TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, USA – A beloved Tallahassee institution, the Fat Cat Cafe, is celebrating a monumental eighth anniversary this month. Since its opening in August 2017, the cafe has not only served coffee and provided a unique community space but has also achieved a remarkable mission: finding forever homes for 1,718 rescue cats.
The cafe was founded by Michelle Hatcher, an animal welfare advocate who envisioned a better way to connect adoptable cats with loving families. Frustrated with the stressful environment of traditional shelters, she established the Fat Cat Cafe in Tallahassee to create a relaxed, cage-free space where the cats’ true personalities could flourish and potential adopters could interact with them in a natural way.
The Path to Adoption: How It Works
The success of the Fat Cat Cafe lies in its carefully structured adoption process, run in partnership with the Leon County Humane Society. For those looking to add a feline to their family, the process is clear and supportive:
- Visit and Connect: Potential adopters first visit the cafe. For a small entry fee that helps cover the cats’ food and medical care, visitors can spend time in the cat lounge, playing and getting to know the resident cats.
- Find a Match: When a visitor forms a special bond with a particular cat, they can speak to the cafe staff to begin the adoption process.
- Application and Screening: The interested party fills out an official adoption application. This application is then reviewed by the Leon County Humane Society to ensure the potential home is a safe and suitable environment.
- Finalize the Adoption: Once approved, the adopter pays an adoption fee, which covers essential veterinary services like spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping.
- Welcome Home: The new pet owner can then schedule a time to pick up their cat and bring them to their new forever home.
This thoughtful process is central to the cafe’s high success rate. One of those 1,718 success stories involved a tiny kitten rescued from as far away as Moultrie, Georgia, demonstrating the cafe’s crucial role as a regional rescue partner.
Celebrating eight years is a significant milestone that highlights the community’s enduring support for a compassionate business model. The Fat Cat Cafe stands as a testament to the idea that a local business can be a powerful force for good, changing the lives of countless animals and the people who adopt them.
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- Leon County Humane Society
