Cat Cafe Opens In Brooklyn Heights
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) Sixty cats in just ten weeks. It was that success, says Anne Levin, founder of the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, that prompted this rescue organization to get into the Cat Cafe business on a permanent basis.
BBAWC opened a pop up cafe last fall in Fort Greene, that Levin says greatly upped the odds of the animals finding forever homes. "They had a great time", Levin told 1010 WINS. "They got a lot of attention and they liked being there. We could have adoption events that were not as stressful for the animals, because everyone was coming into their home where they're comfortable. Usually when you go to an adoption event it's a new strange place for the cats, so they're unhappy."
The new Brooklyn Cat Cafe opens to the public Saturday, May 7th at 149 Atlantic Avenue. There will be some prepackaged food available, but visitors can pick up fresh food and drinks next door at the Atlantic Bagels Cafe. Levin notes that on the weekends, visitors can order their food and the Cat Cafe will have runners on hand to get it for you.
Admission is 5-dollars for 30 minutes; children under 3 get in free. Initially, they'll be open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Levin says they're also planning special events, including themed movie nights and a "cats with mats yoga class". In the fall, they'll expand the facility to include an enclosed backyard where the cats can safely go outside.
The Brooklyn Cat Cafe celebrates its grand opening with a ticketed fundraiser for BBAWC, Friday, May 6 at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.catcafebk.com. The cafe will open to the public on Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m. Follow the cafe on Instagram HERE. Follow them HERE on Facebook.
