With more than half a million people living inside the Las Vegas city limit, places to truly relax can be few and far between. Away from the casinos, the shopping centers and attractions, the Hearts Alive Village cat cafe gives visitors and cats in need a home a chance to rest, play, and connect. Cat cafes are quickly gaining popularity in the United States. Between 2020 and 2024, cat cafes in the U.S. increased from around 75 to more than 200. 

Lina Lakoczky-Torres, the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, described how Hearts Alive got its start, and came to have a cat cafe of their own. 

“So Hearts Alive Village started in 2013 when our founder, Christy Stevens, she actually founded this for her daughter,” Lakoczky-Torres said. “So, yeah, in her notebook, it was like some type of writing practice at school. She was 11 years old, and she had wrote, I want to start an Animal Rescue. And her mom was like, Okay, let’s do it. And then, now, 13 years later, we have our cat cafe.”

Hearts Alive Village hosts a variety of events and drives throughout the year, such as live music, spay and neuter clinics, a pet food pantry, and more. Beyond just adopting out cats, the staff and volunteers work to see the animals stay long term in their new homes.

“When you come in here, you meet your forever family member, hopefully your fur baby. They come to you, microchip, vaccinated, spayed, neutered, whatever you need, and then whatever happens throughout your life,” Lakoczky-Torres said. 

They aim to be a lifeline, and provide emergency resources to pet parents that might be facing hardships. The true heart behind the novelty was clearly evident as visitors let go of some of the stress of the day. 

The Elephant Ballet band members seemed right at home among the cats, strumming and singing while surrounded by a furry audience. 

“I’m being attacked,” Matt Phillips could be heard saying, as a kitten jumped at the neck of his guitar. Later, Philips serenaded a slightly calmer cat, while relaxing humans took in the tunes and feline antics. 

Visitors can choose between monthly or hourly donations, the proceeds of which go directly into caring for the animals, including medical costs and microchipping. 

Upcoming Hearts Alive Village events include the Pickleball for Paws fundraiser at the Chicken N’ Pickle in Henderson, on August 23rd. You can learn more about the organization and their services at their website.