INDIANAPOLIS -- It's no secret that people love their coffee.
An Indianapolis woman and her father are hoping to use that love to help cats find homes.
They’re opening Nine Lives Cat Cafe at 1315 Shelby Street in Fountain Square.
"We first heard stories of cat cafes in other countries years ago and thought it was the coolest idea," said Selena Hubbard.
Cat cafes are especially popular in Japan where people can sip their coffee and cuddle with a cat at the same time.
Due to health regulations that type of set up wouldn’t work here in the U.S.
But a few years ago, cat cafes with rooms to separate felines from food and drink started popping up around the country. There are now more than two dozen of them.
Selena and her dad decided they really wanted to bring one to Indianapolis.
"A common misconception is that the cats will be crawling over the counters while we prepare the drinks, but that is against health code," said Selena.
Nine Lives Cat Cafe will have a wall that separates the cats from the restaurant. There will be a door to enter and exit the cat room.
People can bring food and drinks into the cat room if they'd like, or they can eat outside the cat area and go inside when they are finished.
The cat cafe is only for rescue animals that need homes.
The Hubbards are working with a local shelter but aren't ready to announce an official partnership just yet.
They hope to have Nine Lives open later this summer.
