Lansing’s first cat cafe opens on Lake Lansing Road

Grab a cup of java and relax while surrounded by rescued feline friends at the Constellation Cat Cafe in East Lansing. In partnership with nonprofit cat rescue Saved by Zade, the cafe was a crowdfunded effort to provide felines most in need with a place to be adopted that’s more fun than a shelter.

According to Executive Director Kelsey Maccombs, all of the proceeds from the adoption fees and coffee will go toward feeding, housing and spaying or neutering the cats until they find their forever home.

“I knew a lot about cats and worked in rescue for six years,” Maccombs said. “I was working as a secretary at Michigan State University and I was in a spot where I needed to do something different. This weirdly felt totally right. I decided on Sunday I wanted to do it. By Monday, had a business plan and board of directors the following week.” 

Maccoombs turned to crowdfunding on IndieGoGo.com to bolster her business plans. Supporters donated a total of $3,500 toward the business.

After being open for a few days, the cafe saw its first cat adoption out of 15 kittens.

“It was really overwhelming. I’d seen this woman come in Saturday night. I saw her walk back in and thought, ‘Oh my God, it is happening. We’re doing this,’” Maccombs said.   

“Our whole purpose of our nonprofit is to find cats a home. All those 16 hour days were totally worth it.”

The first cat cafe opened in Taiwan in 1998, seeking to give young people with apartments that don’t allow pets the companionship of an animal. The movement blossomed shortly after in Asian metropolises like Tokyo, which is home to 57 cat cafes as of 2015. Constellation Cat Cafe is the fourth cat cafe to open in Michigan.

“People should come in with an open mind that cats do what they want to do,” Maccombs said.

“We have enough where to at least one would want to play with you at any given time and one would like to snuggle you. Coming in at different times of the day also gives a different experience. Some of them get the zoomies in the morning, but after 3 p.m. is cat nap time.”

Cordoned off into two rooms, the cat cafe keeps its coffee shop separate from the cat room. Beverages are allowed in both. Admission to the cat room is $8. Volunteers can get in for free. 

Also, Constellation’s coffee bar is not an afterthought. It is fully equipped with locally roasted 517 Coffee Co. beans, espresso machines and sourced teas from Ann Arbor, making it a formidable coffee dig able to compete with the coffee-only shops.

“Coffee is for everyone. We want to meet people where they are at. We want to be knowledgeable without being pretentious,” Maccombs said.

The goal for Maccombs is to have at least one cat adopted per week. All cats available for adoption are up to date on shots and neutered. A one-time, $125 adoption fee and screening is required to see if the purchaser is a responsible pet owner.

“If you can switch and just buy your morning latte here, you will be paying the same price, with all of the profit going toward cats and animal rescue locally.”

The cafe is in its soft opening stage ahead of a grand opening Oct. 12 and 13.

Constellation Cat Cafe

Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

3320 E. Lake Lansing Rd., East Lansing

(517) 273-2233, www.constellationcatcafe.com