Mount Purrnon Cat Café Pounces Into Alexandria In August

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Cat lovers, rejoice. Mount Purrnon Cat Café and Wine Bar is opening on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 109 South Alfred Street in Old Town Alexandria. Reservations to meet the adoptable cats will be available at noon on Friday, according to owners Kristin Cowan and Adam Patterson.

Mount Purrnon is a cross between a café and a cat lounge where guests can interact with adoptable felines. For $20, visitors can reserve a time to come visit the cat lounge, and items like snacks, coffee, wine and other items can be purchased in the café. In accordance with health guidelines, the cat lounge and café are separated.

The business has been a few years in the making. The concept emerged after the owners found a cat café in Charleston, South Carolina and decided to start their own. Two years ago, the owners held a Kickstarter campaign and raised over $25,000 to held get started and secure a location.

Cowan told Patch the business partners with Fairfax County-based Fancy Cats to offer adoptable pets in the cat lounge. The rescue brings in cats that were at risk of being euthanized at shelters. While Fancy Cats handles the adoption process, Mount Purrnon allows potential adopters to come in and interact with the cats and pick up adoption applications.

The lounge initially has 15 cats, which Cowan says have drawn interest from potential adopters from Mount Purnnon's social media. She believes the variety of cat personalities can be a fit for different kinds of guests, from lap cats to playful pals.

But there is one commonality among this batch of cats: "The majority of them just want to be held," said Cowan. "They don't hiss. They don't bite."

The cats live at Mount Purrnon after being brought in by the Fancy Cats rescue. Staff are at Mount Purrnon to take care of the cats through most of the day, and cameras are on to monitor them overnight.

"This is their home until they get adopted," said Cowan.

For visitors who are allergic to cats or just want to visit the café, there is no admission price. Food and beverage options are available from local vendors, including Swing's Coffee. The pre-packaged food items include sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, edible cookie dough and other snacks.

Cowan says the business combines her love of history and cats; the café also provides materials such as local reference guides to help visitors learn about local history.

During the pandemic, Mount Purrnon is implementing safety guidelines. Masks are required, guests are asked to sanitize before entering, and staff undergo temperature checks before coming in. The cat lounge is limited to 20 people at a time, and social distancing measures will be taken.

For more information on adoptable cats and reservations, visit www.mtpurrnoncatcafe.com.