Adopt a cat?

As we wander through the metro for the best leisure destinations (which for some reason unknown to me, my Business & Leisure production team seem to favor a certain part of the metro), we found Marikina’s first cat café. Fueled by an advocacy to adopt cats and teach pet owners to be responsible, Cats and Crumbs offers a great selection of food and drinks as well.

Cats and Crumbs is a place where cat lovers can spend their time playing with cats while enjoying a cup of coffee and a piece of deliciously baked pastries.

Owned by two ladies, Ms. Swannie Lim and Ms. Joyce Kristine Abesames who love animals and baking, the birth of Cats and Crumbs is one that is not surprising.

Aside from its interesting concept, the advocacy behind Cats and Crumbs is just as important. It began with an idea and a dream of having the first cat café in Marikina with an advocacy. They wanted people to come to them to enjoy good food and at the same time, to have a meaningful encounter with the rescued cats that they were fostering from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

When asked why they chose to foster cats and have them in the café, the owners said it’s because cats don’t require as much maintenance compared to other pets. They also believe that the temperament of cats is very suited for a café, wherein, if you want to play or chill with them, it doesn’t require you too much maintenance. Their maintenance is different compared to dogs, and you don’t even have to give them exercise. You just need to give them room to roam around, go up and down and have areas to hide if they want to. You just need to give them enough food and clean water.

When you go inside the remarkable place, the first thing you will notice is that the area is indeed dedicated for the cats to have a space to move around and play in. Being a cat café, the owners said it’s the first thing they considered. Their design and cafe interiors consider the behavior of cats, that’s why there are areas were they can hide, climb, and scratch—all part of how cats think and act.

They wanted a place that’s friendly to cats. They wanted it to be separated from the dining area. Because, they recognize that there are people who don’t want to enter because of allergies, asthma, or simply don’t want to eat with animals.

However, the café is still perfect for moms who want to bring their child to play, while spending time with their friends.

For the humans’ pleasure, the place is customer-friendly, with just enough space for them to play with the cats as well. Cats and Crumbs said their café is open for everyone who loves cats.

Since the cats in this unique café are up for adoption, interested customers must go through a screening process.

The management of the Cats and Crumbs helps in screening and doing the initial interviews of potential families and adopters. After that, adopters need to go to the PAWS Office to have their final interview, and PAWS will schedule a home visit to do an ocular, just for them to make sure that the cats will be secured. PAWS adoption fee is P500 per cat.

Customers come and go, that’s why the owners make sure that the cats are well maintained and well taken care of. From picking them up from PAWS, training them to providing them the things they need, this is how the owners ensure that the cats are good for adoption. The same maintenance goes for the whole café area so customers can have the best time.

The entrance fee for Cats and Crumbs is P199 per head, which covers an hour of playing with the cats and is consumable for food, drinks, cat treats, or an additional playtime with the cats, if the customers can’t get enough of them.

Cats and Crumbs can accommodate up to 12 people for the cat area. For the café area, 15 to 20 people can dine and enjoy the food.

Speaking of the menu, Cats and Crumbs serves a yummy line of food and beverages. They have grilled sandwiches that are called “Pawninis”, which come with a side of chips. Pawninis are available in different flavors: grilled cheese and tomato, spicy sardines, pepperoni pizza, ham and cheese and beef taco.

On the other hand, they also have their own version of pasta, called “Pawsta” with different varieties to choose from.

For the desserts, they have brownies and cookies, which are personally baked by Ms. Joyce.

More than planning the expansion of their branch, Cats and Crumbs hopes to promote responsible pet ownership by continuing fostering the rescued cats.

Ms. Swannie emphasized that they have an advocacy and they are not just for the business or profit, instead, they are here to educate their customers on the benefits of spaying the animals. She added that they want their customers to see the beauty of Pusang Pinoy or Pus-Pin.

For cat lovers out there, visit Cats and Crumbs in Marikina City to enjoy and have fun with the cats. Who knows, you might find your next pet as well!

Looking for this weekend’s activity for the family?

The Auto Focus Pre-Christmas Multi-Brand Test Drive Festival can be an exciting weekend family affair having all of the country’s top car brands with their latest models all in one place for the public to test drive.

It’s still open today and tomorrow, Sunday from 11 o’clock in the morning to nine o’clock in the evening at the Concert Grounds, of the SM Mall of Asia.

If you are looking for your first or next car, this one stop shop is the best place to find it, but remember to “Test drive it, before you buy it”.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to a Filipino.

For comments & inquiries:(Email) [email protected] (website) www.businessandleisure.ph