LEAH HENNICK | COPY EDITOR
Good news, cat lovers! Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary has opened an adoption center and cat café in De Pere at 302 Main Avenue, just a few doors down from Luna Café.
The café opened on December 10, 2016 and is hoping to attract college students to socialize with the cats this semester. Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary is a cage-free, no kill sanctuary, housing cats with physical disabilities and psychological issues.
My personal favorite, Muggle, is a relaxed, six-month old kitten looking for his forever home. He has tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
FIV has similar effects to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in that affected cats are more susceptible to disease and owners must be cautious about protecting against bacteria and viruses.
FIV is only transmittable through a bite that reaches another cat’s bloodstream but because these cats require more attention to prevent disease, affected cats are typically the some of the first to be euthanized when pet shelters become overfilled.
Luckily for Muggle, Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary removes cats in danger of being euthanized from shelters and puts them up for adoption.
When I first walked into the cat café, I was immediately greeted by Willow, a fluffy two-year old cat, paralyzed from the waist down.
The interior has a comfortable seating space with tables, chairs and a sofa. A selection of beverages are available for purchase but visitors are more than welcome to bring in food and beverages from elsewhere.
If it is difficult to picture this cat lover’s dream, imagine a small Luna’s with cats milling around and playing on the floor; that is the cozy cat café.
Besides the comfortable café setting, Safe Haven Sanctuary also hosts events such as yoga classes with the cats and the upcoming art sale, Canvas for Cats. The art show will feature animal-related art created by local artists with all the proceeds benefiting Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary Inc.
Be sure to stop by for a warm feline greeting, friendly chat with the manager or just a relaxing study break.
The cat café is open Tuesdays – Fridays from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For more information, go to their website: safehavenpet.org or check them out on Facebook under Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary Inc.
St. Norbert Times 