Palmyra’s newest business is modeled after the cat cafe` trend sweeping the globe
Despite all the people coming to her window, flooding her inbox and calling her phone, Lori Genstein, co-owner of Purrsonal Space Cat Lounge, was in no rush to open her doors to the many visitors waiting to enjoy South Jersey’s first cat cafe. Everything had to be just right for her feline residents — at 1005 Market St. in Palmyra, the animals come first.
For more than a year, the highly anticipated Purrsonal Space was a work in progress as Genstein and her fiance and business partner, Dan Rosenthal, got their permits and paperwork in order. Modeled after the world-wide “cat cafe” trend that started in Japan, several other businesses like Purrsonal Space exist in Philadelphia, but none perhaps quite as meticulously mapped out. From the calming pastel purples that coat the walls to the fleece and velour-lined textures covering the many surfaces for the cats to perch on, every detail is designed to give the cats and their human visitors the best experience possible.
“The contractors we were working with told me I was impossible to please, but I’m picky for a reason,” Genstein said. “It’s not about what you like, it’s not what I like, it’s what’s best for the kitties.”
The seven cats that currently call Purrsonal Space home — Kyo, Daisy, Bear, Smokey, Tuna, Chloe and Chance— follow Genstein like ducklings and obey her commands as she readies them for their potential forever homes. The advantages of the lounge environment over a traditional shelter are countless: Without cages, the cats can be active and show their personalities, making them more likely to find a family, and the socialization gets them used to people. All cats that come through Purrsonal Space are adoptable and hand-selected by the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees.
Under the lounge set-up, members of the public can pay — $10 for children and seniors and $15 for adults — to spend an hour with the cats in a relaxing environment complete with free WiFi and seating. Veterans, active military personnel and law enforcement officials can enjoy the cats’ company for a discounted price, and memberships are available for those looking to become monthly, annual or lifetime visitors. All ages are welcome, and in an effort to build relationships with surrounding businesses, Genstein said visitors are allowed to order in food, which they can eat in a room that converts into an activity space separate from the cats. Dunkin Donuts, one of the lounge’s sponsors, will also provide tea and coffee for purchase.
“The borough has been so supportive, so encouraging — I get goosebumps when I think about it. We followed their lead, and they helped us tremendously,” Genstein said of Palmyra’s response to her endeavor. She has lived in the borough with her son for more than a decade and operates her professional pet-sitting business nearby.
In the weeks following its grand opening to the public on Feb. 23, Purrsonal Space has a plethora of activities and events planned, including Adult Coloring, Mommy and Me Crafts with Kitties, Cat on Your Mat Yoga, an animal first aid and and CPR certification class, a breast cancer fundraiser, Wine and Design with Cats and more. The lounge, which additionally aims to educate the public, will offer sessions on drug awareness and prevention, caring for animals and tutoring with Rosenthal, who works as a professor.
“There are certain things that I didn’t know when I got my first cat, like about declawing or redirecting their attention instead of correcting bad behavior,” Genstein said. “We want this to be a space where people can be enlightened. Even though we’re here to find the cats homes, so much of what we teach applies to bunnies, birds, dogs and even humans.”
Genstein, who said her son has special needs, plans to collaborate with the borough to host job training and life skills programs for the children at Orchard Friends School in Riverton. Animals can be especially beneficial for differently abled people, as they provide companionship and are known to have a calming effect.
“My son has trouble communicating, but I brought him in here the other day, and he was able to tell the cats all about his day,” Genstein said.
To schedule a visit and learn more about Purrsonal Space’s mission, events schedule and residents, check out www.PURRsonalSpaceReservation.as.me or follow the lounge on Facebook.
