A Community Effort to Help Stray Cats Find New Homes
The Chico Cat Cafe has become a vital hub for local cat rescues, showcasing different feline companions each week in an effort to boost kitten adoptions. This initiative is ongoing through the end of August and includes adoption fairs every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. These events bring together shelter kittens from various local rescue organizations, offering community members the chance to meet and interact with these adorable animals in a welcoming and relaxed setting.
Jodi Belongie, co-founder of the Chico Cat Cafe, emphasizes the importance of this cycle: “It’s just the circle of life. We bring in cats and get them all adopted, and then they (rescues) can continue their mission of getting more cats, rescue, rehab, rehoming them and bringing them here.”
This week, one of the featured rescues was Catnip & Cattitude, a dedicated animal rescue organization based in Willows. They brought a selection of their cats to the cafe on Saturday, hoping to find them loving and permanent homes. The nonprofit primarily uses a trap-neuter/spay-and-release model to manage the local stray feline population. According to Susie Lino, treasurer and board member of Catnip & Cattitude, showcasing their cats at the cafe has proven beneficial.
“The Chico Cat Cafe is awesome. We bring cats here, we also do these pop-up adoption events here, and they do really well,” Lino said.
All cats at the cafe are available for adoption. While the cafe encourages appointments for those interested in adopting, many visitors simply come to spend time petting and holding the cats. This interaction helps potential adopters build a connection with the animals before making a commitment.
Next week, the Neighborhood Cat Advocates will be featured at the adoption fair. Unlike previous events, no reservations are required for the fair, and there is a $10 fee per person for an hour with the cats, which includes light refreshments.
John Belongie, co-founder of the Chico Cat Cafe, explained the motivation behind the initiative: “Chico has such a bad feral cat population, and so we’re just doing our part helping the rescues get more cats homes.”
The Chico Cat Cafe is located at 1725 Esplanade in Chico. For more information about upcoming events or how to get involved, visitors can explore the cafe’s website or reach out directly. This ongoing collaboration between the cafe and local rescues highlights the power of community efforts in making a difference for animals in need.
