The DeLand Cat Cafe recently celebrated two years in business, and while that is an accomplishment in itself, what owner Deborah Cedar considers an even greater measure of success is the approximately 400 cats she’s adopted out in that time.
“For some of these guys, this is the last chance they’ll have,” Cedar said in a phone interview July 11 with The News-Journal.
To give these fur babies the best chance they can of finding their forever home, DeLand Cat Cafe invites visitors to interact with the cats. If you happen to fall in love with a certain kitty, that’s great; Cedar will help you through the adoption process. If not, no worries, Cedar said, the cats are still getting socialization time with people, which could make them adoptable for someone else.
How does it work? Can you just drop by and play with the cats?
Adults and children are invited to play with the kitties in the cozy lounge environment for an entry fee. One hour is $11.71 for adults and $8.52 for kids under 12 (Cedar said the majority of proceeds go back into the cost of caring for the felines.) Reservations are strongly recommended as Cedar said the cats can get overwhelmed by crowds so she limits the number of visitors at one time. Occasionally, if space is available, walk-in visitors may be accommodated.
Can I grab a coffee to go with my cat time?
Since opening in 2023, DeLand Cat Cafe had shared a building space at 844 E. New York Ave. with neighbors the Trilogy Kitchen where cat enthusiasts could order coffee and tea beverages and bring them into the cat cafe (no food allowed). That eatery closed at the end of June, according to Cedar, but a new owner is slated to reopen the business sometime in August.
Where do the cats at the DeLand Cat Cafe come from?
DeLand Cat Cafe works closely with the Halifax Humane Society, New Hope Animal Shelter and some smaller rescue organizations to identify the cats it brings into its space. The more adoptions through the cafe, the more space available to foster additional cats.
How does the DeLand Cat Cafe select the cats it takes in?
Kittens, kittens, kittens — they’re definitely the most popular to adopt — and Cedar takes as many as she can handle, especially during the spring birthing season. But Cedar also favors older cats who are coming from other homes where owners had to give them up for some reason, as well as abandoned and neglected cats and even those in rough shape who might catch the eye of an especially empathetic cat lover.
“I’m going to take the three-legged, no-tail cat who’s deaf,” Cedar said with a laugh.
What are the hours for the DeLand Cat Cafe, and how do I make reservations?
The cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visit DeLandCatCafe.com/reservations to save space and time.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How DeLand Cat Cafe made a successful business out of cats and coffee
Reporting by Colleen Michele Jones, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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