Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
First Cat Café in Chester County to open in Kennett Square
In the past few years, cat cafes have sprung up in New York, Baltimore, California and in Washington, D.C.
In August, a Cat Café will open in Kennett Square, the first one in Chester County.
“There is certainly nothing like this in the area,” said Laurellen Treisner, president of Treetops Animal Rescue, which will open at 305 W. State Street, the same building that was used for Paws & Claws. “There is nothing like this in (Chester County).”
The non-profit cat cafe will feature scores of cats roaming the building, and will be available for adoption.
“People can come in and sit and play with the cats,” Treisner said. “People can get to socialize with the cats.”
Treisner said that cat overpopulation is a serious problem nationwide, with cats being given away by the thousands especially during kitten season in the summer.
“For that reason, it’s harder to find adopters through the website for cats than dogs, and the adoption fee does not come close to covering the actual veterinary costs of our foster cats,” she said. “The Treetops Kitty Café will allow us to get more exposure for our adoptable cats, allowing us to take in more cats at one time and get more adopted, and also raising donations, recruiting new volunteers, and spreading the word about animal rescue.”
Besides visiting hours with the cats, Treetops will also carry pet supplies for sale, and will schedule times for community activities, including yoga classes, a book clubs, a storytime where children read to the cats, movie nights, and informational talks about rescue, pets, and animal care.
“A lot of cats dies in shelters every year,” Treisner said. “This is definitely a better place.”
Cat Cafés operate like this: People pay a small donation to sit and mingle with the adoptable cats roaming free, and can purchase drinks or snacks (or bring their own). The cats can be photographed and touched.
Because it is a non-profit organization, Treetops is soliciting donations through www.youcaring.com/TreeTopsAnimalRescue-720898,
Its mission is to rescue adoptable lost, abandoned or surrendered animals; to supply needed care and medical attention including being spayed/neutered; to provide them with re-socialization in foster homes; and to place them in permanent adoptive homes where they will be loved and properly cared for.
“In the last 10 years we have adopted out over 1,500 animals, mostly cats and dogs but also goats, rabbits, and alpaca,” Treisner said. “We do not have a shelter and rely on volunteer foster families to care for our rescued animals as pets in their homes until they are adopted.”
Aleida Diaz and Tracey Eltringham will manage Treetops Cat Café. The animal grooming portion of Paws & Claws will remain.