The café is home to 20 cats, all of whom have been rescued from the streets. Serhii Oliinyk, owner of Cat Café Lviv, told The Dodo, “I have a small team of very close people who have been working with me for several years and have become my closest friends.”
Oliinyk said that they take in as many cats as they can, and have even started taking in kittens who were found abandoned near the café.
During the war, which started in 2014, the Cat Café Lviv has remained open. Oliinyk said it was important for them to keep the café open and provide a safe haven for the cats, as well as a place for people to come and relax.
“Since the age of four months, our cats have been living in [the] cat café. They’re like family to me.” Oliinyk added.
The Cat Café Lviv has been a source of comfort for many during the war, and Oliinyk said that they plan on staying open as long as they can.
