TWELVE furry Subiaco residents are celebrating the second purr-thday of the Cat Cafe.
Rolo, Albus, Rey, Raksha, Ren, Major Tom, Mr Fox, Ziggy Stardust, Mowgli, Jellicle, Sparky and Pumba have been delighting customers at the Rokeby Road cafe since its opening in 2016.
Chris Mewburn said the feline pack, all a similar age, had established a hierarchy which was “fascinating to watch”.
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READ NOW“They’re extremely naughty,” he said.
“They all really know their level, except for one cat, Jelly, who’s entering what we call her teenage years.
“She’s trying to fight everyone all the time.
“She knows there’s two at the bottom of the ladder, Rolo and Albus, who she can pick on and they make a bit of a noise, but every now and then she tries to take on one of the big boys.”
Mr Mewburn said he and Terps “Pepi” Platritis were extremely grateful for the support of customers over the last two years.
“For us it’s been a little strange, because our first year was phenomenally busy, so for us to then turn into the similar dip to what everyone else has had in Subiaco but then find a stable point, we’re really quite relieved,” he said.
“As we introduce our new price point, we’re excited to start growing again and do more for the Cat Haven.”
The caf originally had 20 people per hour going through the venue, but reduced sessions to a maximum of 12 attendees to even out the human to cat ratio.
However, this caused revenue to drop by almost 50 per cent.
Mr Mewburn said research on the new price of $15 per hour showed a happy medium for the business and customers, and would enable the caf to look after its cats in the best possible way.
The Cat Cafe has also announced it will be getting more hands on with the Cat Haven after donating $10,000 to the organisation this year; they will take in foster cats in their upstairs shelter, which is rarely used apart from when the cafe cats are unwell.
“We’re already here anyway, and it means we can give our help,” Mr Mewburn said.
As for the future of the Cat Cafe (and any potential outposts), Mr Mewburn said it had always been clear.
“It’s to have as many animals rescued as possible,” he said.
“We just want to be rescuing.”
To visit the Cat Cafe, book tickets online at purrth.com.