After a major delay during the pandemic, Sacramento’s first cat cafe is finally back on track. Capital Cat Cafe, leasing the space at 701 16th St., is currently applying for building permits. City records indicate that the cafe is applying to improve the existing building shell with new HVAC, electrical and plumbing, and upgraded bathrooms. The remodeling plan also includes a small kitchen and a service counter.
Capital Cat Cafe is a long-time project in the make. The idea started in 2021 when Capital Cat Cafe went around and did Small Business Saturday pop-ups. Owned by mother-daughter team Laura and Emalee Ousley, Capital Cat Cafe’s goal is to “provide a unique experience that will support the local economy and help the overcrowding issue in our shelters.”
Emalee’s experience in coffee and wine, combined with Laura’s experience as a marriage counselor gives the duo a competitive edge when it comes to running the cat cafe: a place that’s supportive, healthy, and intended for healing. According to the Capital Cat Cafe website, the business wants “to offer a cage free and comfortable environment for hard to adopt cats to live until they find their forever home… while providing the community with an inviting place to socialize with the cats, a place to relax, work, and enjoy food and beverages.”
The permitting process has taken longer than the owners had expected, which caused significant delays in the project. However, there is positive news. “We have been trying to get our building permits for over a year but it feels like there is finally some forward movement!” The owners shared in a reply on their social media page five days ago. In the same reply, the owners indicated that they hope to begin construction at the beginning of 2024. By the time of this coverage, the owners weren’t available to provide comments.
