Cat cafes are new to the US, however they have been incredibly popular in Asia, Europe, and Australia since the first cat café opened in Tokyo in 1998. Since then, they have spread around the world, but they have only hit the US in the last couple of years in states like California and New York, and in large metropolitan areas. In December 2014, the first cat café in New York City opened its doors
to a huge crowd (a lot of whom waited hours to get inside). They also accepted appointments, and they were booked up immediately. So the desire for these cat cafes is there and growing, but alas, there are none in Texas, so let's make one! San Antonio is already a city with a couple of million residents, a booming tourist economy, major theme parks, and a growing pet market, and with your help, a cat cafe. We would be first on the scene in this part of the country... the only cat cafe for a thousand miles. We've done extensive research and planning, have a business plan, marketing plan, know our market well, have a prime location picked out with heavy walking traffic in a retail center in an affluent area, and just need the money to turn our vision into a reality. There is a real need for premium cat foods and supplies, as well as community education regarding TNR projects, cat health and wellness, fostering and adoption programs, and cat socialization issues. Because we recognize the magnitude and importance of such needs, we aim to address all of these in a friendly and welcoming environment. We are a woman-owned small business with all the proper resale certificates and business licenses, and we also are working with a local non-profit to handle the adoptions. The business owner has decades of experience with cats and has been a businesswoman and entrepreneur since 1999. This isn't some fly-by-night operation thought up late one night last week. This has been in the works for over a year, because experienced and successful business owners know research and thoughtful planning take time. Well, let us walk you through it. Upon entering our establishment, you will be greeted with a smile, and you will have several options available. You can shop for premium cat foods, health and wellness products, and learn more about grain-free and raw food choices for starters. If you own a cat (or are thinking about adopting one), we will offer classes to educate you on a multitude of topics, including Kitten Kindergarten for new kitten owners. If you want to interact with our kitties, you can pay a small fee to pet and cuddle with them while you kick back on our comfy couches and chairs, read a book, watch a movie, play on your tablet, or take cute kitty pics-- all in an effort help them become socialized for adoption. And petting cats lowers your stress level and blood pressure, by the way. If you are allergic to cats, or think you might be, don't worry. You can browse around or take a class in the main part of the store and cafe because the cats are in a glassed-in area which you can enter by choice. The cats are separated from any food and drink preparation or common areas, but you can take your cafe items into the cozy cat area and spend time hanging out with them if you like. Interestingly, the cats are not allergic to people and love the company. And for those of you out there trying to reduce the unwanted and homeless cat and kitten population in a humane no-kill way, we will provide TNR (trap, neuter, return) education, show you how to trap the cats safely, provide a list of low-cost spay/neuter clinics, and sell or rent you the humane traps to help with this great cause. We have several years experience doing TNR, so we are happy to show you how to do it, too. We love the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition and recommend taking their TNR class to get reduced surgery fees at local clinics and learn more about their mission, which we wholeheartedly support. Additionally, and perhaps surprisingly, we provide home services to help all pet owners (like yard waste cleanup, pet sitting, food and litter delivery, etc.). Our website will allow our products to be delivered anywhere and our services to be booked online. As you can see, we want to be a one-stop-shopping place for all things cat-related in an effort to help them get homes and live long, healthy lives. We want you to be well educated about cats, too. So, will you help us out? The more we raise, the more we can provide in wonderful products, services, and amenities for the on-site kitties and for feline fanciers in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. Help us reach our goal, and if we surpass it, you will see how much more we can do to help the kitties! :)
