Meet Mr. Alfredo Noodle, or Alphie for short. Alphie constantly makes me laugh. He dunks his entire head in the water bowl to take a drink and frequently attempts to add me to the stash of toys he hides under the dresser.

Ferrets are happiest when kept with others, so I soon adopted Hershey. Hershey’s favorite hobby is burrowing under blankets, in drawers full of clothes or in the pit of dry beans I made especially for him.

The two quickly accepted one another.

When a friend contacted me for help rescuing a litter of newborn kittens, I took in Daphne when she was only a few weeks old. Daphne learned many behaviors from her brothers and acts more like a ferret than a cat. 

I have since adopted Pretzel as well. Pretzel loves tunnels. Even though he has several perfectly sized tunnels, he will try to squeeze into any cylinder and is known to get stuck. 

When the ferrets are not jumping around and causing chaos, they are sleeping.

I have also recently rescued another kitten whom I have named Chicken. Chicken is my spunkiest animal. She loves to play with her brothers and break into cabinets.

With three ferrets and two cats surrounding me, my household never lacks affection and is certainly never bland!

The photos in this feature were provided by the author.

Although cat cafes are still a relatively new business genre in the United States, these lively shops stand as an exceptionally creative way to both enhance and support a local community. In addition to offering popular beverages and baked goods, cat cafes often partner with nearby rescues to socialize sheltered cats and kittens and to overall streamline the adoption process. And with the growing success of cat cafes in the KC metro area, the Northland finally received one of its own in 2020.

Last fall, Sugar Kittens Cafe and Cattery opened its doors in Liberty, MO – just a few miles southwest of William Jewell College – off of Route 291. Inside, a vibrant purple-and-blue lounge is always populated with spunky fur babies waiting to find their forever home. While the cafe’s selling point is definitely the cats, Sugar Kittens double as a coffee shop that serves baked goods, bubble tea, ice cream and specialty frappes among other items. Lining the entrance wall, the cafe also sells supplies, toys and merchandise for anyone looking to spoil their pet.

Now nearing their one-year anniversary, Sugar Kittens has found homes for nearly 400 cats and kittens who would have otherwise been on the streets or stuck in shelters. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the cafe aims to adopt out as many cats and kittens as possible, which they source from local rescues such as Kitty Cat Connections or the community.

For $14.14, an individual can spend 50 minutes in the cat lounge, which is located in a separate area from their supplies shop and cafe counter. One to two employees are always present in the lounge to generally supervise the visits, answer any questions and facilitate the adoption process.

Sugar Kittens holds their felines into foster care until they are healthy enough for adoption; by the time a cat or kitten is moved to the cat lounge, they are microchipped, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Absent of the occasional sale, cats can be adopted for $100 and kittens for $150. However, due to the need for socialization, the cafe requires customers to adopt a second cat or kitten if they do not already have another pet at home. Additionally, certain cats or kittens are bonded together and the cafe requests that those pairs be adopted together.

Overall, the cat lounge can be described as upbeat and fun, yet relaxing and comfortable. Natural lighting illuminates the room, adding to the vibrant feel of the blue and purple walls, juxtaposed to the soft cushions, plush seating and sleepy cats. While there may be other people present in the lounge – up to 10 people can be scheduled at a time – there is enough space and seating to give peace of mind to even the most introverted individual. And despite the number of cats and kittens running amok, the entire room is kept immaculate; many lounge-goers opt to sit – and even lay – on the carpet to play with the kittens.

As for the main attraction, there is no shortage of friendly felines at Sugar Kittens. By doubling as a cat cafe and adoption facility, the cats are less chaotically socialized to humans compared to shelters and, subsequently, much more of their true personalities come out around a potential new forever family. For example, immediately upon arrival, one exceptionally amiable black cat named Cricket crawled into features editor Sam Bahler’s arms and slept for nearly her entire visit.

The menu is not something to overlook either. Offering popular items like bubble tea and frappes in an impressive array of flavors, the cafe counter is worth visiting itself. The menu may not appeal to everyone since it focuses on an overtly sweet theme – hence the name, Sugar Kittens. But for everyone else looking for a sizable dose of sugar and caffeine, the customizability of the drinks leaves no one disappointed.

As a whole, Sugar Kittens Cafe and Cattery gives a rare type of satisfaction that many look for in small businesses. Customers can indulge in a genuinely enjoyable experience while knowing that every dollar spent – whether at the cafe, supplies shop or by adopting a new friend – is directly benefiting their community. For cat lovers, families and stressed-out college students alike, Sugar Kittens is the perfect place to visit – be it as a one-time event, weekly recurrence or anything in between.

Coming soon to Liberty is the unique concept of cat cafes that have been gaining popularity throughout the country. Sugar Kittens is an interesting new cafe that will double as an adoption center for rescued cats. The new shop will be located at 603 C 291 Highway, Liberty, MO.

The cafe plans to have a wide variety of coffee, bubble tea, bakery items, and ice cream on their menu. The cafe will be sourcing many of their menu items from local companies such as Thou Mayest gourmet coffee and Cupcakes Unlimited. 

Along with the delicious sweets, another key feature of the cafe will be the 10 to 15 cats and kittens that will be featured for customers to relax with in their separate cat lounge. All of the cats at the cafe have been rescued in partnership with Kitty Cat Connection KC and will be available for adoption. The cafe will offer a unique environment that allows people to get to know and bond with the cats before they decide to adopt. 

Sugar Kittens also plans to have a retail area full of fun cat-themed items, purr-fect for cat lovers. There will also be pet care essentials like cat food, litter and toys that will be available for purchase in the shop.

Opening day has been announced as Nov. 10, and you can start booking your appointments now to hang out with the cats. Admission to the cat lounge is $12.99 plus tax for a 50-minute session with the cats and a waiver must be signed beforehand. They will also be offering a class for kids ages 10 and under called Kittens 101 that will teach them the basics of taking care of a cat. If you want the cat lounge all to yourself, you can book a private reservation for yourself, a birthday party or other events at higher price rates. Call 816-736-4000 or email Lacey@sugarkittenscatcafe.com to book your private reservations.

The cafe also hopes to host other events like movie nights, yoga and bingo where people will be able to interact with the cats.

Some of the cats that will be found at the cafe have been featured on the cafe’s social media sites, and it’s hard not to fall in love with all of them.

Check out their Facebook or Instagram accounts to meet the rest of the cats that will be available for adoption at the cafe.

“Hey, all you cool cats and kittens!” – while you are on their social media, make sure to take a look at Carol Baskin’s Cameo video that she did for Sugar Kittens Cat Cafe.

Even if you can’t take a cat home with you, the cafe operates as a non-profit organization, so it appreciates any donations that help them to continue their mission of finding homes for as many cats as possible.