The Scratching Post CU

The Scratching Post CU Cat Cafe / Board Game Cafe in Champaign, IL

Our funky salvaged window wall is coming together. Last few weeks have been a lot of boring projects like painting stora...
02/03/2025

Our funky salvaged window wall is coming together. Last few weeks have been a lot of boring projects like painting storage rooms, water heaters and drop ceilings being installed in the back, but we should have some photo worthy projects over the next few weeks.

Don't forget you can still donate to Toby's surgery if you have $20 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to help our local cat rescue with this huge expense. https://www.givinggrid.com/uxshep

If you want to start helping local cats before we open, this is an excellent opportunity. CATsNAP is the local non-prof...
01/28/2025

If you want to start helping local cats before we open, this is an excellent opportunity.

CATsNAP is the local non-profit rescue most of our cats will come from, and I worked with Toby a lot while volunteering with CATsNAP on their medical side. It is not an exaggeration when I say the sight of Toby's neck was something straight out of a horror movie when they took him in. Despite the amount of pain he must have been in, he still was constantly affectionate, trying to rub on you, head butting, and wanting to sit in your lap. Sweetest orange boy you ever did meet.

If it wasn't for rescues like CATSNAP cats like Toby wouldn't make it. This is the gritty behind the scenes work they do that is so essential to our cafe opening. The cats don't just show up all shiny and new. It takes a ton of volunteers, time and money to take in a homeless stray, get them spayed/neutered, vaccinated and treated for the slew of parasites and illnesses they invariably have until they are healthy and comfortable enough to come to our cat lounge.

Toby's injury is an extreme situation that in many cases may have been seen as too expensive and he would have been euthanized. Lucky for him CATsNAP stepped up and took him in, but his neck surgery at Perdue is coming up and this is a massive extra expense that small rescues like CATsNAP generally can't afford. If you can donate even a few dollars to help fund his surgery, every bit helps. Donation link is here https://www.givinggrid.com/uxshep

CATsNAP is a 501(c)(3) non profit so your donation is tax deductible.

Once we are open, we will be donating 20% of the profits from our food, drink and merch sales back to the rescues our cats come from, like CATsNAP, specifically so they can more easily fund cases like Toby. This will not be a one-off fundraiser. It is a permanent recurring donation we're committing to to help support the rescues that are so important to our space. So every brownie, pop or t-shirt you buy will help cats like Toby. 💞

Today we celebrate a truly inspirational leader whose vision for what our country could be inspires so many of us to do ...
01/20/2025

Today we celebrate a truly inspirational leader whose vision for what our country could be inspires so many of us to do and be better; Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I hope The Scratching Post will be a space where you can feel safe and accepted. Hang in there, and stay safe everyone.

I'm kind of obsessed with our sconces. And new walkthrough video in the comments! Still lots of finishing work, cleaning...
01/18/2025

I'm kind of obsessed with our sconces. And new walkthrough video in the comments! Still lots of finishing work, cleaning and decorating to do, but getting a little closer everyday.

Finished painting the tin ceiling. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Do I want you to lie and tell me it is? Yes. Yes I do....
01/16/2025

Finished painting the tin ceiling. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Do I want you to lie and tell me it is? Yes. Yes I do.

More painting done, more HVAC duct installed, glass installed in cat pod and vestibules, flooring delivered. (Don't worr...
01/06/2025

More painting done, more HVAC duct installed, glass installed in cat pod and vestibules, flooring delivered. (Don't worry. We're not covering the existing tile and wood floors. New flooring is for areas that only have a cement floor currently, and bathrooms, etc.)

Last two weeks I've learned that painting massive commercial space walls is not the same as painting your house. 🙃 Roller marks are the bane of my existence. Never had that problem on smaller walls. We're pros at avoiding them now, but will we go back and fix all of the first walls we did that are covered in roller marks? Maaaaaybe? 😆

This also happens to be the face I make when my husband wants to play Res Arcana which has been banned in our house du...
12/29/2024



This also happens to be the face I make when my husband wants to play Res Arcana which has been banned in our house due to the lack of good sportsmanship we exhibit while playing it. Our copy has been donated to the Scratching Post's library. 🤣

What games do you hope to see in the cafe? We already have a substantial list of almost 400 games which you can view on our website here: https://scratchingpostcu.com/cat-cafe-board-game-cafe-info/
But we will definitely have room for more!

