Kickstarter launched for the South's first cat cafe
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Feline aficionados gathered at The Alley Monday night to kick start funding for what could be the South's first cat cafe.
Supporters sipped 'whisker sours,' checked out the newly launched crowd funding effort for the Pounce Cat Cafe, and took 'meow-velous' kitty-themed photos.
The founders of Pounce want to open up a place where people who love cats, but might not have their own space for them, can go to get their kitty fix.
Click here to see more detailed plans for Pounce and how the Charleston Animal Society is involved.
The cafe-plus-kitty-combo business model has been a huge success in Japan and larger U.S. cities where apartment dwellers can't have a furry friend in their homes.
It also helps get shelter kittens out of cages and in a home-like environment complete with social interaction that will help socialize them and make it easier for them to find fur-ever homes.
To make the cat cafe 'paws-ible' here in Charleston, owner Ashley Brooks says she's going to need the Lowcountry's help.
The Kickstarter campaign needs to reach $20,000 or all hopes of a grand opening in Cannonborough will go down the drain.
"We hope to reach our goal in 29 days," said Ashley Brooks. "Twenty-nine is my magic number so I'm hoping for the best."
If the account doesn't hit $20,000 in time, all of the money pledged goes back to the backers. As of this writing, the pledges are up to more than $2,800.
Just like with any other Kickstarter, there are rewards for investing.
Five to 10 dollars will get a photo of you or your kitty fur-ever emblazoned on the Pounce cafe wall. A little more and they start throwing in free food, drinks, and early admission to the business if it gets off the ground.
For $40, backers will get early access and an exclusive T-shirt. If an investor is generous enough to reach the hundreds, they can look forward to some of the rewards from the lower levels of giving plus VIP access to opening weekend, cat swag, and free future visits.
If you can see yourself visiting the cat cafe at least once a week (at $15 an hour), you could go for the $1,000 investment which buys you not only some of the VIP goodies from previous levels of giving but unlimited visits to the cafe for an entire year including a pastry and a drink each time you come in.
While it seems like a large amount all at once, it would actually save you money if you were the kind of person who wanted a kitten snuggle on your lunch break during an especially hard day. And there would be a paw-some gold plaque with your name above the bar.
Click here to visit the Pounce Cat Cafe Facebook page.
Related: