Brooklyn’s first permanent cat cafe aims to also educate, work with the community

Brooklyn, there is some purr-fect news coming your way.

This May, the borough will welcome its first permanent cat cafe at 149 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn Heights, where visitors will be able to come an enjoy some time with adoptable cats and kittens –— all looking for a new home.

The cafe — which will hold its grand opening on May 6 — is being run by the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition Inc. (BBAWC),a nonprofit which focuses on improving the welfare of abandoned animals that are looking for a helping hand.

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BBAWC opened a pop-up cat cafe in Fort Greene last September at 354 Myrtle Ave., but it was only open through October, according to Gothamist.

However, BBAWC President Anne Levin said the group is now coming back to the neighborhood where they started back in 2007 and are looking to be available for the community.

Although BBAWC encourages people to come and enjoy some time with the kittens and cats, Levin added that unlike other cat cafes, a big emphasis on their cafe will be on education.

“People are going to come here and have a great time with friendly adoptable cats and we want them to do that but a really important part of our goal is going to be outreach and education about how great animals are, what people can do, how they can help,” Levin said.

The cafe will feature educational programs, classes and will also look into working with other individual rescuers.

Some topics that will be discussed will including highlighting any problems that come with rescues, learning about the situation of cats in New York City, emphasize why it is important to spay or neuter cats, and more.

“[We want to] make sure any kids who come in maybe learn a little interesting things about cats, while they are having a good time,” Levin said.

She added that, although everything is still in the preliminary phase, BBAWC would like to work with the ASPCA and local vets, along with other organizations — which help victims of domestic violence and human trafficking — to give private times with the cats.

And although education is a big part of the cafe, Levin wants potential visitors to know that they can also just come in and enjoy some much-needed time with the cats. There will also be extra information for anyone interested in learning more about certain topics.

“We’re not going to sit there and lecture everyone,” she said. “We want the superpower of cats to be shared with everyone.”

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All proceeds from the cafe will go towards the rescue community, including local animal rescue groups, to continue funding medical assistance for rescued animals.

Starting on May 6, the cafe will be open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission — which will get you 30 minutes with the adorable felines — is $5 and children under 3 years old are free.

For more information or to get a ticket for the 6 p.m. grand opening on May 6, visit catcafebk.com.