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Sunshine Kitty Catfe

@sunshinekitty_catfe

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Tampa Bay's Premier Cat Lounge 😻
Thanks for 3+ cat-tastic years, friends! ❤️

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Today marks two years since we had our final day of cat lounge visitors and said "Goodbye for now." Feels like it was forever ago and yesterday at the same time. It's still too heavy of a thought to think about for too long, so how about some of those adoption updates I promised?

The sweet spreads litter...all super sweet, super cuddly, super adorable, and adopted right away!

#209 Peanut Butter! This guy went home with another local boss lady business owner who was looking for a buddy for her sweet older pup, Wakefield. It took a little time for PB to warm up (maybe 5 days max 😂) but now they are besties! This cuddly guy still loves a good lap nap, enjoys watching hockey with his mom, and just wants to be anywhere she or the pupper goes. A purrfect match! (Just had to share some bonus pics of PB because his mom is so good at catching the most adorable moments on camera 🥰)

#211 Nutella! This goofy guy wasn't in the lounge for very long. His new family wasn't necessarily looking to adopt yet (isn't that how it always goes?) but the little boy absolutely fell in love with Nutty and the rest is history. This cutie has an older kitty sibling and settled into his new home quickly!

#212 Marmalade! Now named Lily, sweetheart of all sweethearts, this gentle girl had a way of melting your insides when she would come and plop down on your chest or lap and curl up for a snooze. We knew she'd be an easy addition to her new home where she has a kitty and doggy sister. It's no surprise that it was only a matter of days before she was getting along peacefully with the other furry kiddos at home, taking naps on her new mom's lap, and enjoying the warm sun in her cozy window bed 🥰

Such a purrfect trio of kittens who went to the most purrfect homes! Congrats babies, so happy for you and your families! ❤️ #SKCyalater #catfealumni #throwback

(Skipped #210 on purpose....that one gets her very own post and you'll understand why when I share it 🥳) by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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a year ago

Unpopular topic: Let's talk about GRIEF...

Grief obviously shows up with the major losses such as a loved one's passing or saying goodbye to a beloved pet. But grief is there in other transitions of life as well, even if they are positive changes: job loss, closing a business, a big promotion, retirement, health changes, chronic illness or injury, breakups, divorce, friendships fading, becoming an empty-nester, graduation, pregnancy and welcoming a new baby, moving to a new home or city. Grief also shows up subtly in ambiguous moments, and we mourn things that might have been, what could have been, and what never was - a painful acknowledgement that the relationship or thing you longed for or goal you dreamed of may never materialize or didn't turn out as you'd hoped.

Grief is an unavoidable part of the human experience and everyone grieves in their own way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and it is a deeply personal journey. Grief changes you and it can make you do things that don't make sense.

I've personally endured multiple devastating losses and life changes over the past 5 years, and closing Sunshine Kitty Catfe is one I thought I needed and was prepared for but haven't actually wanted to face because it was both a major and ambiguous loss at the same time. So after we closed on 11.5.2023, I went quiet. The thought of posting about our last handful of adoptions was paralyzing and overwhelming and doing so meant acknowledging that the SKC dream was really over, forever. It's still a thought I can't stomach because I miss our kitty community, that beautiful, peaceful cat lounge, and all those sweet kitties so, so, so freaking much. I apologize for going dark and not closing out the SKC chapter with the ending it (and you) deserved two years ago when it was happening. It may seem silly to some, but I want to do it now, to honor the final kitties and the families who adopted them, and to give a proper #SKCyalater to you, the loyal Sunshine Kitty friends and family. So please stay tuned for those posts in the next several days. Thank you for understanding and sticking around during these difficult times...it means more than you could ever know ❤️ by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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a year ago

Need a distraction from the weight of this election day?

Ironically, today marks one year since Sunshine Kitty had visitors for the very last time, and there are still a handful of adoptions I'd like to honor that I haven't shared after all this time. Why? It doesn't really matter (or maybe it does), but perhaps I'll share about that in another post. For now, here is a heartwarming adoption update to make you smile!

