Get Feline Cuddles, Do Yoga With Cats At New El Jefe Cat Lounge

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson-area cat lovers who don’t own pets because they often travel, have a cat-allergic family member at home, want a new spin on date night or just simply love spending time with those mysterious felines will soon be in luck. Tucson’s new El Jefe Cat Lounge aims to cure what ails all those cat lovers by offering noncommittal cat-cuddling and playtime experiences geared toward humans who want to enjoy time with cats without an adoption commitment, or those who are looking to adopt a cat.

“El Jefe” is Spanish for “the boss,” and also refers to an elusive jaguar spotted several times in the Santa Rita Mountain trails and who's turned into quite the celebrity in the Tucson area. But while you won’t be able to play with that El Jefe at the cat lounge, domestic cats from the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter will be available for a game of cat-and-mouse, or for finding their new forever homes.

And if cat playtime isn’t enough to help you reach nirvana, experience one of El Jefe’s meditation classes with cats and listen to purring alongside your mat as you engage in downward dog.

The lounge, 3025 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 141, is offering “Sneak Peek Meditation with Cats” classes at 10 a.m. Saturday and again at 6 p.m. Oct. 29.

See the cats online or make a reservation on the El Jefe website. Prices are $10 for one cat lounge playtime hour or $17-$25 for an hourlong meditation class with cats. El Jefe VIP Access also is available for $50 monthly, providing unlimited cat-snuggling visits, a 15 percent discount off drinks and snacks, special event early access and special offers. Gift certificates are also available in amounts of $10 and $20.