If you like cats and coffee, a new cafe is for you.
The Caffeinated Cat cafe is celebrating its grand opening in Jacksonville Beach Thursday.
It’s a new venture by the founder of Mayport Cats, a nonprofit rescue that spays, neuters and treats the health issues of feral cats to humanely control their population.
Founder Tammy King started Mayport Cats back in 2007 and said the new cafe has been in the works for about two years.
She noticed cat cafes were starting to pop up all over the world and thought the idea sounded like a good one for the Beaches.
“All of them were basically coffee shops that partnered with rescue groups or brought cats in...as kind of a side bar, and you paid a visit with the cats and that money goes to the rescue group,” said King.
Her model is a little different because it’s a rescue group that owns the cafe and is selling the coffee – and soon wine – to help support and pay for the needs of the cats it takes in.
The cafe keeps its rescue cats behind a glass wall, separate from patrons, to make sure there are no health concerns or worries about allergies.
But patrons are absolutely encouraged to consider adopting the cats while at the cafe.
King wants to make it clear the cafe is not a place to drop off an unwanted cat; it's not an intake facility. Instead, she would recommend either speaking with the staff about options or visiting the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Among the specialty coffee drinks patrons will be able to experience is a Black Cat, more commonly known as an espresso.
The Caffeinated Cat is located at 331 First Ave. N. in Jacksonville Beach. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday’s it is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
One full-time employee has been hired. The rest of the staff are volunteers.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
