ROBERT CARSWELL
After only five weeks of operation, Red Hill’s Cat Cuddle Café is stealing the hearts of animal lovers and prospective adopters alike.
The café offers the opportunity for patrons to interact with shelter cats in a more intimate environment.
Owner, Katina Balson said that while it took a while to win the council over, the response from customers has been overwhelming.
“We’ve basically homed a cat every day we’ve been open, so after five weeks, we’ve homed about 40 cats,” she said.
“Most cat cafes are just glorified petting zoos, we are one of the few actually working to find these cats homes”.
Ms Balson is serious about animal welfare expecting clients to meet strict guidelines before adoption is approved.
“I need a 20 year commitment before adopting a cat, as well as a series of questions about how secure the property is, and if they’re allowed pets in their home”.
Michael Beatty of the RSPCA has given the café his seal of approval, saying he looked forward to working with Katina and possibly supplying cats that need homes.
“Katina has been doing amazing work over at her café in Red Hill,” he said.
“She [Katina] has worked with the RSPCA for a while now, having previously run her own shelter, and doing volunteer work with us”.
Mr Beatty is inspired by the cafe and hopes to start something similar in Wacol.
The café is open from Tuesday to Sunday and offers a ‘frequent cuddlers card’.