Used more than 20 gallons of paint in the last four days. Probably at least another 20 to go. 😆
12/28/2024

Used more than 20 gallons of paint in the last four days. Probably at least another 20 to go. 😆

Happy holidays!
12/24/2024

Happy holidays!

Lots of drywall mudding this week, which means painting can start next week!
12/21/2024

Lots of drywall mudding this week, which means painting can start next week!

Glass isn't installed yet but the framing for the front cat pod and vestibules is in, and we finally have a ceiling in t...
12/13/2024

Glass isn't installed yet but the framing for the front cat pod and vestibules is in, and we finally have a ceiling in the back half of the cafe. 🥳

12/06/2024

Less than $1500 away from unlocking an annual backer appreciation week where all backers will get a free cookie and a drink! (and probably some other fun goodies.) Back a reward here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/

Available rewards:
*Boop the Halls board game - Super cute and easy to learn but thinky game can be picked up ASAP so you could give this as a physical holiday gift! (Note: we actually only have 5 left as of 12/5. Kickstarter lies ;)

*Double Trouble Package - Two cat lounge reservations and two drinks! Give this as a digital gift for the holidays, donate it to the Boys and Girls Club, or keep it for yourself!

*Kickstarter Exclusive T-shirt - These are only available to order on Kickstarter through 12/12 and our staff will definitely be sporting them on occasion so don't risk the FOMO and order one for yourself now!

*First Access Reservation - Be THE FIRST to have access to our reservations system when it goes live. You can assign this reward to any email address you'd like so you could give it as a digital gift for the holidays!

*Color Deeds - If you're not good at sharing and you have a favorite player color, back the matching color deed and you're guaranteed to always get to play your color while you're at The Scratching Post.

*Merch Bundle - Get the Kickstarter exclusive shirt AND the Kickstarter exclusive enamel pin along with our mug, sticker sheet and canvas tote. We know some of you are all about the pin craze and this is the only place you'll be able to get this one.

*Your Name on Our Backer Plaque or Our Fancy Furniture - Or the name of a loved one, or your favorite pet, or your favorite child. We won't judge, we know you have a favorite. 😼

Don't miss out! Lots of fun rewards that you can snag for yourself, gift to a friend, and some you can gift to our local...
12/05/2024

Don't miss out! Lots of fun rewards that you can snag for yourself, gift to a friend, and some you can gift to our local Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/

*Boop the Halls board game - Super cute and easy to learn but thinky game can be picked up ASAP so you could give this as a physical holiday gift! (Note: we actually only have 5 left as of 12/5. Kickstarter lies ;)

*Double Trouble Package - Two cat lounge reservations and two drinks! Give this as a digital gift for the holidays, donate it to the Boys and Girls Club, or keep it for yourself!

*Kickstarter Exclusive T-shirt - These are only available to order on Kickstarter through 12/12 and our staff will definitely be sporting them on occasion so don't risk the FOMO and order one for yourself now!

*First Access Reservation - Be THE FIRST to have access to our reservations system when it goes live. I know if I didn't already own the place and received this as a gift, it'd basically be the best gift ever. 😽 You can assign this reward to any email address you'd like so you could give it as a digital gift for the holidays!

*Color Deeds - If you're not good at sharing and you have a favorite player color, back the matching color deed and you're guaranteed to always get to play your color while you're at The Scratching Post.

*Merch Bundle - Get the Kickstarter exclusive shirt AND the Kickstarter exclusive enamel pin along with our mug, sticker sheet and canvas tote. We know some of you are all about the pin craze and this is the only place you'll be able to get this one.

*Your Name on Our Backer Plaque or Our Fancy Furniture - Or the name of a loved one, or your favorite pet, or your favorite child. We won't judge, we know you have a favorite. 😼

Window openings between cafe and cat lounge have been lengthened. This is definitely one of those things that is looking...
12/05/2024

Window openings between cafe and cat lounge have been lengthened. This is definitely one of those things that is looking scarier as it progresses, but the finished product should look great and make it easier to see more of the fuzzy butts while hanging out on the cafe side.

