New Katy cat lounge is purr-fect place to bond
Patrons can play with, adopt free-roaming felines from area shelters
“Keeping the cats healthy is our top priority.”
Katelyn Cilny, co-owner of Cat Haven
At a new kind of lounge in Katy Asian Town, patrons can unwind, enjoy free WiFi and possibly even find a new furry best friend.
Rescue cats seeking adopters roam free at Cat Haven Lounge, which opened March 24, allowing visitors to interact with the cats or simply enjoy immersion into the catcentric cafe.
All the cats in the lounge come from local animal rescues.
Every detail of the lounge, from the omnipresent scratching posts to the vertical climbing steps on the walls, is designed for cat comfort and human interaction in an effort to unite potential pet owners with a new feline family member.
Though a cafe in concept, Cat Haven doesn’t sell open beverages. Bottled drinks are available, but food and custom beverages aren’t offered for health code compliance.
The lounge was inspired by similar concept
cafes in Korea, said Cat Haven co-owner Katelyn Cilny.
Cilny works in cat rescue, she said, and her endeavors with rescue felines made her acutely aware of the cat overpopulation problem in the Houston area. Cat Haven Lounge was a way of integrating the Korean concept into cat rescue.
“In Asian culture, cat cafes are very popular, but the cats in the cafes aren’t rescues,” Cilny explained. “We took the idea from Asian culture and partnered with a few local rescues in the hopes that we
can help get the cats adopted while opening space in the rescues so they can help more cats.”
The cats benefit from the social interaction as much as humans do, said Cynthia Long-Pace, owner of Sunshine Fund Cat Rescue.
“Socialization is important between the animals, because they do need to learn how to eat together and play together but also have that space if they need to be alone,” she said. “With people, (cats are) exposed to all ages and walks of life, and that will make them more suitable for different types of homes.”
For hygienic purposes, customers are required to remove their shoes in exchange for sterilized slippers in an effort to keep the rescue cats safe.
“Keeping the cats healthy is our top priority, and we put a big emphasis on cleanliness,” Cilny said.
Admission to the lounge costs $20 for adults and $10 for children, though membership packages are available for patrons who wish to visit regularly. The admission fee is the only way the business brings in income, Cilny noted.