Prime Minister Edi Rama featured the story in the latest episode of his podcast “Flasim” (Let’s Talk) on Sunday, highlighting the initiative founded by Ingrid, who created the café on Myslym Shyri Street in central Tirana.

Ingrid said the venue operates like a regular café, with one difference. “Besides people, we also have cats,” she said.

“All the cats are rescued from the streets. After completing veterinary checks and medical tests, we keep them at the café until they are adopted,” she said. “Once they are adopted, we continue to follow up with the adopters to ensure the cats are in safe hands.”

The café is run by Ingrid together with her friend Anxhela, who oversees marketing.

Asked by Rama how the cats spend their day, Ingrid said they follow their own routine. “In the morning, after being fed, they play with each other. Customers arrive, then at midday they have their sleeping time, and in the evening they play again,” she said.

“At the moment we have seven cats. The maximum we have hosted is ten, because the space is small. I originally thought I would only keep five, but given the needs and the many requests we receive, I couldn’t do otherwise,” she added.

Ingrid said her love for animals dates back many years. The café is named after Nina, the first cat she adopted.

“I’ve always loved animals, but three years ago I adopted my cat Nina, who gave the café its name,” she said. “I started feeding cats in my neighbourhood, carrying food with me, until the idea for opening the café on Myslym Shyri Street took shape.”

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