Cat-Friendly Places in Switzerland: 8 Top Picks

Zurich's flagship cat café, located in the Wiedikon district. Eleven well-socialised cats roam the café freely while guests enjoy Swiss-quality specialty coffee and homemade Zürigschnätzlets (Swiss veal) fusion bites. The cats here are renowned for their gentleness and have been featured in Swiss national TV segments on urban animal welfare.

In Switzerland's capital city, this cat café near the Bear Park (Bärenpark) has nine resident cats who've been known to curl up on the laps of visiting diplomats and EU officials. The café is dog-free and prides itself on offering the quietest, most relaxing feline experience in the Swiss Mittelland.

Geneva's cosmopolitan café scene includes this French-language cat café in the Carouge neighbourhood, known as Geneva's bohemian quarter. Eight cats and a strong commitment to animal rights (the café is entirely vegan) reflect Carouge's artsy ethos. Menus are available in French, English, and German.

Lausanne, Switzerland's Olympic city on Lake Geneva, has this beloved cat café in the vibrant Flon district. Seven cats, including a magnificent Norwegian Forest Cat named Olympe, oversee a menu of Swiss craft beers and artisanal hot chocolates. Lake views from the terrace are spectacular.

Basel, famous for Art Basel, has its own cat-art fusion venue in the Gundeldingen district. Mieze ("kitty" in Swiss German) has nine cats and rotating exhibitions of cat-themed art by local Basel artists. During Art Basel week in June, it becomes one of the city's most unusual and sought-after spots.

In bilingual Fribourg, straddling the French-German linguistic border, this café is equally at home in both cultures. Eight cats wander between French and German-speaking tables in this medieval city's lower town. The nearby Fribourg Cathedral makes for a superb combination visit.

Lucerne's picture-perfect Chapel Bridge is a five-minute walk from this small cat café near the old town walls. Six cats live here, the most famous being a tabby named Pilatus after the nearby mountain. The café fills up fast during peak tourism season, so booking is recommended.

A legendary 5-star alpine resort in the Graubünden mountains, Hotel Waldhaus Flims has several farm cats that roam the extensive grounds. Guests often encounter them on the hiking trails or sunning themselves on the terrace. The combination of mountain air, five-star service, and resident cats makes this one of Switzerland's most unique cat-friendly accommodations.