Since its opening in 2017, Treetops Kitty Cafe in Kennett Square has been a sanctuary for misfit cats and a place for humans to enjoy the company of affectionate and soothing feline friends over a cup of coffee, writes Richard Gaw for Chester County Press.
Treetops is one of Chester County’s leading cat rescues and adoption centers, having paired 855 cats with their forever families.
However, operating with a goal of being both charitable and humanitarian is financially difficult. As a non-profit, the cafe relies on private and corporate donations and sponsors.
“The financial pinch has always been there and it’s something that we have dealt with since we first opened,” said Hannah April, the owner of Treetops Kitty Cafe. “From the beginning, it’s been hard to bring in donations, and it has not been sustainable. We don’t qualify for federal funding, and grants are hard for us to get.”
Treetops expenses have been on the rise, with the basic costs of food and litter to medications and dental care for the cats. When April reached out to the community for help in early June, the response overwhelmed her.
“I feel so seen by people that I didn’t know were looking out for us,” she said. “It makes me feel good about what we’re doing here and reaffirms my belief in what we’re doing here. We have seen the community rally behind us in the past in smaller numbers, but to see them rally around us in larger numbers like these has blown me away.”
Read more about how you can donate to Treetops Kitty Cafe at Chester County Press.
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