An unusual cafe in Grodno where a cat named Tuman holds the position of director

"Who's squeaking there?.."

This cafe is primarily a home for cats who have fallen into trouble and are looking for a new family. Initially, all rescue operations and temporary housing were at the couple's home, but at some point, it became clear that all the tailed residents wouldn't fit there. Thus, the decision was made to create a space where pets could live comfortably and bring joy to other people.

"It all started 15 years ago with our family story," says Volha. "My husband and I had just gotten married and went to help my parents in the village. As we were working in the garden beds, we heard a piercing squeak. We went to see what it was and found a tiny kitten in the potato patch. It was very small. The neighbors said the mother cat had disappeared, and without her, the little one wouldn't have survived.

We consulted with my husband and decided to take the kitten. We already had a cat, but we couldn't leave it in distress. We planned to get the little one on its feet and then give it away, but we got used to it and couldn't say goodbye. At that moment, we realized that caring for cats brought us joy. And periodically, boarders would appear in our house, whom we would rehome."

Into Good Hands

Then the couple started thinking about how to centralize aid for animals. That's how the cat cafe came to be. Thanks to Volha and Andrei, 57 cats have found their homes.

Currently, the number of residents here varies at different times. Each has its own story, its own character. They are all well-cared for, with shiny fur. Some residents are very sociable, while others observe people from a distance.

The hosts offer guests tea and coffee, which can be enjoyed from cups, naturally, with cat themes. The fluffy residents walk nearby; especially curious ones jump onto laps and purr. It turns out to be a kind of therapy. The fluffy ones are very playful, easily engaging in active fun.

"We created this place to help animals. Not for profit – all funds from entrance tickets go to the needs of the cats. They come to us from the street, through volunteers. We treat them all, sterilize them, vaccinate them," explains Volha.

There are also unusual stories.

"Once, we traveled to Lida for a cat. A girl there tried to rehome the animal, but she didn't succeed, and her parents wouldn't allow her to keep the kitten at home," recalls the owner. "Our old-timer Leia is from the Vitebsk region. We were vacationing at a sanatorium. There was a forest all around, and a small village shop near which Leia lived. She was so thin! She ate everything, even bread. Of course, we couldn't leave her like that. And behind her came... five more kittens. We decided to take them all. Families were found for the kittens, and the mother cat stayed with us.

Those cats that don't find a home remain in the cat cafe, but in my opinion, that's how it should be, because each has its own role. Tuman is a true leader; he has been appointed director, and he even has an employment record. And Tiger is a true cat-nanny; he helps new residents adapt and teaches kittens the wisdom of cat life."

"My Support"

Volha emphasizes that in caring for her four-legged friends, she always found positive emotions, and in difficult moments, they became her salvation. By profession, Volha is a lawyer; she is an associate professor and a candidate of legal sciences, having worked for many years at Yanka Kupala Grodno State University. However, due to illness, she had to leave her job.

"During a walk, a tick attached itself. The consequences were serious; I couldn't walk for a year, recovered for a very long time, and cats greatly helped me cope. You know, symptoms might not appear immediately.

After the bite, I took all necessary measures. But symptoms began to manifest a couple of years later, and initially, doctors couldn't understand what was wrong. Therefore, it's very important to use special repellents and monitor carefully," warns Volha.

But, of course, despite all the advantages of such volunteer activity, it's not an easy task. Every animal has its own character. Unfortunately, not all can be saved; sometimes, cats become very seriously ill.

Volha and Andrei are convinced that all this is not in vain. Even if one cat finds a home, it's already a victory. And this is important, especially since almost 60 fluffy creatures have already found families where they are loved.

You can visit the cat cafe by prior appointment. And as gifts for the cats, you can bring toys, food, or litter.

• 4
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 5