TownLively - Cafe is a Purrfect Blend of Coffee & Adoptable Cats & Kittens
August 28, 2024 | By Francine Fulton
Twin Valley High School alumna Calla Gibson of Elverson, who founded Calla's Critter Rescue in May of 2021, has expanded her efforts to find forever homes for rescued cats and kittens through a new partnership with Craig's Cat Cafe.
At the cafe, which is located in the Riveredge complex in Spring City, visitors can not only enjoy coffee and sweets, but they also have an opportunity to meet and interact with adoptable animals and complete an adoption application. If approved, adopters can pick up their new pet at the cafe to take home. Since Craig's Cat Cafe opened on July 15, five cats have been adopted from the location.
The coffee shop is owned by East Coventry Township resident and special education teacher Rachel Craig, who was introduced to Calla by a mutual friend, local author Michelle Brownlow of Morgantown. Craig also owns and fosters cats. "I went to a cat cafe on vacation, and I said, 'We need one of these at home,'" said Craig.
Craig created a cat room in the cafe that is surrounded by an acrylic glass wall and is separate from the coffee shop area. Visitors are asked to pay a cover fee to enter the cat room, which features toys and cat trees for the animals to enjoy.
Calla and her mother, Stephanie Gibson, who is a pet groomer and a foster, visits the cafe regularly to check on the cats and change their litter boxes, which are located in a separate area from the cat room. The cat adoption process, which includes checking veterinarian references, is handled by volunteer Steve Brown.
The first residents of the cat room at the cafe were kittens that Craig acquired through one of her students. "One of my students asked me to take her cat. I took her to the vet and I (learned) that she was pregnant, and she had kittens that week, so I had her and her five babies, and they all got adopted," said Craig. "So, I started out with a litter of my own kittens, and I met Calla and Calla brought in (additional) rescues."
In addition to playing with the cats, visitors can enjoy beverages such as iced or hot coffee, along with "catpuccino" and "purr a latte." Baked goods offered for sale include Danishes, cookies, macaroons and brownies. Vegan choices are also offered.
The most recent adoption at the cafe was Windig, who went home with his new family on Aug. 18. "We came in a few weeks ago on a random Sunday and got some coffee and played with some kitties and fell in love," said adopter Bernadette Cohen, adding that Windig will enjoy the company of his new family's children, including Lindsay, Grayson, Bailey and Natalie Steckert.
Craig's Cat Cafe, 11 Riverside Drive, Spring City, is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new sign is currently being installed in the cat room, which will feature a QR code that will take visitors directly to the online adoption application. The application can also be found by directly visiting http://www.callascritterrescue.com. The website also contains an application for foster families that care for the cats and kittens until their forever homes can be found.
Additionally, the rescue is seeking donations of food, cat litter and monetary contributions.
In addition to Calla's Critter Rescue, Calla is the head kennel manager and adoption manager at Diane's Pet Supplies and Adoption Center in Pottstown, which was recently acquired by Animal House Project, a nonprofit organization.
For more information about Calla's Critter Rescue or to view photos of adoptable cats and kittens, visit the previously mentioned website or www.facebook.com/callascritterrescue. To contact Calla directly, send a message on the Facebook page or email callascritterrescue@gmail.com.
For more information about the cafe, search for "Craig's Cat Cafe'" on Facebook or email craigscatcafe@gmail.com.
Celebrating Windig’s adoption are (from left) Calla Gibson, Lindsay Steckert, Grayson Steckert, Bernadette Cohen, Bailey Steckert, Rachel Craig and Natalie Steckert.
Calla Gibson (left) and her mother, Stephanie Gibson, care for the adoptable cats and kittens that are housed at the café. While Jimmy (cat on right) recently went to his new forever home, Mittens (cat on left) is currently available for adoption.
