It’s a “meow” for help from Kelowna’s cat cafe.
Catelowna is at its tipping point after taking in a number of cats who need expensive veterinary care.
According to the cafe, several cats have been brought into care with pre-existing conditions that were either misdiagnosed or undetected before arrival.
“As much as our partnered rescues double and triple check lab results, working with their respective veterinarians, and monitor cat health before arriving, it is rescued cats they are dealing with after all, that have been saved from all sorts of backgrounds and awful living conditions,” reads a post on Facebook.
These cats often come from situations where they are scavenging for food, eating whatever they can while searching for shelter.
Several rescues humanely trap and care for the felines before turning the cats over to the cafe.
“Every now and again a kitty slips through their vetting process. While in our quarantine and even arriving at the cafe, issues have arisen,” said Catelowna.
Two cats had obstructions in the intestines, another had an aural hematoma needing a lateral ear resection, and another had a bacterial infection.
Catelowna’s mission is to partner with animal rescues by offloading some of the work in finding adopters, providing financial assistance with profits from the cafe’s entrance fee as well as giving moral support.
Since opening in 2023, Catelowna has assisted in 166 adoptions and donated $3,250 to partnered rescue centres.
“So, Catelowna has been picking up the tab for many vet bills over the last ten months. Last month’s and this month’s bills have unfortunately put us over the tipping point in what we can normally absorb,” explained the cafe.
The fee to visit the cat lounge is $16 per visit for an hour. Visits are limited to four people and several rules must be followed, such as letting sleeping cats be, not feeding the felines, indoor voices, and not picking the cats up.
To donate to Catelowna go to https://catelowna.com/donations.
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