Ayrshire’s very first cat café will open its doors tomorrow following an extensive revamp.
NHS nurses Amy Anderson, from Ayr, and Laura Harvey, from Kilwinning, are “excited” to welcome customers at Ayr’s South Harbour Street newest establishment.
Kitty Cat Cafe which has undergone a makeover over the last two months, will have two seating areas to the front and back, with 10 resident cats having access to all areas.
Laura shared with Ayrshire Live: “We found the renovations challenging and stressful at times, however, our builders were really good and helped us each step of the way.
“Myself and Laura were fully involved. We made all the decisions and were supported well by our landlord.
“We have decorated the café ourselves and carried out lots of the work, learning lots of new skills.”
She added: “Renovating an old building was full of unexpected challenges, including old rusted pipes and being part of the citadel wall, that we didn’t want to drill into.”
Amy and Laura have decided to take a chance on the unit having spent a number of years visiting cat cafes in Scotland with their children.
Amy said: “Starting at the Business Gateway, we were greeted with such support and enthusiasm that we decided to take a chance.
“We both love cats, as do our children, and can think of nothing better than sitting enjoying a cake and coffee in a café surrounded by cats.
“We carried out some research focusing on South Ayrshire seaside towns and felt Ayr offered the best location, higher population and surrounding facilities.”
Kitty Cat Cafe offers a unique opportunity for customers to relax, enjoy their hot or cold drinks with freshly baked cakes, including vegan and allergy-free options, while interacting with cats in a friendly environment.
At the moment there are 10 cats at the café – Bambi, Brahms, Carlos, Gomez, Jay, Jupiter, Luca, Nina, Phoebe and Woody.
Amy said: “Our café is home to a charming group of friendly cats, each ready to bring joy to your visit. Whether you’re looking to unwind, spend quality time with loved ones, or simply enjoy the therapeutic company of cats, our cosy café is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.
“At Kitty Cat Cafe, our mission is to create a warm, welcoming environment where cats and people can share in the simple pleasures of life.
“Come join us and experience Ayrshire’s purr-fect spot for coffee, cakes, and cuddles. We can’t wait to welcome you.”
Both owners are “looking forward” to the opening on Saturday, November 30, with all sessions being almost booked.
Like at any cat café, customers can expect a booking fee which will go towards the care of the cats. Amy and Laura decided to set it at £8 per person while ensuring they can provide quality food and care to their café cats.
Laura said: “We are a little nervous but also very excited for tomorrow.
“We are now almost full for Saturday and the first 4 sessions out of 5 are fully booked.
“At the moment, we can only accommodate 30 people per session, however, this will be an ongoing review.”
Kitty Cat Cafe will operate on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from 11am until 6pm, with breaks between each session.
To plan your visit, please visit here.
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