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Kelowna’s first cat cafe is closing in on a year in business, but it’s facing an uncertain future.
Catelowna has taken to social media to make “an unfortunate post,” which is serving as “a call for help” amid financial struggles.
But it’s not the type of financial issues a normal cafe might run into, with a lack of customers or a poorly executed budget.
Catelowna has seen the vet bills pile up recently as rescues have arrived in their space with pre-existing conditions that they say have gone misdiagnosed or undetected.
“As much as our partner rescues double and triple check lab results…it is rescued cats they are dealing with after all, that have been saved from all sorts of backgrounds and awful living conditions,” said a social media post from the cat cafe.
“(They are) often left to forage for food and shelter from wherever they can, eating whatever even remotely smells like food. Every now and again a kitty slips through their vetting process.”
This has led to some cats having serious issues shortly after arriving in their care, like intestinal obstructions, an ear polyp, an aural hematoma, an unidentified bacterial infection and more.
Picking up the tab for vet bills is nothing new for Catelowna, and has been the case since they opened in June 2023, but those expenses have skyrocketed of late.
Photo Credit: Catelowna/Facebook
“Last month’s and this month's bills have unfortunately put us over the tipping point in what we can normally absorb,” the social media post explained.
“So, it is hard for me to ask for help, but here I am, seeing if anyone might have some spare change to help us continue to help support these rescue centres and pay some vet bills for them.”
If you want to contribute funds to help Catelowna overcome these financial barriers, you can visit the donations section of the cat cafe’s website.
You can also support them by visiting in person and buying a coffee and snack while playing with the many cats they have in their care.
Catelowna is located at 201-1441 Ellis St.
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