Curiosity Claimed the Cat Cafe
A cat cafe in Virginia, which had seen a bustling summer, is set to close by the year’s end due to a series of unfortunate “freak accidents.” One particularly mischievous kitten turned the place upside down by overflowing the bathroom sink and causing a flood.
The Perfect Bean in Richmond encountered significant issues after one of its nine kittens, named Suspect Lola, inadvertently created chaos during a tussle with a towel, as noted in a GoFundMe update.
Lola, affectionately dubbed “Roll the Dice,” is just five months old and has a knack for sneak attacks on her fellow kittens. She also appears to have an odd obsession with attacking towels at inopportune moments.
Fortunately, none of the cats, including the playful troublemaker, were harmed during the incident. Water leaked from the cats’ bathroom on the second floor down into the cafe space below.
Some kittens stayed out of the mess, lounging comfortably on furniture in the corner, which was festooned with scratching posts and perches. Others, however, found joy in splashing around in the unexpected water. A coworker noted they “were jumping around in the water and having fun.”
The flooding, while a source of amusement for the kittens, has led to significant damage. The owners shared an update informing patrons that the cafe would likely remain closed for the rest of the year.
A thorough assessment revealed that the floor, ceiling, and walls on the first level will need extensive repairs. Additionally, the bathroom in the cat lounge upstairs, along with damaged equipment like the espresso machine, will require replacement.
During this time, the kittens are being looked after in their foster home. They usually spend their nights at the cafe before clocking in for their work.
The cafe opened in August and has plans to host a local fundraiser, “Pay Howard You Can,” in partnership with TikTok’s “The Tiramisu Guy” and a local matcha vendor. This event aims to help cover repair costs and assist employees currently without regular income. A GoFundMe campaign has also been initiated for the staff affected by the closure.
“We’re incredibly thankful for the community support,” the cafe staff expressed on Facebook.
The Perfect Bean offers a rotating array of adoptable kittens, many with quirky names like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Hole Punch,” though adopters can rename them if they wish. Some alumni have included names such as Hickory Dickory Doc and Barista.
Since its opening, the cafe has facilitated over 100 cat adoptions by early November. They honor the feline friends who find homes by taking Polaroid photos of their adopters and displaying them on a cork board near the entrance.
