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 small admission fee guests are invited to spend an hour with these adoptable cats in a relaxing, living room-like space. Your admission 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.

The Dancing Cat also 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

Our Giving Tree for the kitties is a fun way to give a gift and get a gift! You start by selecting a beautiful handmade ornament from our Giving Tree featuring different adoptable cats. Each ornament has a suggested donation amount and explains where
Meet Eclipse, the stunning dilute tortoiseshell with a heart as warm as her gentle gaze. This sweet and kind-hearted momma cat has stolen our hearts with her affectionate nature and playful demeanor. Eclipse has a penchant for coziness, often seeking
Just a heads up that this is the last weekend in 2024 to hang with the kitties! We always close the week between Christmas and New Years so that everyone can enjoy the holidays with their own felines, friends and families. Space available this weeken
Laps needed! Spend an hour out of the rain and in our cozy lounge environment with some of the cutest body heat thieves around!
Buster and James think spooning is played out, they’re trying out new concepts. What would should they name their first attempt?
Meet Racquel! Racquel is a sweet and easy going beauty with a playful and independent spirit. She thrives in a calm, quiet home where she can feel comfortable and safe. While initially timid around new people, she can be welcomed with her favorite C
The stars aligned for Venus when she was rescued from a home that had 30+ cats. A teen Mom who was under-socialized at-a-glance, her sweet spirit shone brightly beyond her circumstances. Like many kitties who were not socialized as kittens, Venus' co
Who remembers our FIV+ dreamboat Sir Gumbolt? It took our special guy nearly a year to find his perfect match but oh was it worth the wait! He is adored by his person Carol, seen here getting her daily smooches. When Gummy was rescued he had a gaping
Buster Pawsy is looking for the home in home run for the pawlidays! Buster Pawsy is an all-star, world champion sweetheart of a cat. He loves being up high on his cat tower and lounging up there most of the day. He enjoys soaking up the morning sun r
Give the gift of cats all year long, our 2025 calendar is ready to ship! Our bright, feline-filled calendar is lovingly curated by our co-founder Mary Rubin and is comprised of numerous high quality photos beautifully captured by our volunteer photog

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.