Interest

Cat Town Cafe Opens in Oakland After Crowdfunding Campaign

Cat Town Cafe found its permanent homes in Oakland, California after raising US$40,695 via IndieGogo this year. Cat Town has the distinguished title of being North America's first cat cafe. Founders Adam Myatt and Ann Dunn are running what they describe as "an elaborate play area" where customers can order drinks and spend quality time with up to 12 adoptable cats.

All cats are sourced from local shelters, and Dunn herself works with the Cat Town rescue organization. The foster-based organization's focus is to find homes for the "least adoptable" cats.

The IndiGoGo campaign raised US$40,695 of the project's US$60,000, however Pet Food Express stepped into donate an additional US$20,000. Visitors seem excited about Cat Town. Since opening on October 25, the cafe has booked straight through the next three weekends.

More kitty cafes are lined up to open across the U.S. soon. Seattle's Meowtropolitan is looking for a permanent location in the Capitol Hill area with plans to open next year. The "fantasy-themed" cafe plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign next month. Portland, Oregon's Purringtons Cafe found a location with plans to open in January. KitTea was successfully funded and its location in San Francisco is under construction, and Denver Cat Company is also opening soon. Los Angeles' Catfe didn't meet its goal but is still operating as a pop-up restaurant.

Source: Mashable. Seattle Eater, LA Times.