There’s nothing more cozy than being accompanied by an adorable cat when you’re going through a page turner while sipping a cup of coffee. This scene used to be something you could do only at home or at a cat café. Sadly, you can’t apply to adopt the cute cat you fell in love with at the cat café. Normally, when you find yourself thinking of adding a furry member to your family, the animal shelter would be the first place you’d visit. But you might want to consider this bookstore in Nova Scotia, Canada as well. You see, Otis & Clementine’s Books and Coffee offer more than just good reads and great drinks: they also have kittens.
And the best part? If you fall in love with one of their adorable residents, you are more than welcome to adopt him or her! Cats, coffee, and books – sounds a lot like bookworm’s paradise, doesn’t it? Ellen Helmke, Otis & Clementine’s Books & Coffee’s proprietress, says that there are several kittens and “usually a mama cat as well” wandering around, playing, or napping around the bookshop at all times. Their feline guests are provided by South Paw Conservation Nova Scotia Rescue Group.
“People come here specifically to see the cats, and then some people just wander in to look at the books and discover there are kittens. Either way, the response has been really great – I mean, who doesn’t love kittens, right?”
The kitten adoption program started last year when Helmke thought the shop was too big for just books. And so, she decided to welcome kittens who needed forever homes into her space. “All the kittens are in and out fairly quickly, as they are adopted,” she said. Since partnering with South Paw Conservation Nova Scotia Rescue Group, they’ve already helped 30 kittens find their forever homes. And those numbers will only continue to increase, as time goes by.
“We have a hundred percent adoption rate, which is fantastic.”
“Otis & Clementine’s Books and Coffee is one of many loving foster homes that provide an enriching environment for our kittens and cats. It’s amazing to have this unique platform to help home kitties.”
The bookstore and rescue group’s partnership may sound wonderful but make no mistake. You can’t just pick a kitten and walk out of the establishment as you please. You’ll need to file an official application first, like you would at a traditional shelter. The application will be reviewed by South Paw to see if you and the kitten will be compatible companions.
“Homing kittens or cats is not first come, first serve,” a representative from South Paw said. “We try to home our babies with the best possible fit. Some require a more quiet space free from other animals, but still maybe enjoy the snuggles at night and some are more playful and outgoing.”
South Paw makes sure all the felines they send to the bookstore are healthy and fit for adoption
You’ll have to shell out CAD 225 (approximately $194) to officially adopt a kitten from the the bookstore. This fee covers everything, including the medical expenses that were spent on making sure the kitten was healthy. According to the rescue group’s rep, all the kittens and cats are “vet checked, vaccinated, feline leukemia tested, treated with revolution, and dewormed within the first few days of arrival when [they’re] healthy/old enough”. Aside from the fee, hopeful adopters must also provide references. This will help the assure the rescuers that their cat will be in safe, loving hands.
“We have a spay and neuter program set up with local vets (Hammonds Plains Veterinary Hospital/ Tantallon Veterinary Hospital) to keep the cost down for the potential family.”
“Some of our kittens require to be bottle-fed or even just be in a space where they can be monitored 24 hours a day. We have an amazing foster network that helps us to meet all their needs. All of this is made possible through donations and adoption fees.”
This bookstore is every book-loving cat lover’s heaven
“I’m so happy to make my customers happy when they come in and they’re just thrilled to see a kitten they weren’t expecting. It’s amazing and makes me happy to come to work.”
So if you happen to be in Upper Tantallon, make sure to visit Otis & Clementine’s Books and Coffee Shop. You won’t just find a good story to read. You might even find a cute cat you can’t bear to part with! More importantly, you’ll be helping a greater cause and helping more cats find their forever homes. Donations and adoption fees help support South Paw’s activities. And right now, they’re planning to rescue 6 more puppies and one 10-month-old from Antigua in March 4th, so if you want to help them bring home those poor pooches, you should totally plan a trip to Otis & Clementine’s Books and Coffee in Nova Scotia, Canada!
Here’s what some folks had to say about the cat-friendly bookstore
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