In late 2014, while volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, Kanchan Singh was trying to figure out how she could combine her love for socially conscious businesses with her love for animals. After visiting Catmosphere, a cat café in Chiang Mai, she had her answer.
When she got back to the United States, she quit her corporate job and started working on her dream project: Crumbs & Whiskers Cat Café.
There are two locations: one in Washington, D.C., and one in Los Angeles. All of the cats are rescues and are fostered by Crumbs & Whiskers until they find their forever homes.
Both partner with local rescue groups – Homeward Trails in Washington, D.C., and Karma Rescue in Los Angeles.
By reinventing the way people connect with rescue cats, the café helps those cats gain more exposure and find their forever homes.
When I heard about the Los Angeles café, I knew I had to check it out. A reservation fee of $25 (which covers the cost of the cats’ care) let me spend 75 minutes with a wonderful group of cats.
The café is filled with scratchers, cozy beds, toys, and wall perches. Some of the cats were playful, some just liked being petted and others snoozed through my entire visit.
I met Kanchan, and when I asked what the response to the cat cafes has been, she answered with one word: “Amazing.”
I wasn’t surprised. Even if you’re not planning to adopt a cat, the café is a great place to hang out with like-minded people and, of course, adorable cats.
All photos courtesy of Crumbs & Whiskers. Follow the cafe on Facebook and Instagram for more.
