Last Updated on 4 July 2025 by Vanessa
Cats and books… They go hand in hand, wouldn’t you agree?
The bookstore Mon Chat Pitre in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France has embraced this delightful synergy. This unique shop took the innovative approach to offer their cozy bookshelves and reading nooks as a haven for felines that would otherwise be roaming the streets.
Mon Chat Pitre is currently home to eight resident rescue cats. Ready to meet these literary companions?
Mon Chat Pitre, the bookstore in Aix-en-Provence that takes in homeless cats
The beginnings of Mon Chat Pitre
Mon Chat Pitre opened its doors in June 2021 in the premises of the former Librairie de Provence. Behind this initiative was Solène Chavanne, an LCI columnist and a journalist specializing in animals.
The 130-square-meter bookstore is organized into different spaces, including a children’s corner and a small patio in the back serving as a reading and coffee space.
Because eight cats live there, the store is full of suspended bridges and cat flaps.
And books, of course. Because even though cats reign suprese at Mon Chat Pitre, it is also home to over 12,000 books in various genres – the latest releases, award-winning novels, comics, manga… and, of course, numerous books about cats, especially from Japanese literature.
Aix-en-Provence turned out to be the perfect place to establish a cat-centric bookstore because the city was already known for its specialist libraries and book shops (manga, foreign languages, …).
Mon Chat Pitre has been a great success, appealing to both book lovers and feline enthusiasts.
Meet the bookstore cats
Mon Chat Pitre is currently home to eight different rescue cats. Some people visit the bookstore specifically to see the cats; others just wander in to look at books and discover there are furry creatures roaming the premises.
Tam, Plume, Colette, Garfield, Féfé, Marcel, and Sherlock are their names. They are not available for adoption – the bookstore is their forever home.
They all come from different shelters across France and were chosen based on their ability to adapt to large spaces and to be sociable.
Although the did growl a bit upon arrival, they now live in harmony with each other.
All previously abandoned (some even several times), these cats now enjoy a second chance.
In addition to being pampered, the cats of Mon Chat Pitre are sponsored by a renowned personality: Maxime Chattam (the author of almost 30 novels, including La promesse des ténèbres), Faustine Bollaert (TV host), Philippe Geluck (a cartoonist known for Le chat), Bernard Weber (author of Empire of the Ants and The Cat’s Tomorrow, among others), Andréa Ferréol (a French actress known for La grande bouffe and Le prix du danger).
While these cats are free to roam wherever they want, they mainly love to lounge on the small patio in the back.
They also have a quiet “cats only” space, where they can retreat if they need a break from all those humans.
Ambassadors for shelter cats
Solène Chavanne is also a passionate advocate for our feline friends. Devoted to addressing the pressing issue of cat abandonment, she says, “France holds the record for abandonments, with over 100,000 each year. I wanted the bookstore cats to come from shelters so that people realize you can find feline treasures if you take the time to look for the cat that suits you.”
Mon Chat Pitre takes proactive measures to raise awareness through their social media channels, shedding light on the plight of homeless cats and the importance of adoption.
Practical information
Do you want to visit the feline residents of Mon Chat Pitre in person? Here’s what you need to know.
Address
Librairie Mon Chat Pitre, 13 Rue de Montigny, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France.
Opening hours
Mon Chat Pitre is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 07:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Where to go next?
Craving a hot drink and a treat after your visit of Mon Chat Pitre? Then head over to Meow Cats Café, conveniently located just few streets away from the bookstore. Here, five more resident cats will be waiting for you in an adorable cat-themed décor.
Check out these other bookstores and libraries with cats
- Shakespeare & Company (Paris, France)
- Acqua Alta bookstore (Venice, Italy)
- Classense Library (Ravenna, Italy)
- Second Edition Book shop (Davie, Florida)
- Book Buyers Library (Charlotte, North Carolina)
English version / version française
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