VANCOUVER – A cat cafe, where visitors can get a simple snack and a drink, and then go next door for some relaxing cat interaction is much closer to becoming a reality.
Vancouver resident Michelle Furbacher wants to open the city’s first cat cafe, something that is very popular in other parts of the world, such as Asia.
She has now met with Vancouver Coastal Health to find out what will be required of her to comply with food and safety regulations.
“I would have to set up the space so the cafe side and the cat side would have two separate entrances on to the street,” said Furbacher.
Furbacher has also partnered with Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA), who will be providing the cats for the cafe. “The cat cafe will be like a foster home for the cats,” said Furbacher. “All the cats will be available for adoption.”
They will also be monitoring the cats to make sure they are happy and healthy while staying at the cafe.
Furbacher has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to help fund $50,000 of the cost of opening her cafe. “It will cost more than that but the rest of the money will be coming from myself,” she said.
“It’s a huge complicated undertaking but I’m really excited about it.”
Furbacher said she has not found a space yet, but she will be looking to open the city’s first cat cafe in the fall complete with cats, a strict cleaning regime and a heavy-duty ventilation system to keep the litter box smells at bay.
“I hope that the people of Vancouver will really embrace the idea,” she said.
You can donate to the campaign on the Indiegogo website and you can follow the progress of the cat cafe in Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter.
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