A Tiverton cat cafe is seeking donations after the state shut it down. What happens next?
Managers of a cafe in Tiverton which closed suddenly on Friday for operating without a license have raised more than $10,000 in donations so far to “revive” the business.
Bajah's Cat Cafe, 137 Main Road, closed its doors suddenly after the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated complaints that more than a dozen of the business's cats were suffering from respiratory illnesses. 18 cats were removed from the area.
After an investigation, it was determined that owner Amanda Souza accepted the cats for adoption beyond the limits of her license, which only allowed her to foster cats at the Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River. The incident is being investigated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Cat-astrophe: The cats were removed from Bajah as the owner faces alleged license violations
Vada awaits the next guests at Bajah's Cat Cafe Tiverton.
In a live video posted on Bajah's Facebook page on December 14, Souza admitted that she found it difficult to “say no” when she brought in other cats.
“Did I do something wrong? Yes,” he said. “I had to stop eating cats. I had to direct people to other shelters.
“You can't really say no. I mean I could do it but I would feel guilty.”
Vladmir is hiding in Bajah's Cat Cafe Tiverton.
Cat cafe owner: The coffee shop is yet to open
Bajah's Cat Cafe is both a coffee shop and a cat adoption center, with separate rooms. Before the closure, for a fee, visitors could meet and play with the cats to get an adoption, and possibly start the process of taking one home.
Souza said in his video that the coffee shop can stay open, although it is temporarily closed until Friday, December 20.
Bajah's Cat Cafe recently opened in Tiverton.
The Cat cafe fundraiser is the third part of the road to the goal
A GoFundMe fundraiser that started Friday had raised $10,500 as of Sunday afternoon from 223 donors. The goal is $30,000.
The beneficiary is Bajah's Rescue, a non-profit organization operating part of the animal rescue business. The cafe opened in 2021 and has been a registered non-profit organization since 2022. According to IRS records, its total receipts from the last two years were no more than $50,000 each year.
“Our goal is to get the license right and resume our rescue operation,” the fundraiser's description reads.
Desserts, dinners and sides: Place a Christmas order to go in the Greater Fall River area
Accommodation at Bajah's Cat Cafe in Tiverton.
The owner is not sure when the cats can be found again
Souza said in the video that it is not clear when the adoption of cats may start again. He praised the RISPCA, DEM, the police and other agencies involved in the closure, saying they were smart and had the best wishes for the cats.
“They will work with us to find out first that we can have Forever Paws cats here,” she said.
Souza said he could face fines of up to $300 for each cat he illegally enters.
This article first appeared in The Herald News: RI cat cafe closed over licensing issue; the owner is looking for donations to reopen
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