#207 Kikyo! Total babe, pure sweetheart, and just a *touch* of sass, this kitty was a crowd favorite! Her new mom fell in love with her quickly and was ready to take her home immediately, but I encouraged her to spend a little more time with all the kitties to be really sure that Kikyo was "the one." Turns out, she had no doubt about adopting Kikyo but then got to thinking that maybe she needed to adopt a second kitty so Keeks would have a friend 🥹 She asked me to play matchmaker (my favorite!) and suggest some kitties who would be best matched with Kikyo, which ultimately led to....

#208 Hutch!! This sweet girl came to us when she was just 4 or 5 months old, and she spent 14 months in total at the Catfe waiting for her forever home 😭 She watched many other cats get adopted, including her brother Starsky, and I could see her becoming more and more withdrawn as time wore on, and she honestly didn't make the best impression on her new mom the first time they interacted (Hutch was aloof and elusive to pets despite her potential adopter's best efforts 😂). But her soft, rabbit-like fur and my reassurance that Hutchy just takes some time to warm up to new people were enough to get this girl the chance she deserved.

These two kitties were pretty indifferent to each other at the Catfe, so I figured they would coexist peacefully in a home together. Well, the surprise ending to this story is that Kikyo, now named Betsy, and Hutch, now named Rabbit, became the best of friends and love cuddling, grooming each other, and watching the birds and squirrels outside together! I'm SO happy for these two girls and their sweet mom who couldn't be happier with her choice to adopt these babies together ❤️ #SKCyalater by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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2 years ago

Happy Caturday! Time to share some looooooong overdue adoption updates, starting with this cutie pie 😻

#206 Tiger Eye! Having just recently moved to St Pete, this family wasn't necessarily looking to adopt when they visited the cat lounge...but isn't that how it always goes? 😹 This guy is a super sweet snuggle bug and by the end of their visit they were texting pictures of Tiger to dad at home to get him on board with the adoption. Dad said yes and this sweet boy was headed home not too long afterwards!

Here's where the plot twist comes in: we all thought Tiger Eye was just an incredibly chill kitten (he is, but....) but unfortunately, just a few weeks after he was adopted he started losing weight and stumbling around the house, unable to jump on furniture or use the litter box. Within a couple of days of showing symptoms, he was diagnosed with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) 😿

FORTUNATELY, we have experience with this and his family wanted to do everything they could to try and save him, so we acted swiftly and got him started on the rigorous 84 days of shots to treat the FIP.

Fast forward to over 6 months later....Tiger did GREAT with the treatment and is past his 84 day post-medication observation period and thriving!! 🎉🎉🎉 We have another #FIPWARRIOR on our hands, folks!!

This little guy is a trooper and his family loves him SO much (even his older kitty sister who found him very annoying at first 😂). He's still as sweet as ever and never misses an opportunity to snuggle with everyone in his family, including his doggy sister 🥹 Another happy SKC adoption story, and I am so proud of this family for pushing through the FIP obstacles to help this guy live his very best kitty life! Congrats to Tiger and his family! ❤️ #SKCyalater by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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2 years ago

Today would have been Sunshine Kitty's 4 year anniversary. Somehow it's been seven months since we closed, and I wanted to tell you guys that I miss all of you very much. The DMs and emails saying hello, or that you miss the Catfe, or sending updates about a kitty (or kitties) you adopted from SKC, the views and likes on stories that I share....y'all are still so supportive even after the fact and it's my favorite thing about making my cat cafe dream come true (besides the cats, of course 🥰)....this community of genuine, kind, cat-loving friends. Today is a bittersweet day because....well, if you ever visited Sunshine Kitty, then you know why ❤️

Thanks for still being here. I left you guys kinda hanging all those months ago when there are still many more wonderful adoption stories to share. The story's not over and I promise I will share more soon! Happy Sunshine Kitty Day! 🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛ by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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2 years ago

Meet Katy Purry and Huey Lewis! These siblings have been at the Catfe for nearly a year waiting for their forever home 😿 Both are a little reserved with their affections initially and just need someone to see their potential and give them a chance! We would love for them to be adopted together, but it is not required.

