Update: the BZA voted March 24 to approve Crumbs & Whiskers' request for a special exception. The Kickstarter campaign has raised more than $27,000.
D.C.'s first cat cafe is one step closer to reality with the successful funding of its Kickstarter campaign, which launched just Sunday.
Owner Kanchan Singh would be the first to tell you that raising $15,000 to build out the space (or "space catification," as the
Kickstarter says) is just one step towards cuddling with cats at what will be called
Crumbs & Whiskers.
Next hurdles: According to the Kickstarter campaign Singh has not yet finalized her lease for her desired space, at
3211 O St NW in Georgetown. Crumbs & Whiskers also needs to apply for an exception from DC's Board of Zoning Adjustment to be allowed to keep cats at the facility (which is, of course, the entire point). The cat cafe's hearing is currently scheduled for March 24; the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission has already unanimously lent its support to the project, saying that "ANC2E welcomes this new and unique business to Georgetown and happily supports its Mission of providing significantly better living conditions for shelter cats and to create a unique and fun cafe experience for its visitors."
Crumbs & Whiskers will technically be the foster home for the up to 20 cats living at the facility at any one time, with the cats coming from the Washington Humane Society. Humans and cats will interact on the first and second floors of the building, with cat kennels and litter boxes in the basement. Patrons will pay an hourly cover charge and receive free food and drinks as well as cat cuddles, and anyone wishing to adopt one of the foster cats can go through the Washington Humane Society to do so.
According to the Kickstarter, this has three advantages for the cats:
- Improved quality of life: The cat cafe is also the foster home for these cats, which means we rescue them from our partner shelter, The Washington Humane Society. Crumbs & Whiskers will be the cats' new home until they are adopted out.
- Increased adoptions: By putting cats in an environment that's safe and comfortable, we give cats the chance to let their personalities shine. Which means you will fall in love with that little guy way faster than your brain can process right now. And you'll probably take him home.
- More lives saved: By fostering cats, we create more space at our partner shelter for other cats in need. Their shelter capacity increases, which means more cats can be cared for. Euthanasia rates decrease. YES.
Crumbs & Whiskers now has until April 7 to reach any number of "stretch goals": hitting $20,000 allows for a "large fun wall shelf unit for cat play" as well as "cat outfits;" $25,000 will pay for "super comfy floor cushion seating," and $30,000 pays for another wall unit and a "cat wheel."
Barring any "administrative/government approval-related delays," Crumbs & Whiskers will open in summer 2015.