A ribbon has been cut, officially opening Evansville’s first cat café.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke helped co-owners Nancy Drake and Annette Gries cut the ribbon, opening the River Kitty Cat Café at 226 Main St.
Inside the café, a glass wall separates the dining area from 10 felines frolicking and sleeping on pet beds, padded towers, and in the front window.
Kandis Brinker is the cat lounge chaperone. She says one of the great things about the cat enclosure is the basement, where cats and access food and litter boxes, away from the cafe area.
Brinker says guests are urged to use hand sanitizer after visiting the enclosure.
The cats aren’t there just to entertain or relax the patrons. Co-owner Nancy Drake says they’re looking for homes.
The cafe has partnered with the Vanderburgh Humane Society and the cats are available for adoption.
At least two of the ten cats were adopted during the grand opening.
Drake says the restaurant is believed to be just the second cat café in Indiana. The first, the Nine Lives Café, is in Indianapolis.
