Purr-fect spot for cat lovers opening soon

PERRY — Paws Awhile Cat Cafe will offer the community a place to eat, drink and adopt cats.

Rebecca Marfell, the cafe’s owner, said it will be half cafe and half cats. The cats will be separated by a wall and paid admission into the cat lounge. There will be time slots for visiting the cats, and admission can be booked online. 

Marfell said they are partnered with the Humane Society of Houston County and PAWS in Middle Georgia. 

“Whether people come to just enjoy hanging out with the cats, some people may like cats but can’t have them, or various reasons, they can come to spend time with them. But ultimately all the cats will be up for adoption and that will be facilitated through the organization the cat belongs to,” Marfell said.

She shared the cats will be a variety of ages, from the youngest at six months old to seniors, fully vetted and ready for adoption. Marfell said they will rotate them as they get adopted, and her goal is to have 10 to 15 free roaming cats in the lounge area.

Marfell, a 12-year licensed veterinary technician, shared opening a cafe has been her dream and Perry proved to be a unique place to bring it to.

“I just felt like they’ve been very welcoming to the idea of bringing something kind of unique regarding cats to the area. It seemed like a really good fit, and I definitely feel that way even more so now after the feedback I’ve been getting from the community,” Marfell said.

The cafe will be located at 1200 Macon Road, and Marfell said she aims to open in late April or early May. She has big aspirations to open soon, but the process depends on city approval and inspection.

“I am going to keep plugging away and try to get open as soon as possible,” Marfell said.

She encourages people to visit the cafe because it is fun and unique to the community. Marfell hopes to create a place where people can relax and come together while relieving some of the burden on animal shelters.

“Some people would say that it’s therapeutic, so a lot of good health benefits for spending time with cats. Ultimately, my main mission would just be to try and find homes for all the cats that are in need in our community. They make great pets and pretty easy to take care of,” Marfell said.

The cafe will serve prepackaged items, and Marfell said she will try to partner with local businesses for bakery items. There will be no physical food preparation on the premises, but she said she will make sure to have a good variety of food and snacks for customers to enjoy.

“I would love to see it be a place where people can come enjoy and hangout whether they are doing book clubs or study groups,” Marfell said.

She hopes it will be a different avenue for people in many different ways and encourages them to tell their friends and family about Paws Awhile Cat Cafe.

To stay updated, visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/people/Paws-Awhile-Cat-Cafe/61556599769707/

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