Cat and wine lovers will now have a public place where they can combine those interests under one roof. Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar is a new venue from Kristin Cowan and Adam Patterson that plans to open in Old Town Alexandria by the end of 2018, offering people the chance to play with adoptable cats, drink wine or beer, snack on cafe staples and of course enjoy the history of the area as well.
As for the layout of the space, Mount Purrnon will feature a lounge room where cats can roam and play and a separate bar/cafe area which will be decked out with books, reference materials and maps informing patrons of the region’s history. Special events like cat yoga, trivia and game nights will also be on the agenda.
“Even if people aren’t huge cat fans, they can still visit the cat cafe and grab a drink,” says Cowan in the announcement, “but they will probably want to go into the cat room when they see how much fun it is.”
Mount Purrnon will work with a local shelter to temporarily house 10-12 adoptable cats, helping the cats socialize and potential adopters see them in a home-like environment. The hope—and past indications from other cat cafes—is that Mount Purrnon will help local shelters by increasing adoption rates and lowering euthanasia rates, ultimately saving more animals.
But the cats won’t be the only ones benefiting from this establishment. Some research shows that being around cats can decrease human heart problems, decrease stroke risk, lower cholesterol and provide individuals with emotional support and stress relief. “Cats and wine may be the perfect de-stressor,” says Cowan.
To make Mount Purrnon possible, a Kickstarter campaign has been launched with an initial goal of $25,000. Pledges of $10-$1,000 can be made, with some of the rewards including early access to the venue, swag, free drinks and a private party with cats. Revenue raised by the campaign will be used to secure funding for a location. Should they exceed their goal, Cowan and Patterson forecast putting that money toward building out the bar and lounge areas for humans and felines alike.
