LYNN — Residents of the Lynn Home for Elderly Persons had quite the Friday afternoon, filling their time with purrs and playful paws at a visit to Peabody’s Kitty Cat Cafe.
A symphony of meows and laughter filled the Kitty Cat Cafe’s rooms as residents shared stories of their own pets, fed cats treats, and played with the countless toys throughout the cafe.
The cats at the Kitty Cat Cafe were more than willing to receive the bounty of treats, neck scratches, and back rubs the residents were willing to give. One resident was even dressed for the occasion.
Betsy Pugh came to the Kitty Cat Cafe, dressed in a black and white shirt — except, it wasn’t just black and white; it featured two cats on it.
“I just love all pets, you know, animals,” she said.
Pugh added, “I’ve always really wanted to have animals, but I couldn’t have any where I live now. So just volunteering and coming to some place like this, or going to visit friends that have cats or dogs.”
Resident Dawn Barnard said she enjoyed herself while visiting the cats. Gelato, a black cat, spent most of the afternoon by her side on a cat bed.
Diane Stentiford said she loves animals and has previously had cats. She has also enjoyed previous outings where she has been able to pat and feed sheep. “It was lovely.”
“Yeah, we do lots of things over there at the place where I’m at. We do a lot of things,” she said/
Lynn Home for Elderly Persons Executive Director Carrie Baird said, “When people come to live with us, they’re giving up a lot. One of the first things they ask is, ‘I have a cat. Can I take my cat?’ And it breaks my heart to say no. So this is a great way to keep them connected — they light up. It’s awesome.”
The Kitty Cat Cafe’s owner, Uri Harel, said he and his wife opened the cafe after losing their own cat. It is a volunteer-run, nonprofit that partners with two shelters to house cats who’ve stayed in cages for several weeks. The cafe aims both to increase adoptions by showcasing cats’ true personalities in a relaxed space.
“Most people actually don’t come for adoption. Most people come here because they’ve either lost their cat or they just need cat time in their life,” he said.
