PADUCAH — A recently opened Paducah business celebrated a purr-fect day on Friday as it held a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tortitude Cat Cafe, at 2420 New Holt Road, “proudly serves as the official hideout and dedicated adoption site” for cats available for adoption from The McGangsters, a McCracken County area spay and neuter organization, according to a Friday Facebook post by the chamber.
Tori Rodgers, owner of Tortitude Cat Cafe, said the cafe serves as the main “foster parent” for the McGangster’s cats, and has already seen 36 cat adoptions since the cafe opened in September. In a video posted Friday to Tortitude Cat Cafe’s Facebook page, she discussed how a place like a cat cafe can promote animal adoptions.
“What we see so much in here is that person spending time and actually saying, ‘This cat and I are ready to go home together,'” Rodgers said. “So that’s what we like to see here.”
Rodgers explained that the name “tortitude” is a reference to the personality of a “tortie,” or tortoiseshell, cat. The cats are usually black and orange, but can include white. Some torties are “diluted,” or gray and cream-colored.
She said her own tortie cat, Nala, provided the inspiration for the name.
“‘Tortitude’ is a personality of a particular cat. It has nothing to do with the breed of the cat. It’s everything with the color of the cat,” Rodgers said. “They will love you, and then they turn around and say ‘Leave me alone now, I’m done.’ They have totally unique personalities, there’s books about them. One of my favorite sayings is that they’re a little bit of sass and a little bit of class. And that’s what we try to be here.”
Sandra Wilson, president and CEO of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Rodgers for making her business idea a reality.
“What a unique new business in our community — and we really love to have those. The things that you wouldn’t have anywhere else,” Wilson said. “So thank you for your investment in our community… We just wish you the very best.”
The cat cafe’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The cafe is closed on Mondays to “give the cats a break.”
The cafe limits the number of people allowed in its cat lounge at once, and therefore recommends visitors make a reservation online at tortitudecatcafe.com.
Rodgers want to provide a space for families to bring their children on weekends. She said some cat cafes have a minimum age for visitors, but Tortitude does not — she believes its important to allow children in to learn how to interact with animals. But, she said, the “house rules” are that parents must watch their children to ensure the cats stay safe.
Coffee, snacks, bottled drinks and merchandise are available for purchase in an area separate from the cat lounge.
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