“This one,” Amanda Atwell says, pointing to a particularly regal calico with a fluffy tail, gracefully moving across the room. “She’s the queen, as you can see. Look at her tail twitch. She’s saying, ‘Look at me. Tell me I’m beautiful.’” The cat in question, Jada, is not one of Atwell’s own, but a resident foster feline at Aristocat Café + Tea House in downtown Harrisonburg.
Atwell opened the café in 2023, and it quickly became a beloved community hub for both cat lovers and tea enthusiasts. The café combines Atwell’s passions for animals and tea, while also providing a haven for local cats in need of homes.
Atwell’s affection for the 10-15 felines living at the café is evident—she knows each cat’s breed, backstory, name, and personality quirks. She’s created a special “kitten kingdom” in a dedicated room within the café. This space is air-purified, equipped with cat trees and climbing structures, and enclosed with glass windows, allowing customers to peek inside. All cats fostered at the café are available for adoption through the Humane Society of Shenandoah County, and Atwell takes pride in the over 130 cats that have found new homes through her efforts.
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