A CAT café where customers can sip a coffee while cuddling rescue cats could soon become Capalaba’s newest attraction.
A development application has been lodged with Redland City Council to transform a shop at 40 Redland Bay Rd into a cat café.
Division 8 Councillor Tracey Huges, a self-confessed cat lover, said she supported the proposal.
“As a cat lover and having visited a cat café in Japan last year, I totally support the application if all planning issues can be met and best practice upheld with regard to care for the cats, including ensuring suitable adoption practices and health checks,” Cr Huges said.
Division 7 Councillor Rowanne McKenzie also backed the concept.
“In principle I support the concept – and if the application meets all planning and animal welfare requirements. I look forward to visiting upon their opening,” Cr McKenzie said.
Written submissions are now open for the proposal.
Town planner Rhianna Murphy, from Doyen Planning, said the focus would remain firmly on the café, with adoptions playing only a minor role.
“It is intended to operate as a subordinate use on the site, with roughly one cat anticipated to be adopted per month (if any at all),” she said.
She said the adoption program would only begin after discussions with Council’s animal adoption team.
The café would be home to up to nine rescue cats at a time, giving visitors the chance to meet, play with and cuddle them while enjoying light refreshments.
The feline residents would stay at the café until they found permanent homes.
The proposed fit-out includes a dedicated cat lounge, indoor retreat, enclosed “kitty courtyard” and kiosk serving cold drinks and pre-packaged baked treats.
The courtyard would be fully enclosed so cats could safely roam outdoors, with visitors entering through a double-door system designed to stop adventurous felines making a break for freedom.
Planning documents show customers would also be able to enter the café from the rear car park via the courtyard.
If approved, the café would open from 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday, although cat interaction sessions would not begin until 10am.
Saturday trading would run from 10am to 8pm and Sundays from 10am to 6pm.
To keep the café smelling fresh, the application includes automatic self-cleaning litter trays, aromatherapy gel packs, air purifiers and regular cleaning schedules.
Estimates suggest the business would generate about 715 litres of waste each week, while only pre-packaged food and drinks would be sold on site.
