HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WJAC) - In this week's making a difference, a new and unique business in Blair County if providing a fun experience. It's the area's first cat cafe.
The lounge is full of shelter cats, waiting for some new friends to hang out with or hopefully, fur-ever homes!
Cats and caffeine. it's the pur-fect blend at Nine Lives Lounge in Hollidaysburg.
“So we’ve always loved cats and just been crazy cat people,” said Kayla Durbin, owner of Nine Lives Lounge.
Kayla and Kirk Durbin partnered up with the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society to help kitties in need right now.
“There’s just such a need for it. The humane society is overfilled, all the local rescues area, they can’t take anymore cats,” Kayla Durbin said.
The married couple has two cats of their own and they opened the cafe's doors about two months ago.
You can enjoy a cup of coffee, play with some new furry friends and maybe even take one home.
“Our hope is just that they have a good experience, they can come in hang out with the cats and if they happen to fall in love and take one home, that's a bonus. But at the end of the day, we want to provide something different for the community to do,” said Kirk Durbin, owner of Nine Lives Lounge.
The business's coffee and tea are locally made and the shelter picks friendly and healthy cats to be showcased.
“When we get the cats from them, they are already fixed, vaccinated, tested for various diseases, and they are all ready to go home,” Kirk Durbin said.
Kayla and Kirk aren't kitten around, they want visitors to have up close and personal interactions with the cats in the lounge.
Whether they're sassy and silly or sleepy and sweet, the felines can really nudge their way into people's hearts.
“Whenever you’re going to the shelter to pick a cat and they are in the cages like that, you’re going based of looks and you don’t really get to meet the cat and see their personality to find the perfect fit for your home. To where here, you have time to play with them and see if you want a lap cat, see if they’re a lap cat, see if they’re a playful cat. That’s just an opportunity to find the perfect one for you so it’s a better fit,” Kayla Durbin said.
The café could turn anyone into a cat person.
“I think this is great because we have nothing like this around here so I can drink a cup of coffee and play with cats and it’s doing a wonderful thing for the humane society,” said Chelsea Vincent who works on the same street and went to visit some of the cats.
The couple wants the cats to spend one of their nine lives with loving families. Many have already been adopted.
“The community’s response has been unbelievable. We’ve had 20 adoptions, today we will have our 21st so it’s pretty impressive,” Kayla Durbin said.
So hopefully they all find their way to endless catnip and kisses.
“If we could get the humane society to take down their sign that says that they can't take anymore cats then our mission was accomplished,” Kirk Durbin said.
The Durbins recommend booking a reservation on their website.
You pay a $6 fee when you get there, to spend 30 minutes with the cats.
If you fall in love with one, you can fill out an application there. They will send your application to get reviewed and approved by the Central PA Humane Society.
The cafe does take donations like food and litter for the kitties. Any left-over donations will go to the animal shelter.
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