After seven years of offering a sanctuary for cats and cat lovers, Lucky Cat Café and Lounge, Kentucky’s only nonprofit cat café, will close its doors this weekend.
Founded in 2018, the café has played a pivotal role in finding homes for over 760 cats. It has partnered with local rescue organizations to provide a welcoming environment for adoptions. Executive Director BJ Wysoske explained that staffing challenges and rising costs led to the difficult decision to shut down the café.
“To maintain a successful nonprofit, you need people who are passionate and able to dedicate time to the café’s operation,” Wysoske said.
While the café nearly closed in 2023, the community stepped up with financial support to keep it open for an additional year and a half.
“Our entire existence relies on donations,” Wysoske explained. “We’ve been fortunate to receive time, money, and supplies from incredible supporters, but the environment has changed.”
Three cats remain at the café: Clark, known as a “certified chonk,” Sassy, and Chelsea. These three, along with kittens expected to arrive before the café closes, will be available for adoption until Sunday.
“766 families have gained new family members because of us,” Wysoske said.
The closure marks a bittersweet moment for the community. The café provided a unique, home-like environment where even the most timid cats could bond with potential owners. Wysoske noted that the setting allowed cats to find their forever homes in a way that traditional cages could not.
“This space allowed cats, especially the shy ones, to connect with their future families,” Wysoske said. “We gave them extra time and love.”
The café will remain open through Sunday, giving visitors one last chance to visit and reflect on its legacy. Supporters are invited to leave messages on a memory board, honoring the lives touched by the nonprofit.
Any cats that are not adopted will return to their original fosters or rescue programs, all of which are no-kill shelters.
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