June is known for weddings and graduations and summer—but did you know it’s also Adopt-a-Cat Month? The timing coincides with what feline rescue experts call “kitten season,” or when many litters are born and end up crowding shelters. Adding a cat to your family means more than cuddles—a furry friend can improve your health. People who share their home with a cat can reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and (unsurprisingly) feel less isolated, according to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), a nonprofit devoted to spreading word of scientific findings about the benefits of companion animals. Per HABRI, pet cats can also help children with autism be more empathetic and experience less separation anxiety.
All of which is to say, now is the purr-fect time to check out Beans Cat Cafe on Main Street in Beacon. (Fun fact: The first café specifically designed for humans and felines to mingle opened in Taiwan in 1998.) Beacon’s comfy, cozy, sun-drenched spot, designed for both cat comfort and human caffeination, is owned and operated by Justin and Jessica Strika. The cat-loving couple dreamed of owning a local business where adoptable kitties could meet potential pet parents in a safe, secure, and stress-free setting. (Coffees, teas, and sweets from Mad Batters Pastries in Highland only serve to sweeten the deal for two-legged café guests.)
In regard to what inspired Beans Cat Cafe, co-owner Jessica Strika has always enjoyed working with animals. At a young age, she aspired to be a veterinarian as many children do. As she grew older, she frequented the Dutchess County SPCA and made donations when she could. Keeping animals social is important, and she put in the time to do just that.
When she finally adopted her first kitten, she thought it was the greatest thing ever.
“I could get a million of these,” Stika laughs, “but my husband objected.” She realized that if she couldn’t have a horde of cats in her own home, maybe she could help those in her area find other homes. So, in the midst of the pandemic, she began the journey to open her very own cat café in the Hudson Valley. Today, the Beacon hotspot is a favorite for cat aficionados in the region.
A partnership with Hudson Valley Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (HVARS) in Poughkeepsie supplies a steady stream of available felines for the Cat Lounge, and strict capacity limits—no more than eight people at a time—help ensure the cats don’t become overwhelmed by humans, no matter how well-meaning. Anyone yelling, running, chasing, or otherwise stressing out an animal is quickly shown the door. “We have to prioritize the physical and mental comfort of the cats above all else,” says Jess.
Chairs, cat beds, and carpeted climbing towers in the lounge offer soft spots for playing, people-watching, and snoozing, plus oversize windows let interested passersby peek in on the all-day action. To help cover costs, the owners charge a per-person admission fee of $7.50/half-hour or $12.50/full hour to hang out in the Cat Lounge, with reservations strongly encouraged.
From playing with them to cuddling and watching them, visitors are free to show the animals plenty of love, even if they can’t commit to an adoption. Spending quality time with cats while they are in a foster situation can help them adjust to living with people, and eventually their new family.
Drinks and snacks may be purchased at the café. At press time, 450+ cats have found loving new owners here. To learn more, check out beanscatcafe.com, Beans Cat Cafe on Facebook or @beanscatcafe on Instagram.
Donations Welcome
If adopting a cat isn’t an option right now, you can still help. Drop off during business hours:
Friskies wet food
Dry food (Purina One preferred)
Clumping litter (Tidy Cats preferred)
New cat toys
Hard cat carriers