Address

114 E. University Avenue
Champaign, IL
61820

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Kickstarter late pledges end Thurs Dec 12! Back our Kickstarter and be a part of building The Scratching Post! View our Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/ #catcafe #scratchingpostcu #boardgamecafe #shopsmall #shoplocal

Late Pledges end December 12! Be a part of building our cafe and help with construction costs! View our Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/ Thank you so much to everyone who has already backed us! We couldn't have done this without you!!! #scratchingpostcu #catcafe #boardgamecafe #shopsmall #womanownedbusiness

Late Pledges end December 12! Back our cafe which will help with our construction costs, and get a fun reward, or give a fun reward! View our Kickstarter campaign here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/ #scratchingpostcu #catcafe #boardgamecafe #shopsmall

Cat stretching
Cat stretching

Less than $1500 away from unlocking an annual backer appreciation week where all backers will get a free cookie and a drink! (and probably some other fun goodies.) Back a reward here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/ Available rewards: *Boop the Halls board game - Super cute and easy to learn but thinky game can be picked up ASAP so you could give this as a physical holiday gift! (Note: we actually only have 5 left as of 12/5. Kickstarter lies ;) *Double Trouble Package - Two cat lounge reservations and two drinks! Give this as a digital gift for the holidays, donate it to the Boys and Girls Club, or keep it for yourself! *Kickstarter Exclusive T-shirt - These are only available to order on Kickstarter through 12/12 and our staff will definitely be sporting them on occasion so don't risk the FOMO and order one for yourself now! *First Access Reservation - Be THE FIRST to have access to our reservations system when it goes live. You can assign this reward to any email address you'd like so you could give it as a digital gift for the holidays! *Color Deeds - If you're not good at sharing and you have a favorite player color, back the matching color deed and you're guaranteed to always get to play your color while you're at The Scratching Post. #sharingisoverrated *Merch Bundle - Get the Kickstarter exclusive shirt AND the Kickstarter exclusive enamel pin along with our mug, sticker sheet and canvas tote. We know some of you are all about the pin craze and this is the only place you'll be able to get this one. *Your Name on Our Backer Plaque or Our Fancy Furniture - Or the name of a loved one, or your favorite pet, or your favorite child. We won't judge, we know you have a favorite. 😼 #scratchingpostcu #catcafe #kickstarter #shopsmall

We're closing late pledges December 12th. You still have a few more weeks to grab a First Access Reservation, T-shirt, get your name on our backer plaque, and more! Your pledges have helped us so much with the construction costs and we're less than $1600 from the next stretch goal - free cookie and a drink for all backers! Link in bio https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catcafecu/the-scratching-post-champaigns-cat-and-board-game-cafe/ #scratchingpostcu #catcafe #kickstarter

She's still a hot mess, but framing, plumbing and electrical are all coming along! #catcafe #scratchingpostcu #catcafeconstruction

#frenemies #cats #catantics

#finally #catcafeconstruction #scratchingpostcu

superman getting cat's attention
superman getting cat's attention

Win a free board game of your choice! Up to $100 value and has to be something that's actually available. 😊 We'll put up the official raffle posts early on Sept 7 on Facebook and Instagram and we'll draw a winner the evening of Sept 8. You can enter the raffle by commenting on either (or both 😉) post with: 1. pic of your fav game = 1 entry 2. pic of your fav cat = 1 entry 3. pic of your fav cat next to your fav board game = 3 entries 4. Donate a game on our list (list linked here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fKM5b1HU982pd6-_1xkLqZ6OyYkAuv8i3_ElRUDZwlQ/edit?usp=sharing new or gently used. must be dropped off during the Tabletop Central convention) = 10 entries! Learn more about Tabletop Central here! https://tabletopcentral.com/

Boooop. VS Root Cats choose a board game
Boooop. VS Root Cats choose a board game

When you let your cats choose your next game for you. #scratchorpass #catsandboardgames #thescratchingpostcu #boop #root

Still waiting on building permits for the cafe⏳⌚🤦, but in the meantime we're getting pumped for Gencon! 🎉🎉 Who else is going? What games are on your list? https://www.gencon.com/ #gencon2024 #somethingtolookforwardto #boardgamenerd

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