by Noella Noelophile®
“Do I have enough cat hair on me?” asked Feline Good Social Club owner Pamela Leslie.
Saturday afternoon had arrived, and with it, Long Beach’s first cat cafe’s Grand Opening Celebration.
And the festivities were just about to culminate in an awards and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Although Feline Good Social Club had its soft opening in August, Saturday, October 26th, marked their official Grand Opening. Lots of cat lovers (and kitties) were on hand.
“We have 27 (resident) cats,” explained volunteer Vickie Aust. “The number went up to 30, but now we have 27.”
The reason for the reduction in number?
The very best one: adoptions.
Feline Good Social Club, as noted in a previous post, is an offshoot of nonprofit Long Beach Felines, which has been rescuing abused and abandoned cats for approximately 20 years.
In a brief conversation prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pam explained that Feline Good has had fifteen adoptions since their August 11th soft opening.
And for anyone looking for a kitty, candidates, waiting to audition their new pet humans, are listed on the wall.
(Sorry, “Fancy Feet” and “Necco” aren’t among them. These guys serve as ambassadors at Feline Good Social Club–and seem very happy with their permanent staff positions.)
“Today is the culmination of so much hard work,” Pam said, prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We did our soft opening about three months ago, and thought we had everything together, but we’ve been working so hard in the last three months….that I think we’ve pretty much done it.”
That hard work encompasses not only caring for the cats, but hosting events for the general public.
People can book time in Feline Good Social Club’s lounge, to spend either an hour or a half hour cuddling and petting the cats, who are very friendly. In addition, regular events are on the calendar.
Every Saturday, Pam said, Feline Good Social Club hosts two yoga sessions. For November, they have a Mindfulness session coming up, and Sound Healing.
“I think we have a Kids’ Club event (in November) as well. So we’ve got a lot going on, as well as just dealing with the cats.”
The cats, meanwhile, are rescue kitties who have been socialized.
Can you believe this little one came in from an industrial park?
“There were three of them,” Pam explained. “One of the business owners grabbed them up and took them in, but there was no place to keep them here.
“So she kept them for three weeks, hoping that Long Beach Felines would be able to take them in. But they got sicker and sicker and sicker, so finally Long Beach Felines just had to take them in.
“So they stayed and fostered them for a while, and they got healthy and happy, and now they’re here.”
Interestingly, despite the number of visitors and noise level during my visit, the cats all seemed very mellow. For twenty-seven kitties, I heard perhaps two “meows”, the whole time I was there.
And the mood was more than festive.
The cake stood waiting.
Volunteer Liz Moronta, pictured left, said one of the other volunteers had made it! (It was almost too pretty to cut into and eat–but note that “almost”.)
Around 2:15, Liz announced that the ceremony was about to start. Everyone hurried outside.
“Do I have enough cat hair on me?” Pam asked.
Officials from Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia’s office and the office of District 2 Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce were present.
“I’m proud to representing the Mayor today, here with Matt (Mendez), who is the other father of the First Cat of Long Beach–Tommy,” commented Senior Administrative Deputy Tim Patton.
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Tim presented Pam with a Certificate of Appreciation.
“We are just thrilled to have you here,” he told Pam and volunteer Tushita Haritwal. “And we’re happy for anybody who can get cats adopted. We’re just thrilled with the work that you’re doing.”
Nancy Farber-Pena, from the office of Councilwoman Pearce, came up next.
“Welcome to District Two,” she said, handing Pam a certificate as the crowd applauded.
Invited forward to say a few words, Tushita thanked the visitors, the Mayor’s office, Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Councilmember Pearce’s office for their support.
“We’re super excited to be here,” she said. “We’re excited to bring cat adoption to downtown Long Beach.
“(To) have a safe space for everyone to come see cats, interact with cats…perhaps (be able to adopt), to just have a safe space to hang out and enjoy the company of the amazing cats that we have.”
The time had come for the ribbon-cutting.
Volunteers hurried to take their places under the balloon arch.
Outsized scissors and a royal-purple ribbon, complete with bow, went into place.
Photographers snapped enthusiastically–on cameras and on their phones.
Pam wielded the scissors…
“3-2-1, meow!”
Whoops, cheers and laughter followed.
And in went the crowd–time for cake! (Which, by the way, was delicious–combining chocolate and a peanut-butter flavor reminiscent of my grandmother’s peanut-butter fudge. Sampled purely in the interest of journalistic research, of course.)
Asked how people can best support Feline Good Social Club and nonprofit Long Beach Felines, Pam said she most would like people to come and find out what they’re all about.
“We not only adopt Long Beach Felines’ cats out, but we take in other rescues as well.”
“Adoption is always our ultimate goal. But we want people to come, and relax, and enjoy the space, and make this a habit.
“Find a place of peace and happiness, and maybe even a cat.”