Windsor’s first cat cafe a huge success

On the heels of Windsor’s first ever cat yoga at a local animal rescue mission came a two-day “PAWp up” cat cafe where people could cuddle a cat while drinking their coffee – and fill out an adoption form.

For $10 you could get a cookie, bottomless tea or coffee and all the kitty cuddles you could squeeze into an hour and a half slot. Moggy’s volunteers were there to answer questions about adoption and the Mission.

“We were really trying to be that animal rescue group that offers some unique things,” said Amanda Scully, program director at Moggy’s Mission.

“We have the connections and we have a really great location now, we figured since we have all these beautiful animals that need homes, why not show them off this way?”

The Mission was originally called Moggy’s Cat Rescue when it opened in 2013, but in January 2018 it announced they would also be taking in dogs and other small animals and changed their name.

The main goals of the cat cafe were to raise funds for the Mission and awareness of adoption and rescue animals.

“We know that we can’t rescue every animal but when we put on events like this, everybody that’s coming in, we’re educating them,” said Scully.

“Our hope is that maybe if it’s just one person who was thinking of buying an animal at a pet store, now they’ll think about adopting one and rescuing one instead.”

The event ended up bringing in almost $3,000 and two adoptions.

And it has many others thinking and wanting to do more.

Sarah Zeman is a 21-year-old student who says she is “already a crazy cat lady.”

She found out about the cat cafe through Facebook and said she “had to come.”

“I want all the cats,” she said with a laugh. “I’m graduating soon and I fully intend, as soon as I move into my own place, to go out and get at least two of my own. And I would love to volunteer at something like this.”

Zeman does whatever she can to spread awareness about adoption. She has had two cats which were both rescue cats and was responsible for her best friend adopting two rescue cats as well from the Humane Society.

Scully said Moggy’s will most likely do another cat cafe because of this one’s success. They also have more cat yoga planned as well as puppy pilates, another first of its kind event.

“Everywhere in the world has to have animal lovers…this is something new and different. I think everybody feels good when they’re able to give back to a good cause,” said Scully.

“Who doesn’t love a warm cup of coffee on a cold day, and if there’s cat’s involved then it’s kind of a win-win for everybody.”

By Alyssa Horrobin