue organization. We continue to give adoptable cats a chance to shine in a casual and relaxed environment, thereby expanding the opportunity for adoptions, and reducing the euthanasia rate in Silicon Valley. 

Instagram Gallery

🥰Adoption Story 🥰 Natalia was a beautiful tabby cat with a huge heart, ready to share her love! Sadly, she was abandoned at a nearby apartment complex and a good Samaritan brought her to the San Jose Animal Care Center. Luckily, she won the hearts
We have only 12 days left to meet our $80,000 fundraiser goal! As of today we are grateful to have raised over $20,000 but we still have more work to do to meet our full match potential. The past 8 years have shown us that when our community comes to
👑Adoption Story👑 Hear ye, hear ye! Gather ‘round for the adoption tale of our beloved monarch, Queen Penelope Von Snorflepants. Queen P ruled over the kingdom of the adoption lounge and was entertained by many townspeople who visited from far
💙Adoption Story 💙Beautiful Ajax had quite the long road to his forever home. In fact, Ajax's story really begins long before he ever came to be with us, and it likely begins with Single Kitten Syndrome. In order to understand how to interact with o
🐋 Adoption Story 🐋 Beluga was an adorable, sweet, and super fluffy kitty. He loved cuddling on soft blankets and getting attention from his humans. When he was not working hard as an expert biscuit maker, he liked to watch birds and nap in the sun.
⚜️Adoption Story⚜️ Midas was a beautiful boy with a heart of gold to match his gorgeous coat. A friendly, confident guy, he enjoyed his time with all the humans that he met. But Midas’s story is more than just the story of one cat: Midas’
Our 8-year anniversary fundraiser is proof that pawsbilities are infinite when kindness and generosity shine bright! We have a long way to go to meet our $80,000 goal but are so encouraged by the support you show us here on social media. Not surprisi
🌈Adoption Story🌈 Today we share the story over another Rainbow Bridge Adoption: a story of a cat that has, since their adoption, sadly passed away. When she was rescued from the San Jose Animal Care Center, Lily was 20 years old and had an uncerta
💚Adoption Story💚 A playful kitty who loved attention almost as much as he loved wand toys, Marco was a born entertainer! He could play for as long as anyone could keep up with him, and in his foster homes, foster parents worked hard to keep up with
The Dancing Cat announced our 8-year anniversary fundraiser last week and to kick off National Pet Week, we wanted to show you how we are creating Infinite Pawsibilities in the lives of formerly homeless cats. These beautiful beings are just a handfu
🧡Adoption Story🧡 Tortilla, known and beloved at the San Jose Animal Care Center as his alter ego Mr. Mia, was brought to the shelter after being hit by a car. Even with a broken hind leg and a broken tooth, sweet Tortilla charmed all volunteers and
The Dancing Cat is delighted to welcome the month of May as we approach our 8-year anniversary as a 501(c)(3) non-profit! This milestone reflects 8 years of tremendous and unwavering community and volunteer support. Turn the number eight on its sid

The Dancing Cat House Rules

We want The Dancing Cat to be a fun and loving experience, both for you and our cats. We ask that our human guests kindly follow some simple rules when hanging out with the cats.

  • Well being: Please sanitize your hands upon entry to the space.

  • Kindness: Best to let the cats come to you. Perhaps pick up a toy and invite play. Don't pursue cats, pick them up, or pull on tails.

  • Cat Naps: Cats love their sleep! If cats are sleeping, feel free to talk gently to them and tell them how wonderful they are, but it's best not to wake them up.

  • Cat Snacks: Do not feed the cats anything other than the official The Dancing Cat kitty food. They cannot eat human food.

  • People Snacks: You may bring in outside food and drinks. Drinks need to be in a bottle or a cup with a lid. No alcoholic beverages please.

  • Children: Some cats love kids and others are more timid. A responsible adult guest must closely supervise children. Children should refrain from running or making loud noises.

  • Photos: We encourage photos, but please no flash photography.

  • Phones: For the peace of mind of the cats and others, please silence your cell phone ringer and take calls outside.

  • Cat Furniture: Cat trees are for kitties-please no climbing.

  • Allergies: If you have allergies, we have Kleenex but we do not provide allergy medication.

If rules aren't respected we reserve the right to quietly ask you to leave without admission refunds.

release

When you book your time at The Dancing Cat, you will be asked to sign a release. An authorized individual must sign a release on behalf of minors. Remember, cats have minds of their own and can be unpredictable, therefore we can’t control everything they do especially if startled or harassed. We cannot be held liable for events that result from your interactions with the cats.