Today: Mar 28, 2024

New Cat Café encourages adoption

Jacob Waring – Contributor 

The bicolor tabby cat’s eyes narrowed and pounced at the makeshift tail teaser cat toy while his playmate, Stella Marguy, giggled with glee. At Mew Haven Cat Café, a brand new establishment located in New Haven, one can enjoy a Matcha Latte while mingling with some feline pals.

Marguy and the cat, Lady Bug, will remain close, by way of adoption; owner Angela Pullo said all cats at Mew Haven available for adoption.

Pullo, who runs the café with her husband, Michael, explained the adoption process that takes place. The café is partnered with Animal Haven, she said, and they handle all aspects of the adoption, from contacting a veterinarian, to interviewing potential owners, to assuring the right fit for the cat.

Pullo said Animal Haven is likewise responsible for selecting the cats for Mew Haven.

“We keep good communication with them, so we know when cats will be leaving,” said Pullo. “We know when to let the people know who are interested in putting in adoption form, say, that their cat may be going to someone else.”

Adoption fees vary from roughly $180 to about $400, which depends on the age of the cat, and how many are adopted.

The section dedicated to mingling with cats is filled with felines of all shapes, sizes and colors. Valentina, an adult tortoiseshell cat walks up to everyone with the expectation of being pet, and Mew Radley timidly watches from around corners. Jack, a tabby with a lot of white fur, took a cat nap, and kittens tackled each other with playful delight.

Each cat, and people playing with them, are supervised by the cat attendant. Acadia Crouse, attendant on duty, said she makes sure the cats are safe, along with the people.

“My number role is to make sure that the cats are stayed healthy and taken care off,” said Crouse. “All these cats are adoptable, and we’re trying to find homes for them forever.”

Crouse said many of the cats had come from shelters, so observing the way they interact with people helps her determine whether the adoptee is a good fit.

Crouse said she runs down the rules to everyone before they enter the cat area: no flash photography, no feeding the cats, et cetera. Safety, she said, is a chief concern. She routinely goes around cleaning the area, she said, checking on the cats and people. Crouse said she does take joy in working with her feline friends.

“It’s pretty much the perfect job, because you get to have the therapy of hanging out with cats all day, plus, interacting with people,” said Crouse. “You get new personalities of every cat and person, it’s awesome.”

Online, people can reserve a spot. Adults are charged $12, students, teachers and Seniors are charged $10, and children, $8. After arriving at the café section of Mew Haven, guests are escorted to the cat play area, next door. Due to health regulations, guests enter the two sections separately.

The café is just a short drive, or brisk walk away from campus, on Blake Street and Whalley Avenue.

Students have already said they enjoy the venue, only having opened Sept. 18. Kerstin Moreau, a communication major, and Hale Muncey, an art major, said they both spent an hour in the café, just days after the opening.

“Honestly, it’s really nice,” said Cooper Chay-Dolan, a communication major. “The cats here are really cool.”

As Chay-Dolan explained his thought that the cats will get acclimated to the environment with time, one jumped right onto his legs.

“Oh, there’s a cat on my lap,” Chay-Dolan said, smiling. “It’s just amazing.”

Photo Credit: Jacob Waring

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