LAKELAND ― A Lakeland resident is hoping to make a paw-sitive influence on the lifetime of others as she invitations them to curve up with a cup of espresso and probably a cat.
Cindy Skop will open the Kitty Cat Lounge in downtown Lakeland at 946 E. Orange St. this Saturday. The lounge will serve up native meals, drinks and hands-on time with adoptable cats who want to discover a ceaselessly home.
“I have always, always loved cats,” Skop stated. “One day I visited a cat café and realized this is what I want to do.”
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Skop, a former photojournalist for The Ledger, stated she’s at all times had a way of being a “philanthropist at heart” who provides again to her neighborhood. Looking for a brand new profession, she realized a espresso store that supplied its guests an opportunity to play with rescued felines helped handle a number of native points without delay.
“I did some research and realized Polk County is No. 1 in the Southeast for euthanasia,” she stated.
Best Friends Animal Society, a nationwide nonprofit organization, compiled animal shelter knowledge displaying Florida ranks fourth within the county for animal shelter deaths – and Polk County leads the state in animal shelter deaths final 12 months.
In 2022, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control reported 7,152 cats entered its shelter in 2022, with roughly 52.6% being saved, or adopted.
“Cats have a much higher euthanasia rate than dogs,” Skop stated.
Kitty Cat Lounge is working with Saving Paws Rescue of Florida, a charitable organization that rescues cats and dogs which have been deserted abused or uncared for. It will host eight foster cats in a secure, enclosed space the place guests can reserve a time slot to play and snuggle with the pleasant felines.
“The idea is to get them all into homes,” Skop stated. “The idea is not for them to live here but to be adopted.”
Visitors who discover a ceaselessly buddy shall be put in contact with Saving Paws to fill out an adoption software, Skop stated, and begin the screening course of. All adoption charges will return to the nonprofit, and new cats will come to remain on the lounge.
Skop has chosen a wide range of midcentury furnishings for the shop, hoping to advertise a comfy creative vibe. There’s a wide range of cat bushes, cabinets and loungers for the cats to climb and discover – together with a repurposed retro tv set to show everybody’s favourite kittens at play.
Visitors could have the choice of choosing whether or not to make a 30-minute or hour reservation for the cat room. Skop has additionally posted on Facebook and social media she is on the lookout for volunteers to ensure the animals are being handled effectively by guests, in addition to probably feeding the cats and cleansing up after them.
Before or after making a brand new four-pawed buddy, guests to the Kitty Cat Lounge can take pleasure in regionally crafted drinks and meals. The new business has partnered with Ethos Roaster to serve recent espresso and espresso drinks and a number of other different Catapult’s latest entrepreneurs.
“My intention is to uplift other small businesses who don’t have a brick and mortar,” Skop stated.
Meraki Bakehouse could have fresh-baked items on the market. Southern Babies Juices shall be partnering with the lounge to supply a line of pure fruit juices and three Jays Sweets cheesecakes shall be available for buy.
Those who wish to choose up a deal with however have cat allergy symptoms shall be secure within the front-half of the lounge. Skop stated the cat room has its personal separate air flow system from the eating space and lounge.
The lounge shall be open Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. More info is available on-line at kittycatlounge.com.
Sara-Megan Walsh might be reached at [email protected] or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
