Location: 430 E 9th St, New York, NY 10009
Phone: +1 212-875-7538
Hours: Closed ⋅ Opens 12 PM
Nestled in Manhattan’s East Village, Ollie’s Place is a volunteer-run, non-profit cat adoption center dedicated to giving rescued cats a safe, loving environment while they await forever homes. Known for its cage-free setup, Ollie’s Place allows cats to roam freely during visiting hours, giving visitors a unique chance to see their true personalities.
With an overall rating of 4.3 stars from 104 reviews, Ollie’s Place is both a beloved local treasure and a shelter that sparks strong opinions. While many praise its friendly volunteers, cozy environment, and well-cared-for cats, others feel the adoption process can be too restrictive.
What Makes Ollie’s Place Unique
Unlike traditional shelters, Ollie’s Place emphasizes a home-like atmosphere. Visitors can interact with cats as they lounge, play, or nap in open spaces. Volunteers are available to answer questions, introduce the cats, and help guide adopters toward the right match.
For many cat lovers, this makes Ollie’s Place feel less like a shelter and more like a cat café without the café. It’s a place where people can stop by, play with adoptable cats, and support rescue efforts, even if they aren’t adopting.
The Adoption Process
The center is well known for having a very thorough screening process. This ensures cats are placed in safe, stable homes, which many reviewers appreciate. In fact, Ollie’s Place is said to have one of the lowest return rates in the city—around 2%.
However, the process can also feel discouraging to some adopters. A number of reviewers mention being denied without explanation or finding the adoption rules too strict.
This duality highlights Ollie’s Place’s philosophy: while the experience may not be simple, the priority is always the well-being of the cats.
Community Role
Ollie’s Place is more than just an adoption center. It’s a community hub for cat lovers. From events like painting nights to simple afternoon visits, people come not only to adopt but also to spend time with cats, learn about rescue work, and support the mission through donations or volunteering.
Should You Visit Ollie’s Place?
If you’re considering adopting—or just want a place to unwind with cats—Ollie’s Place is worth the trip. Expect a warm, cage-free space where cats are treated with love and respect. Keep in mind, however, that adoption approval may require patience.
Reviews of Ollie’s Place (104 Total | 4.3 Rating)
Below are unedited reviews from real visitors and adopters, reflecting the full range of experiences at Ollie’s Place:
mycats. nyc – ★★★★★ (4 years ago)
“Ollie’s Place in East Village is a small non-profit cat adoption center that is run totally by volunteers. During the visiting hours the kitties have the run of the house which is a … More”
Carissa Yang – ★★★★★ (1 year ago)
“Lovely employees, very welcoming. They let me in just to play with the cats despite me not intending to adopt. The cats were very calm and there was a board describing all the cats and their demeanors.”
Jane Leung – ★★★★★ (1 year ago)
“I stopped by to see all the cute kitties. The staff is very friendly and they keep everything so nice and clean. The kitties are all well taken care of. I recommend anyone looking to adopt an older cat to stop by. Please adopt don’t shop. They were all asleep when I stopped by. Loved watching them.”
Mike Saunders – ★☆☆☆☆ (2 months ago)
“Do not be fooled by reviews. These cats are NOT available for adoption. The owner does not let anyone adopt. Period.”
andrina whitehouse – ★★★★★ (9 months ago)
“Visited this place on a Wednesday evening when we were in New York for a week. There was an older guy volunteering at the time and he was super friendly and knowledgeable about all the cats and other rescue places in the vicinity. The cats … More”
Carli Ovadek – ★★★★★ (5 years ago)
“A wonderful cat adoption center in the East Village! Cats are happy, well cared for, and clearly loved by all volunteers there.”
Natalie Sheehan – ★★★★★ (10 months ago)
“I love this place! You can walk in and spend time with adoptable cats. The cats are calm, not in cages, so you get to see how they behave in their natural environment, which is really helpful for determining their personality. I am looking forward to adopting!”
mariama bah – ★☆☆☆☆ (6 months ago)
“DO NOT GO HERE! Just came in and was so unwelcome! Lady was sitting on a stool looking miserable. A man was on the floor on his phone. No body welcomed me and there was no signs or info about the cats I could read myself. I was just … More”
Jillian Doyle – ★★★★★ (1 year ago)
“I cannot say enough great things about this rescue! I absolutely loved how thorough the application process was to ensure these pups aren’t getting placed in the wrong hands. I had the best adoption coordinator, Rayna, who made the process … More”
Edgar Lee – ★★★★★ (2 weeks ago)
“So nice and friendly, let us play with the cats despite not looking to adopt”
Daphne Fong – ★★★★★ (8 years ago)
“The cats are freely roaming whenever the shelter is open to the public. You can stay as long as you want and the volunteers will answer any questions you have about the cats and adoption.”
