The primary problem is that in each of them, the cats have all been overly stressed out - far worse than what the cats at our local humane society experience even! Each one we've visited has had weird rules of engagement made by humans rather than cats, that clearly weren't working for the cats.
On the human side - it's a total con. I get that the funding is necessary to make these places work, but frankly I'd rather continue to donate to my local humane society as it feels as though the funding is more clearly put to the benefit of the cats. $50 for a cup of coffee and a 30 minute visit where you might not even be allowed to pet the cats (!!!) makes no sense to me.
I'm not meaning to condemn all of these places - and I haven't been to any in SFO - but having gone to a handful, I've been disappointed.