Bartender turned cat lady?
Kati Dodge, a Grand Valley State University alumnus, wanted more than the typical job. Before creating the cat cafe, she previously worked as a bartender for The B.O.B, but with the help of her small business owning husband, the two invested their ambition of opening a cat cafe.
Scrolling through BuzzFeed one day, Kati read an article about cat cafes emerging in larger cities such as New York and California. The first cat cafes emerged in Taiwan in the 1990's. The first cat cafe in the US opened in Oakland California.
The cat isn't annoyed at you, it always looks like that.
Kati knew that raising the funds would take a lot of time, effort, and especially money. But thanks to the budding interest of the Grand Rapids area, Kati raised $27,000 on her 30 Kickstarter goal. Within one week of opening the Facebook page for the cafe that is rightfully titled Happy Cat Cafe, the page garnered over 3000 likes. Now the cafe hosts painting nights and yoga nights. This is a perfect place to meet with your friends and pet cats. What could be more relaxing?
Sipping on tea haters.
Kati called the cafe "Happy Cat Cafe" to make the title simplistic, while also properly conveying the feeling one gets while relaxing with a friend over coffee, as well as playing with cats. Happy Cat Cafe is an Americanized, bright and fun place that is half cafe and half cat adoptions (there are two separate rooms). All the cats are from Carol's Feral, and volunteers care for her and Carol's cats.
All you need is love & a cat.
If sipping hot cider or tea sounds like a good time, bring your friends and family to the newest hot spot in town. Happy Cat Cafe is sure to warm your tummy and your heart. Don't wait, it's time to meet your new best friend (cats never leave).
