Author: Olivia Batchelor
Two feline-inspired cat cafes, The Caffeinated Cat in Jacksonville Beach and The Witty Whisker Cat Café in Saint Augustine, are more than just cozy places to enjoy a latte with a cuddly cat. They are safe havens for adoptable cats looking for their forever homes. While these cafes have successfully facilitated countless adoptions, one troubling trend remains to be true with all cat adoption places: black cats often linger longer than their more interesting-colored counterparts.
The Caffeinated Cat provides visitors with a chance to sip coffee while interacting with its playful feline residents. Their cozy setup and welcoming staff make it easy for cats and humans to connect. Similarly, The Witty Whisker Cat Café offers a cat-friendly atmosphere with delicious pastries and coffee to complement their cat room that is bursting with cat energy. Patrons can get their caffeine fix and maybe find a new feline friend.
Both cafes work with local animal rescues and offer immediate cat adoptions on their premises. Angeli Rodriguez, the owner of The Witty Whisker Cat Café, said about the purpose of cat cafes, “Cat cafes are the future of cat adoptions. This is the way people can sit, have coffee, and play with cats in a no-pressure environment.”
However, despite these welcoming environments, black cats face an uphill battle when it comes to adoption. Known as the “Black Cat Syndrome,” this phenomenon describes the tendency for black cats to be overlooked due to superstition and negative stereotypes. And the newest reason people aren’t looking to adopt a black cat is that they are harder to take pictures of for social media. Even in a setting as friendly and inviting as a cat café, these adorable and affectionate cats often wait longer to be adopted than their tabby or calico counterparts.
Black is a dominant gene, so there are so many more black cats than any other color of cat. And as Halloween approaches, it is the perfect time to dispel myths and appreciate the beauty and personality of these often-misunderstood felines. Though some rescues do not adopt out black cats during October to protect the cats, they always take applications, and you can get your dark feline friend by November.
Next time you are in Jacksonville Beach and Saint Augustine, stop. By for a cup of coffee and meet many wonderful black cats waiting to brighten someone’s life. After all, the perfect cup of coffee might just be complemented by the perfect companion.
