Catsbury Park

I'm not ignoring what's going on in the world, as horrific things just continue to happen. If you're a regular reader, you know I've been having an aversion to writing for a long time now because I don't know quite how to balance what's going on with writing about other stuff that's...lighter. I don't feel light so it's harder to write light. I'm going to try. I've found or been to some really cool, cute, weird, interesting, and/or inspiring places over the past few months. I've taken pictures, I've spoken to the proprietors, and I just have all these pics, names, and quotes, floating around, taking up space in my phone. So, I'm going to start today, not ignoring current events, but writing around them as much as possible and try to bring you what you want to come here for- cool stuff deemed cool by a self-proclaimed and friend named - "know it all". I'm not going in order of finding or experiencing, but just what I feel like writing about.

Yesterday, E had a swim meet in Perth Amboy. To us, that's "south jersey" and also to us, that means "down the shore" and down the shore to us means no further than exit 102 on the Garden State Parkway. That other "South Jersey" is another planet and we don't go there. *I will never order "pork roll" because it sounds gross. It's Taylor Ham.

We had to be at the meet at around eight o'clock in the morning because it was just the ten and under kids. The older kids would be starting at around eleven-thirty or noon, so we knew we'd have the rest of the day free and already be halfway to our favorite shore towns. I'd been wanting to check out a doughnut place (going to be a separate blog entry for tomorrow) in Oakhurst called Broad Street Dough Company. B also thought of the new cat cafe in Asbury. We thought E would love that, and when I'd suggested going to the one in the city, back last year, B looked at me like I was crazy and said a resounding, no. Now that B has fallen in love with his "Egyptian Princess" (he's been calling her that), Kitty High Five, he was game to go to a cat cafe.

After the doughnut stop we continued on to Asbury Park to go to the Catsbury Park cafe. We had NO idea what to expect. B had been picturing a restaurant where cats are just roaming about as you eat. He still thought that was kind of gross but his interest was piqued. E was super surprised when we walked in. We hadn't told him we were going there. We just said that we were going somewhere Daddy said he'd never go. E thought we were going to Chuck E. Cheese. So he was a hair disappointed at first.

We walked in and I have to say- the first thing I noticed was that the place is immaculate. If there was worry it would be like a gross, crazy cat lady's house, that would be dead wrong. It's two sided- the cats are separated by a glass window on one side, and it's a cafe on the other side. It's set up like a Starbucks - a bar where you could sit and do work and just look at cats from afar, have a coffee or cupcake, and veg out.

There's a sign up on the door to the cats that says to check in before going in. You go to the food order desk and tell them you want to go in. They asked if we had an appointment. We did not. They've only been open since the weekend after Labor Day so they said it was really busy since opening. Appointments were necessary to allow for as many people to visit with the cats as possible but with safety for the cats and the people. It's slowed down since we're heading into winter and we came on a rainy Sunday. So an appointment wasn't really necessary.

Catsbury Park Cat Cafe is a 501(c) non-profit. They charge you to go in to hang out with the cats- the money goes to the care of the cats. It cost us $11 per adult and $5 for E. The cost is less during the week. I didn't even realize that cost was for thirty minutes because if they're not busy, they don't hold you to that. We were in the cat lounge for a little over an hour. Maybe longer.

They have two people working in the cat lounge, just making sure everything is cool with the cats and people. The girls working yesterday were lovely. Very nice, helpful and happy to talk about cats- anecdotes and cat care.

They keep around ten to fifteen cats there at a time and the ones we saw were the sweetest cats. Most of the cats come from the Monmouth ASPCA. On the wall it says that they've had seventy-one adoptions and I was amazed. I spoke to DJ the owner, and he said that's how many he's had- they've had more like thirty-seven in the two months the cafe has been open. I asked how he got into this. He said he wasn't into cats, like B. That he has a girlfriend who asked him, five years ago, to feed her two cats lunch. He didn't want the responsibility. He did it anyway and the cats became his best buds. Fast forward to how- he knew he wanted to open a cat cafe but just didn't know how long it would take. So he started with being a rescue and it went from there.

Being in Catsbury Park for over an hour, I totally saw what an awesome way this is to get people to adopt. By the time we were getting ready to go, both B and E were talking about getting a second cat. What?? Where is the husband I used to know?? Of course they both are game for another cat being that I do all the cat stuff. Seriously though, you can't help but fall in love with the cats when you're sitting there petting them and hanging out.

B getting his cat on

It's very different than just going to a shelter, looking at cats in cages, picking one because it's cute, going in a room for a few minutes to meet and then having to make a snap decision. You really get to see the cats personalities this way. You could go back for a week and see the same cat without the pressure of worrying that they're in a shelter and may be on borrowed time. That's not to say you shouldn't go to a shelter to adopt. This is the only cat cafe in New Jersey at the moment. I'm just saying this is a very ideal situation for the cats and prospective families. What if you could get your significant other, who is on the fence about a cat, there, with less pressure than going to a shelter where the only purpose would be to adopt. This is a low key way to get someone to see cats in a different light, easing them in.




There was one cat that looked like Kitty. She is front-declawed, like Kitty but already fifteen, a senior. E wanted to take her home, but I'm not ready for another cat, and we're all just not equipped to take care of a cat that may have only a short time left. If we were going to get a companion for Kitty, I want it to be younger and from somewhere nearby so we can figure out if Kitty can even have a cat companion. To be fair to Kitty, she was there first and I can't take a cat from down the shore only to find out it's not going to work for her. So E was crying because he felt like no cat, especially one so sweet, should spend their little time left without a family. If you're in the market for a senior cat, go check out Kali. She's really sweet, front-declawed, and E thinks she NEEDS a home as soon as possible. Resident Cats

If you find yourself with some free time down in Asbury, definitely check them out. I saw they had cupcakes, but I didn't try any, as I'd already eaten doughnuts somewhere else. Like I said, the food is separate from the cats, although you can bring your food and drink into the cat lounge if you desire.

https://www.catsburypark.com/#home-section

Catsbury Park Café 
Monday – Friday 11am – 8pm
Saturday 11am – 10pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Catsbury Park Cat Lounge
Monday, Wednesday - Friday 12pm – 7pm
Saturday 12pm – 9pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm
Cat Lounge is closed Tuesdays for cat naps

Kali just resting

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