Purrista Cat Cafe to open in downtown Erie, offering coffee plus felines available for adoption

Tinsel is an adorable petite 1-year-old female tortoise domestic longhair cat with a little nub for a tail, possibly the result of a previous injury. She loves to pose on the arms of chairs or the tops of scratching posts to show off her beauty but also likes to be on people's laps.

Mel is a very laid-back 5-year-old black and white domestic shorthair. He loves to nap on a couch or chair next to people while they read. A low-maintenance cat, he was a stray who has been waiting for a permanent home since March 17.

Tinsel and Mel are expected to be among the nine cats residing at Purrista Cat Cafe when it opens Monday in downtown Erie. A grand opening, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, is scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the cafe, 30 W. Eighth St.

"I love animals and I love cafes," Purrista owner Dena Rupp, 40, of Erie, said in explaining why she wanted to open a cat cafe here.

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While cat cafes are nothing new — they've been in the United States for almost a decade and in Asia for even longer — Rupp is believed to be the first to bring one to Erie. While she'll sell local coffee and baked goods in one half of her new business, she'll work in the other half with the Because You Care animal rescue and pet adoption center to find homes for cats.

"We are beyond excited and honored that Dena chose to partner with us for this endeavor," Megan Duckett, executive director of Because You Care, said via email. "We are thrilled to be able to (place) some of our wonderful adoptable cats into her cat lounge, where they can meet with people and find their forever home."

In operation since 1981, Because You Care, located at 6041 West Road in McKean Township, utilizes foster homes for animals in its care until they are ready for its adoption center.

"We wanted to become involved with Purrista because we feel it is an amazing opportunity to get more exposure for the cats and increase their chances of getting adopted into wonderful forever homes," Duckett said. "Purrista gives us the ability to showcase more of these adoptable cats."

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Between eight and 10 cats will reside at Purrista at a time, the women said. Cats will be chosen based on their personalities, with ones that are outgoing, friendly and personable with other cats heading to the cafe.

Rupp, who doesn't currently have any pets, said she "grew up with the love of animals" — cats, dogs, gerbils and rabbits.

She also dreamed of being a business owner. She said she's worked for small businesses and wanted to help them and the community grow. Rupp, who lives in downtown Erie, said she moved there to be closer to her new cafe.

She hired five part-time employees.

"They're really excited to be there," she said.

A graphic designer at Kimkopy Printing, Rupp said she'll go from full-time to part-time there once the cafe opens. She'll also continue on at Flagship City Press, an Erie-inspired stationery business she started with Corinne Kraus.

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'Erie loves animals'

After getting the idea to add a cat cafe in Erie to her entrepreneurial interests, Rupp said, she took business classes and raised money before receiving loans and finding a location. The process took about four years.

Rupp said cat cafes originated in Asia. She taught English about 10 years ago in South Korea but didn't visit any cat cafes there before returning home to Erie. They've been in the United States about a decade, she said, spreading from California to other states, and can be found around Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

The website Meow Around, which describes itself as a "guide and directory to the world's cat cafes, coffee shops, bars, lounges and more," lists more than 140 cat cafes in North America. Purrista is among them.

Rupp said she's been to enough and talked to the owners, to see that the idea works. And she thinks it will work in Erie too.

"Erie loves animals," she said. "The support for animal shelters here is incredible."

At the same time, she said, "The cafe atmosphere in Erie could be better."

She said there are a lot more options for people who want to go to bars. Having some more calming environments without alcohol would be nice, Rupp said.

In the United States, she said, it's normal for a cat cafe to pair up with a local animal shelter. The arrangement provides a spot to foster cats, a place for people to meet adoptable cats and a way for shelters to spread the "adopt, don't shop" message about cats, Rupp said.

Her cafe is expected to open Monday with nine cats who arrived several days ago. In addition to Tinsel and Mel, the first residents were to include Savana, Silverbell, Eggnog, Sparkle, Allora, Marlena and Claus.

They'll hang out in the lounge area of Purrista, which is separated from the cafe where the beverages and food will be sold.

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In addition to the price of eating and drinking in the cafe, there's also a cost for interacting with the cats. A cover charge or fee in a cat cafe is not unusual. At Purrista, each person will pay $15 for 50 minutes with the cats. Rupp said the fee helps to provide care for the cats.

While you can try your luck at just stopping in and hoping there's an opening, reservations are advised as only a dozen visitors will be allowed in the cat lounge at a time. You can book a visit at purristacatcafe.com.

Reservations aren't required to sip lattes and espressos or munch on baked goods.

Cafe side

All visitors to Purrista will enter on the cafe side, where they can drink and eat regardless of whether they're cat lovers. Both sides of the new business will offer free Wi-Fi.

Rupp said she won't be making food but will be selling edibles from local businesses Sundae Vegan Desserts, Crumb Cake Bakery, Herb & Honey and Flower Kitchen.

Humans will also find an espresso bar with a variety of latte drinks, North Edge Craft Coffee and some non-caffeinated options such as tea and juice. North Edge, which is in Millcreek Township, even created a special Purrista house blend.

The coffee bar is where people with cat lounge reservations will check in before their designated time in the cat area. A window will allow people to see into the lounge.

Now Open: Purrista Cat Cafe to hold grand opening; more openings in the Erie region

Cat lounge

When a visitor's reservation time arrives, they can head into the lounge with the cats.

"You kind of just get to hang out in a really unique space, unwind, get some animal therapy," Rupp said.

The cat lounge features a custom cat tree, about 9 feet tall, as the centerpiece, she said.

"It's like a piece of art for cats," she said.

People can look for a cat to cuddle on their lap while they read or one to play with.

"There will be (cat) toys, there will be comfortable places to sit," Rupp said.

The "story" of each cat will be provided, along with information on how to adopt for any human who feels a connection with a four-legged cafe resident.

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Volunteers will be at Purrista to monitor the cat room and answer questions, Rupp said.

All the cats have had some fostering, Rupp said. They will be microchipped, up to date on vaccines and spayed or neutered, meaning the youngest will be about 3 months old, Duckett said. People will still have to sign a waiver to go into the lounge.

When the people leave at the end of the cafe's day, the cats will stay, with Rupp and volunteers caring for them.

"The care and well-being of the cats is the most important and they will be taken care of in the same excellent manner they are at BYC," Duckett said. "Any medical need or anything more than daily care will be taken care of by us."

Rupp said there are surveillance and other features to keep the animals safe.

"I'm basically their foster home until they get adopted," she said about the cats staying at Purrista.

Duckett said the adoption process is the same as at Because You Care's center. That includes submitting an online application at becauseyoucare.org and undergoing a veterinary reference check. Cost varies based on the age of the cat.

"The goal is for them to be adopted from Purrista," Duckett said.

Rupp's decision to hold her grand opening on Feb. 14 wasn't deliberately tied to Valentine's Day but she's making the most of it.

There's a "For the love of cats" mural created by Erie artist Rachel Travis in the cat lounge. Rupp decided to play off it for the opening.

"Let's focus our love on adoptable cats," she said.

If you go

Purrista Cat Cafe will hold its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 30 W. Eighth St. The event will feature light refreshments, free coffee samples, gift basket raffles and free 10-minute cat lounge tours, organizers said.

For its first week, Purrista will be open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After that, the cat cafe will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 814-520-8494 or visit purristacatcafe.com.

Contact Dana Massing at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Purrista Cat Cafe opening in Erie with coffee, adoptable felines