Party to preview cat-themed café, adoption center

Renee Reed is planning the “purrfect” business, and she hopes to get others in on the venture during a preview party.

In early 2017, she is opening Houston’s first cat-themed café and adoption center. Called El Gato Coffeehouse, the restaurant will serve freshly roasted coffees and pastries while getting to know adoptable cats. The mission, Reed said, is to find permanent homes for adoptable felines while enriching the animals’ lives outside of shelters where they will receive regular interaction from café guests to increase their chances of adoption.

Reed is giving the community a glimpse of what the restaurant will offer during a pop-up party cohosted with the Houston Humane Society from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Aug. 14 at Sharespace, 2201 Preston St. in East Downtown Houston.

The party will include live music, food, drinks, art and cats available for adoption.

The one-night event is free and family-friendly. Free entry tickets, however, must be reserved at http://elgatopopup. eventbrite.com.

The pop-up party will include Kickstarter funding incentives giving donors the opportunity to be listed on the café’s “Cat Wall of Fame.”

According to a news release promoting the event, Kickstarter incentives will be limited to those who donate during the party.

Also, the event will feature an exhibition of works by McAllen-based artist Carl Vestweber. The collection combines images from Cat Fancy magazine and People magazine.

After the party, guests may stay for the debut performance of The Other, a local ethereal rock band led by Joshua Cormier, Reed’s boyfriend and partner in the coffeehouse venture.

When El Gato Coffeehouse opens sometime next year within Houston’s Inner Loop, the café will combine Spanish architecture with modern, Japanese-influenced and midcentury furnishing mixed with natural elements. Plans include lounge seating for guests.

The restaurant’s menu is to feature a full coffee bar and will include specialty drinks and teas. Guests may also purchase cat-inspired clothing, art, books and accessories for cats.

The coffeehouse is to provide adoptable cats a separate area for them to explore and for guests to view from behind a large glass window.

The cat lounge is to include an overhead catwalk, wall ledges, window niches for lounging and sleeping, and a private quarters designed to accommodate 15 to 20 cats at a time.

Guests will be able to interact with the cats for a small fee.

Outside animals will not be allowed into the café.

To learn more about the café, visit www.elgatocoffeehouse.com.