Charles County Cat Café Partnership Helps 1,000+ Shelter Cats Find Homes

LA PLATA, Md. — A partnership between the Charles County Animal Care Center and Feline Felons Cat Café is helping shelter cats find permanent homes, with more than 1,000 adoptions completed since the program began in 2023, county officials said during a recent briefing to the Charles County Board of Commissioners.

Feline Felons Cat Café, located at 24 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 1, in Waldorf, partners with the county shelter to house adoptable cats in a quieter, home-like environment where potential adopters can interact with them before completing the adoption process through the Animal Care Center.

Officials said the partnership began in September 2023, giving cats an alternative setting where their personalities are easier to see compared to the traditional shelter environment.

Amanda Elder, an animal care clerk with the Charles County Animal Care Center, said the change in setting can make a significant difference.

“In the shelter environment, it can be scary. There’s lots of sounds, noises and smells, so some of the cats don’t show their true personalities,” Elder said.

She said the café environment allows visitors to spend more time getting to know the animals before deciding whether to adopt.

“By taking them out of that environment and into a more home environment, they can really show their true personalities,” Elder said.

Elder said the partnership reached a milestone of 1,000 adoptions on Jan. 18, 2026, and had helped approximately 1,050 cats find homes as of the March update to commissioners.

She said the partnership has become an important tool in reducing shelter populations and improving adoption success.

“It’s been a huge asset to our shelter to get our cats adopted,” Elder said.Residents interested in adopting can learn more through the Charles County Animal Care Center or by visiting Feline Felons Cat Café.

Watch the café’s live cat cam here.

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