Mary Colar – ★★★★★ (1 year ago)
“Cats are very well taken of and the staff are incredible . Come here and adopt a lovely fellow like Big Boy …”
Nazneen Alam – ★★★★★ (2 years ago)
“I didnt adopt any cats here but I would just love to say that the cats there are such cuties! I loved interacting with them and it was such easy communication with the workers. If you want to adopt a cat, this is the place. I loved that one of the workers was kind enough to let us come there just to play.”
V. P – ★★★★★ (5 months ago)
“Support this little cats haven…adopt a furry baby and show some love and donate.”
S – ★★★★★ (11 months ago)
“Adorable and well taken care of cats!”
Lauren Silva – ★☆☆☆☆ (4 years ago)
“The owner of Ollie’s Place would much rather keep these cats in the shelter indefinitely, denying applicants unless they fit his personal ideal candidate. … More”
Madison McNulty – ★★★★★ (5 years ago)
“The staff and kitties here are the best people/cats I have had the pleasure of meeting. You get to just pet the cats and talk and I come here when I’m having a bad day to see Gretel because shes extremely soft and reminds me of my cat … More”
Tamanna Shahid – ★★★☆☆ (3 years ago)
“The site is great and volunteers are wonderful and very well informed. The organization does not intend on making adoption easy. When I asked how I would be contacted after putting in an app, I was told that if I don’t hear from them it’s a … More”
Kate Kisiel – ★★★★★ (8 years ago)
“Ollie’s is an amazing place that gives cats a chance to live in close to home environment before being adopted. It’s mainly volunteer run and all the people working there love the cats and can advise to make the best choice based on cats’ … More”
Jiyun Jiang – ★★★★★ (2 years ago)
“Our firm held a canvas painting event with Ollie’s Place, and we enjoyed our time.”
Mackenzie Iglesias – ★☆☆☆☆ (9 years ago)
“It seems as if this shelter does not want to let go of their cats. My partner and I spent plenty of time at this shelter and finally decided on a cat we wanted to apply for. We had a home visit, even bought all of the essentials the cat … More”
Jess M – ★★★★★ (1 year ago)
“Mighty Mutts saves animals day in and day out. The staff is profoundly dedicated! I adopted my very first dog from them in the late 1990s. Grateful for that dog. He changed my life!”
Willa Cai – ★★★★★ (10 years ago)
“Came here almost every week while in town for a summer internship. (Almost?) completely volunteer-run, this semi-hidden cat haven is what all cat adoption spaces should look and feel like; a cat cafe sans cafe. They’ve got the coolest … More”
Ashley W. – ★★☆☆☆ (3 years ago)
“I hate to give a rescue one star. If I was just rating our two visits to Ollie’s, and the dedication of the volunteers, it would be an enthusiastic five. However, trying to adopt was completely different. We filled out the application four … More”
Theresa Alba – ★☆☆☆☆ (5 years ago)
“Fell in love with a cat here and was hoping to adopt, but had an awful experience with an individual named John who was disrespectful and aggressive during a home visit. … More”
Lauren A – ★★★★★ (6 years ago)
“A wonderful charity cat rescue organization that is like a little cat cafe everybody is so easy going and you can go send lot of time there. Be sure to give them a donation on your way out and if you are a local consider vulentering with them. It is a win win. You get to spend time with cats and help them out as well.”
earthling – ★★★★★ (6 years ago)
“Great place for cat-lovers to spend some time in a room full of felines. Ring the bell on the right side of the door to be permitted access. Try and leave a donation if you can, so these cats can continue to be cared for. =^w^=”
Maggie Choong – ★★★★★ (4 years ago)
“They have a lot of cats for adoption. The volunteers are very friendly and helpful. They recommend cats that they feel might suit your lifestyle. They are also very knowledgeable about the cats in their care. It was a great experience.”
Sarah Cortes – ★☆☆☆☆ (10 years ago)
“Wouldn’t adopt to me because I live in a balcony apartment. Am knowledgeable about animals, live in a stable home with one other pet, used to be a shelter volunteer and was deemed “too high risk” – the point is to give pets a good home and … More”
Alessandra Sawick – ★☆☆☆☆ (10 years ago)
“Do not waste your time with this place. They do not want to really give the pets for adoption. Not to mention that the owner, John is rude and lack people skills and communication skills. He was actually talking us out of adopting the dog. … More”