Katy Perry is a gorgeous, petite, and oh-so-sweet kitty! Though she might be shy at first, she's always out and about, never hiding. Once she gets to know you, she'll rub against your legs constantly to show her affection and flop down on her back for belly rubs. Katy loves wrestling with her kitty friends and playing with her cat toys, especially plastic springs, which she picks up in her mouth and carries around the Catfe. Katy enjoys the company of other polite cats and would be happy in a home with another playful kitty, but she would be ok as a solo cat as well.

Looking for a mini house panther? Then Huey Lewis is your guy! This handsome kitty is friendly, playful, and generally easygoing (unless it's dinner time, then he's all business). Huey is a fantastic companion to both humans and other pets. He is a little hesitant with petting initially, but once he trusts you to pick him up he loves to cuddle and will start purring immediately! Huey loves to play and cuddle with other kitties and would be happiest in a forever home with at least one other playful cat, but he would be ok as solo kitty as well. Huey has an auto-immune condition that currently requires medication once a day, but we're hoping he can eventually be weaned off that once he's in a quieter, stable home environment.

All Katy and Huey really want is a family and a home to call their own. If you weren't able to snag a visit this weekend, send an email to inquire about these sweetest of sweet babies! 🖤 taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

Happy Halloween! The most haunting thing about today is realizing that this weekend is the last of kitty visits before we close forever. We're not relocating, folks, this is it 🙀

Only a handful of spots remain, so if you want to get in a visit, book meow! After November 5th, Sunshine Kitty will be but a fond memory *dun dun dunnnnnn*

We still have several kitties who want to be adopted! Please don't make us send them back to foster homes 😿 One of those kitties waiting for their forever home is Coraline, featured in the photo. She's our resident wobbly kitty (Google Cerebellar Hypoplasia in cats!) and we can't believe she hasn't found her purrfect home yet. Coraline might walk a little funny, but she is sweet, playful, affectionate, and totally adorable! Her CH doesn't slow her down, but her ideal forever home should be a quiet one and have only 1 or 2 other polite pets who are known to be gentle with cats since Coraline's condition makes it harder for her to sense danger and defend herself. Coraline would be ok as a solo kitty, too!

Wishing everyone a spooktacular day and we hope to see you this weekend! 🎃👻 taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

Adoption update to make your Monday a little less Monday-ish…

#202 Ozzie! This silly floof and his siblings found themselves in foster care after their owner passed away unexpectedly, and it was so rewarding to watch this guy come out of his shell in our lounge. It wasn’t long before he was strutting around like he owned the place and found himself his new forever home shortly after that! Now he’s kitty king of his own castle and when he’s not cuddling with his new mom and dad, he’s hunting lizards on the screened-in patio like a boss 🦎

#203 Venice & #204 Paris! All the kittens from this litter are super affectionate with anyone who crosses their path, so it came as no surprise when these two sisters found their forever home within days of arriving at the Catfe. Don’t let Venice’s face fool you, she was truly happy to go home with her mom, but we forced her to take a family photo during nap time 😴 Now named Polly and Annie, these girls can usually be found snuggling with mom during “Dancing With the Stars” watch parties or keeping their new doggy siblings on their toes with their antics around the house. They’ve also become honorary employees at their mom’s job because they are always “supervising” and “helping out” when she’s on her daily zoom calls and they’re a big hit with everyone in the office 😂 We expect they’ll be getting promoted any day now!

#205 Dublin! Equally as cuddly and sweet as his sisters, this guy also found his forever home pretty quickly. His new moms visited one day and weren’t necessarily expecting to adopt since they recently had to say goodbye to their senior kitty, but they fell in love with this sweetheart and you know how the rest of the story goes…Dublin ended up being a surprise for their young daughter’s birthday and the two have been inseparable since he arrived home. He’s also already besties with his new doggy sister, Bonnie, too! There’s no doubt this guy is truly the purrfect match for his new family 💚

Congrats to our adopted kitties and their new families! 🎉 #SKCyalater taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

More adoptions to share! Don’t forget (as if we could forget 🙁), the Catfe is closing and your last day to visit is November 5th, so book your appointment to visit meow!

