PINE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) – A small business within the North Hills reimagined the animal shelter expertise by teaming up with a neighborhood animal rescue and creating a novel area only for cats.
“Basically, I name it like Disney World for individuals who like cats,” mentioned Anna Montano, who volunteers at Cats N’At and Conquer the Colony.
It’s the purrr-fect place to neglect all of your worries, sit again, and make some new pals. Cats N’At created a cushty cat lounge in Pine Township the place adoptable cats can roam round, and there are not any cages.
The kitties at all times put their finest paw ahead as a result of they get quite a lot of guests.
“It’s identical to a really therapeutic and completely satisfied place,” Montano mentioned.
All the felines are from Conquer the Colony, a foster-based nonprofit rescue that has a powerful give attention to trap-neuter-release, which limits the stray and feral cat inhabitants. When they rescue one which’s pleasant, they go to the cat lounge and stay there till they discover loving perpetually houses.
Kim Sendek-McMillan is the founding father of Cats N’At. She mentioned individuals who aren’t “cat individuals” are pleasantly shocked once they go to the lounge.
“Lots of people are available, they at all times bear in mind their grandma’s imply cat, after which they get right here, they usually’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, cats are so cool,’ you recognize what I imply? So, simply open your thoughts and see how attention-grabbing and thrilling cats may be,” mentioned Sendek-McMillan.
Cats remind us to pause and benefit from the second. The cats within the lounge could make you snort and decrease stress ranges.
“We have lots of people that come right here, possibly they’ve a partner that is allergic and may’t get a cat, or they’re in an condo and the owner does not enable pets, in order that they’ll simply come right here and hang around. We even have quite a lot of particular wants folks that come right here as a result of it is vitally enjoyable and therapeutic to only maintain a cat,” Montano mentioned.
Cats N’At additionally hosts birthday events and occasions for teenagers and adults.
“Crafting occasions, now we have bingo, we’re beginning some enjoyable issues that we’ll do. Trivia nights, homicide thriller night time, we have concepts,” mentioned Sendek-McMillan.
Montano volunteers for Conquer the Colony. She additionally helps out on the cat lounge. She mentioned it supplies a novel and paw-sitive expertise.
“Most of the bigger rescues have cats in cages, so if you go to, you solely get to see one cat at a time, they’re sort of scared as a result of they are not of their pure atmosphere. Here, they really feel like they’re at home, in order that they’re very snug [and] you get to see their personalities,” Montano mentioned.
They have a room for grownup cats and one other for kittens. Special wants kitties hand around in the boutique downstairs that has all issues cats on the market.
Conquer the Colony handles all of the vetting for the felines, and they’re able to be adopted.
“I can inform you the 2 ladies that run it, they have been there each step of the best way, they’ve by no means mentioned no to me. Every time, I’m like, ‘Oh, I obtained one other cat I need assistance with,’ they’re like, ‘Alright we’ll determine it out,'” Montano mentioned.
Cats N’At has solely been open for 2 years they usually’ve already had practically 300 adoptions.
“It’s superb as a result of we take our time, there is not any identical day choices, we take our time, we do a background verify, we be certain that all the pieces’s so as with their different kitties, in addition to our kitties right here. It feels good. I sleep very well, it feels, we obtained some nice adopters,” mentioned Sendek-McMillan.
They’re elevating money to make enhancements and add a espresso bar. Almost all their funding comes from cat lounge visits.
If you are not prepared for the accountability of proudly owning a pet, you’ll be able to nonetheless make a reservation to take a break and get some kitty remedy.
“Just come go to, come pet some cats!” mentioned Sendek-McMillan.
If you need to assist the cats, they’ve their very own Amazon want listing, you should buy them one thing or attend one of many occasions.
You can ebook a reservation on-line to go to Cats N’At or attend an upcoming occasion.
Upcoming occasions on the cat lounge embrace Taylor Swift Night on Dec. 28, a paint-and-sip with cats for teenagers on Dec. 29, and Cats After Dark for New Year’s for ages 21 and older on Dec 30.
You can see the cats which can be available for adoption on the Conquer the Colony web site.
