Lincolnton, NC (WNN)- In a quiet area in Lincolnton, NC, right next to Tacos and Tequila, Leslie and Daniel Lindsey have opened a business where cats are the center of attention. At The Purrfect Pour Cat Café, coffee and snacks are available for purchase. However, it's the cats looking for a permanent place to call home that draw visitors in.
Leslie's story began with a sacrifice. Two and a half years ago, she quit her job to become a dedicated surrogate mother to five kittens whose mom was not able to take care of them. She experienced bottle feeding, sleepless nights, and bonding with the kittens. Those experiences made her realize that Lincolnton deserved a place where people and cats could connect outside of a cage.
The Cafe officially opened in April 2024. What was once a vision has since become a massive success: in less than two years, 574 cats have been adopted from the cafe.
When visiting the Cafe, there's something to note: you don't just choose a cat: the cat chooses you.
While regular shelters can be a nightmare for animals, the cafe has a lounge where cats are allowed to roam freely. Visitors pay $12 during the week ($15 on weekends) to stay an hour in the room, which Leslie describes as an important step in the adoption process.
"We expect potential adopters to at least come in and play with the kittens or the cats that we have available, which would entail coming in for an hour, so that we can see if the cat picks them, if they like that particular cat, and decide they want a cat, they will come out and fill out the application."
The money visitors pay goes back to the cats with feeding, litter, taking them to the vet, etc.
To keep the lounge filled with cats, the cafe collaborates with rescues such as Angels to the Animals Rescue and Sunkissed Acres Rescue. Some cats are evaluated and looked after by the cafe.
The community has also been a big help. Many people have dropped off bags of litter and food and come in just to play, which helps the cats socialize and get familiar with their surroundings.
Beyond the cat lounge, the cafe has a wide range of drinks for visitors to enjoy. Their drink menu includes hot and cold coffee, hot chocolate, and smoothies in flavors such as green apple. For those looking for something different, they also offer lemonade, root beer, Shirley Temples, and Orange Creamsicle sodas.
They also have snacks. This includes cake pops, brownies, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and chips. Whether visitors are there to adopt or relax, the cafe offers a full coffeehouse experience along with its mission.
The Purrfect Pour Cat Café is located at 145 Vandiver Dr, Lincolnton, NC 28092, right beside Tacos and Tequila and Captains Peak. Visitors are always welcome, but reservations are preferred; they can be made online at thepurrfectpourcatcafe.com.
It is noted that Walk-in visits may be limited to 30 minutes with the cats, rather than 1 hour, and you may experience a waiting period. However, you can relax in the cafe while you wait for your turn.
Leslie updates the cafe's Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages. There, she posts photos and news on which cats are ready to be adopted. For more detailed information, visit their website.
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