b'Cats, Cafs,Coffee andScones.Text by Jessica Whitehouse.Photographs, courtesy ofSouth Lake Animal LeagueOrlando Cat Caf Groundbreaking Ceremony.The worlds first cat cafe opened in Taipei, build out the interior of the cat play area.Taiwan in 1998. In Tokyo, Neko no mise The Orlando Cat Caf will be a local(Shop of Cats) opened in 2005. Japans cap- andtouristhotspotwhereguestswillbeital city is now home to dozens of cat cafes. abletospendtimewithadoptablecatsCat TownCafe,Americasfirstcatcafe, lookingfortheirforeverhomes,saidopened last year in Oakland, California. In SandraCaganofCaganManagementNaples, Florida, a cat cafe inside Planet Tails Group.TheOrlandoCatCafislocatedwithcatsfromCollierCountyDomestic inside The Town Center at Cagan CrossingsAnimal Services, opened last year as well. in Clermont.Gato Cafe claimed to be Floridas first cat We hope the community will recog-cafe, but it has yet to get off the ground. nizetheimportanceofthisconceptandDowntown Tabby is hoping to be Tampa feel compelled to support it, South LakeBays first cat cafe with a second crowd- AnimalLeaguePresidentDoreenBarkerfunding campaign scheduled to start up in said You can come in, get a good cup ofthe spring. coffee, and help save lives of homeless cats.A cat caf is a place where cat lovers Its a win-win. Ucan mingle, socialize with each other andcats,whileenjoyingacupofjava.Somecafs require reservations and most have a Y Orlando Cat Cafelook-but-dont-grabpolicytominimize The Town Center atstress on the cats. Cagan Crossings,Manyofthecafspartnerwiththeir 532 Cagan Park Avenue, Clermont. local shelters to bring in adoptables. Pet Food OrlandoCatCafe.com.Warehouse in St. Petersburg has had a facilityto house adoptables for many years. In their SOUTH LAKE ANIMAL LEAGUE (SLAL)recentlyconstructedbuilding,PandorasRoom houses cats and kittens from Pet Pal has served Lake and surroundingAnimal Shelter. They dont offer coffee yet, counties since 1988. SLAL hasbut that could be something theyll consider rescued and re-homed thousandsin the near future. of dogs and cats that have beenOn October 14, the Orlando Cat Caf abandoned, abused or neglectedandSouthLake AnimalLeague hosteda in the community. SLAL providesgroundbreaking ceremony to kick off new programs and services such as theconstruction and fundraising efforts. Imagine Nourish the Needy Program,a coffee and pastry shop. Now imagine relax- Companions for Courage Program,ing with that steaming cup of coffee while Humane Education Programs, andwatching the playful antics or listening to the the Pet Peace of Mind Cornerstonesoothing purrs of adorable, adoptable cats and Hospice Program. kittens. Thats exactly the type of atmosphere SLAL.org.the Orlando Cat Caf hopes to create. Thegroupplanstoraise$50,000throughcrowdfundinginitiativestohelp62THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'