The winner of this year’s Best New Business title answers the big question: Where can I just hang out with cats? In a college town with no shortage of cafes, restaurants and bars, The Scratching Post opened its doors in June 2025, complete with a unique, adorable element — cats.
Located on East University Avenue, the cafe is Champaign-Urbana’s answer to the cat cafe craze, catering to students and locals alike.
Consider this: It’s finals week, or maybe it’s just one of those “This might as well happen” days. You can step a bit outside of the bustling campus bubble and take the bus over to downtown Champaign to connect with the wilderness — that is, the over 20 cats who lounge in the cafe.
The Scratching Post also offers volunteer opportunities for those who want to get more cat time in this year, all while helping this business grow.
In fact, the cats reigning over this cafe are all waiting for their forever home. This means that if you can’t get enough of them, you’re more than welcome to take both your coffee and kitten to go!
