WOODROCK ANIMAL RESCUE OPENS CAT CAFÉ TO BOOST ADOPTIONS AND RAISE FUNDS
Source: Good Things Guy (Extract)
Posted: July 30, 2024
A new hotspot has opened in Kyalami, Johannesburg: the Woodrock Animal Rescue has launched a cat cafe. This venue aims to support more animals, find homes for cats, and provide a fun day out for cat lovers.
The Woodrock Animal Rescue has delighted cat lovers in Gauteng by opening a cat cafe where visitors can cuddle and play with cats while supporting a worthy cause. Not only does the cafe benefit the rescue, but it also boosts mental health!
The cat cafe officially opened this past weekend and has quickly become a popular spot. The cafe is now home to eight female cats and four males.
Among the cats you can meet are Bibi, Tigerlily, Jelly B, Lyla, Holly, and a few more. They’re ready to play, nap, cuddle, or simply ignore you… because cats!
We caught up with Jacqui “Jax” Martheze and Queanne Southwood, two of the brilliant minds behind this exciting new cafe, to learn how it all began.
“The inspiration for our Cat Cafe came from our mental wellness program, Paws@Work, where we bring 10 therapy dogs to corporate environments. As Paws@Work grew in popularity, people started asking if we offered a similar program with cats. The answer was always no because cats are more difficult to transport due to their tendency to get stressed quickly. But we had another idea for the cat lovers.
We saw the cat cafe trend overseas and thought, why can’t we do this too? And why not make it even better? What better way than to create a space where anyone can come to work, relax, eat, drink, and nourish their body, mind, and soul with our cats! Being with an animal offers so many physical and mental benefits.” – Jax Martheze, Woodrock Animal Rescue
Jax confirmed that while the cats living at the cafe are not available for adoption, they serve as ambassadors for all the cats at Woodrock Animal Rescue. A board at the cafe will display the cats.
“Imagine you’re sitting in a café, enjoying your latte macchiato, when you feel something gently brushing against your legs. You look down to find a purring ball of fur seeking your affection. You’re not at just any café; you’re in a cat café. This trend, which started in Japan, has now spread across the globe, and Woodrock has brought it to the people of Gauteng!”
“Woodrock truly hopes to go above and beyond with this space. Our Cat Cafe, also known as a Kitty Cafe, offers the delightful company of cats! The cats are free to roam around, with designated sleeping areas, toys, and their favourite treats. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing time with the cats, savour a great cup of coffee, indulge in delicious snacks and cakes from Jackson’s Food Market, and even apply to adopt cats from the Woodrock farm.” – Queanne Southwood
Another perk of the cafe is that it serves as a drop-off point for food donations, benefiting both the cat cafe residents and the animals at the shelter.
The cafe’s revenue will boost Woodrock Animal Rescue’s overall income, raise the organisation’s public profile, and increase awareness for animal welfare.
“We are located on the upper level of Kyalami Corner and are open Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. All our cats are rescues, and Woodrock is proudly pro-life.
The highlight of our mental health initiatives, which include Paws@Work and our newly opened Cat Cafe, is the increased awareness and attention to Woodrock Animal Rescue. Our ultimate goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, sterilise, and rehome animals in South Africa that have been born into lives of neglect or abuse.”
If you’re looking for a fun spot to host a meeting, need some “me time” with kitty cuddles, or just want to support a good cause, this is the place for you. Plus, there’s more to come—how about yoga with cats? Yes, please! And a kids’ reading corner—yay for books!
You can find out more about the cafe here. Below, meet the cats who call the cafe home and who you can get the chance to spend some time with.