Catmosphere Laguna, O.C.’s first cat cafe, closes due to pandemic, but will live on through foundation
In May 2017, Gail Landau was in the Southeast for her stepson’s graduation from the College of Charleston.
Before she left Charleston, S.C., the self-proclaimed feline afficionado stopped by a cat cafe. Her first thought was that Laguna Beach was ready for the same sort of experiment.
“I wrote my business plan on the airplane on the way home,” Landau said, “and I presented at City Hall the next week.”
By the summer of 2018, Landau had opened Catmosphere Laguna, Orange County’s first cat cafe.
The cat cafe and lounge brought happy memories for many. Landau, who has a lexicon of cat puns at her disposal, said that people could sit down for “meow-mosas” for brunch, have birthday parties, and even get engaged.
“I got the ring ahead of time from the gentleman, and I took one of the cats that his fiancé was very interested in and took her collar and put the ring on the collar,” Landau said. “When the cat walked over to her, the ring was hanging from the collar. There was not a dry eye in the room.”
Unfortunately, the Laguna Beach cat cafe, like many businesses, has found it difficult to operate during the coronavirus pandemic, and last week, the decision was made to close its doors.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that stricter measures, including a potential stay-at-home order, could be coming as hospitalization numbers due to COVID-19 surge.
Although the brick and mortar aspect of her operation is going away for now, Landau said the mission to find the “purr-fect” home for abandoned and homeless cats and kittens will go on through the Catmosphere Laguna Foundation.
As of last week, Catmosphere Laguna had adopted out 195 cats. Landau added that the demand for pet companions has gone up during the pandemic, but she continues to be particular about the conditions of adoption. She wants to make sure the cats are going to an environment that they will fit into and that they will continue to receive veterinary care, if necessary.
“[The cats] are fully vetted, spayed or neutered, receive all their vaccinations, they’re socialized, they’ve been with fosters, and I carefully interview the prospective adopting paw-rents,” Landau said.
“I make sure they go to a home where they will be an indoor cat only. The individuals sign an adoption agreement after the interview process with me. I used to go to the homes and do a home check, but now I do a Zoom check or I do a FaceTime check.”
Landau is also conscious of relationships that have been formed between the cats, and she said that she does not allow for separation of bonded pairs.
As a nonprofit organization, Landau said the Catmosphere Laguna Foundation pays for veterinary bills and food with the help of donations. Donations can be made at catmospherelaguna.com.
Adoptions through Catmosphere Laguna are $300. Landau added that the cats are microchipped, and a veterinarian health report, flea treatment and a super “purr-sonality” are included.
Landau said she is on the hunt for her next location, as she hopes to open a cat cafe again after things improve from the impact of the pandemic.
Catmosphere Laguna has also partnered with rescue outfits like the Ark of San Juan and the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter.
“Catmosphere Laguna Foundation is a part of the fabric of Laguna Beach,” said Nancy Goodwin, the manager of the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. “As one of our fellow nonprofits, Catmosphere’s mission to provide homes for rescued and abandoned cats is vital and important to our community. We serve to protect animals and partner together for their health and survival. We look forward to our continued work together.”
Susan Hamil is the chairwoman of the Blue Bell Foundation for Cats, another Laguna Beach-based organization that acts as caretaker of older cats whose owners can no longer do so.
Hamil, a registered veterinarian technician who is also on the board of directors for Catmosphere Laguna, said that Landau had established a model for anyone who wants to start a cat cafe.
“You can be really assured of a healthy cat, and the atmosphere at Catmosphere was such that you can’t just walk in and adopt a cat,” Hamil said. “You have to sit down and get to know that cat and be friends with the cat and have the cat accept you as much as you want to accept the cat, and that was the beauty of it.”
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