Managers at a cat cafe in Tiverton that was unexpectedly shut down Friday for operating without licenses have collected more than $10,000 in donations so far to “revive” the business.
Bajah’s Cat Cafe, 137 Main Road, abruptly closed its doors after the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated complaints that more than a dozen cats at the business were suffering from upper respiratory infections. Eighteen cats were removed from the premises.
Upon investigation, it was determined that owner Amanda Souza had accepted cats for adoption beyond the limits of her license, which only allowed her to house cats from Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River. The incident is under investigation by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Cat-astrophe: Cats removed from Bajah’s as owner faces allegations of violating license
Vada waits for the next visitors at Bajah’s Cat Cafe Tiverton.
In a live video posted to the Bajah’s Facebook page on Dec. 14, Souza admitted that she found it difficult to “say no” when taking in other cats.
“Did I do something wrong? Yes,” she said. “I should have stopped taking in cats. I should have directed people to go to other shelters.
“You can’t really say no. I mean, I could have but I would have felt so guilty.”
Vladmir is hiding out at Bajah’s Cat Cafe Tiverton.
Cat cafe owner: Coffee shop will still be open
Bajah’s Cat Cafe is both a coffee shop and a cat adoption facility, with separate rooms. Before the shutdown, for a fee, visitors could mingle and play with cats up for adoption, and potentially start the process of taking one home.
Souza said in her video that the coffee shop can remain open, though she is keeping it temporarily closed until Friday, Dec. 20.
Bajah’s Cat Cafe recently opened in Tiverton.
Cat cafe fundraiser is a third of the way toward goal
A fundraiser on GoFundMe that started Friday has raised $10,500 as of Sunday afternoon from 223 donors. The goal is $30,000.
The beneficiary is Bajah’s Rescue, the nonprofit that operates the animal rescue portion of the business. The cafe opened in 2021 and has been a registered nonprofit since 2022. According to IRS records, its gross receipts from the past two years were not more than $50,000 each year.
“Our mission is to properly get licensed and restart our rescue mission,” reads a description of the fundraiser.
Desserts, dinners and sides: Place a Christmas to-go order in the Greater Fall River area
A seating area at Bajah’s Cat Cafe in Tiverton.
Owner unsure when cats can be adopted again
Souza said in the video that she remains unclear when or if cat adoptions can resume. She commended the RISPCA, the DEM, police and other agencies involved in the shutdown, saying they exhibited professionalism and had the cats’ best interests at heart.
“They’re going to work with us to first get us to be able to have Forever Paws cats back in here,” she said.
Souza said she could face fines of up to $300 per cat she improperly took in.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: RI cat cafe closed over license issue; owner seeks donations to reopen