#198 Salem! A friendly stray rescued shortly after one of last year’s hurricanes, this sweetheart mesmerized us with her silky soft black fur and cute little nose, and her affections were plentiful for any humans that paid her any attention. Now named Luna, this kitty is content as can be living the indoor cat life with her new mom and dad! 🖤

#199 Miley and #200 Dolly! What a pair! Affectionate, playful, adorable….what’s not to love?! After recently enduring the loss of their beloved senior kitty, this family didn’t even have adoption on their radar when they visited. However, these two sisters snuggled their way into their new cat dad’s heart in a matter of minutes and adoption was suddenly the goal when it came time to leave the lounge that day. Now named Uma and Sabine, their cat mom sent a sweet thank you note to share that these girls are living their very best happy kitty lives, are as spoiled as can be (we wouldn’t want it any other way), and their family is so grateful to have them in their lives! 💖

#201 Snowie! This handsome fella came to us from the @kneadykittyrescue after his previous owner was no longer able to care for him properly. Snowie seemed pretty depressed after such a big life change and just napped most days rather than socializing or playing with anyone, but he was always gentle and polite and even had occasional full-on zoomies moments, so we knew he was on the path to healing. His new mom read about Snowie’s story on Petfinder and had to meet him, so she booked a visit and the rest is history! This sweet boy, with a frosty white coat (except for his curiously unique black tail and nether regions) and piercing ocean blue eyes, was getting adopted! The very same night they brought Snowie home, he was rolling around on the bed, purring and accepting belly rubs. A month after adoption day, he’s now a snuggly lap cat, has befriended his doggy roommate, Sheeba, and is happier than we’ve ever seen him! 💙

Congrats to our kitties and their new families!! 🎉 #SKCyalater taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

This adoption gets its own post because it’s a purrfect example of how the cat doesn’t always “choose” you at first…

#196 Felix! This guy’s new parents visited the Catfe with the intention of adopting, and mom was drawn to Felix because he's so darn cute. He was kinda shy and hanging out away from everyone else in the lounge minding his own business, but she felt a connection with him even though he was timid and felt safest just sitting on the stairs with her. I told her that Felix takes time to trust new people and that he is actually a very loving, cuddly, funny kitty once he gets to know you, so she decided to give him a chance.

Fast forward to today: to say this kitty has blossomed in his new home would be an understatement! He now goes by the name Gatsby and he is happier, sillier, and cuddlier than we ever imagined he could be! Follow Gatsby’s antics and adventures @gatsbythegent (the last 6 pics are just a preview of what you can expect 😹😻). He is such a goof and it’s been so rewarding to watch his beautiful journey from being a hissy, semi-feral kitten to becoming the sweet, silly kitty he is now! 🖤

We all want that fairytale story of how a kitty crawled into our laps and said “take me home” with their loving purr, but honestly, that is pretty rare. Many of our kitties have been here a while and are so used to people coming and going, they need someone who is willing to spend a few extra moments connecting with them in a different way and who will trust the matchmaker (me) and take a chance on them.

Let me help you create your own kitty adoption love story! I’m really good at what I do (*humble brag*) and would love to match you with your purrfect kitty companion. Book a visit to meet our kitties and let’s get all 13 remaining babies adopted before we close on November 5th! 😭🤞💕 #SKCyalater taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

I know I shared some tough news in our last post. Here’s an adoption update to hopefully make you smile…

#194 Cindy! This sweet senior girl ended up in foster care back in 2021 after her beloved owner passed away 😢 After more than 18 months of waiting, Cindy finally found her purrfect retirement home earlier this year! She loves having her new mom all to herself and I couldn’t be happier that our little Cinnybun finally has the peaceful, loving home she deserves.

#195 Kagome! Not surprisingly, this cuddly baby wasn’t in our lounge long before she stole the hearts of her new mom and dad, who just so happen to be HUGE anime and comic con fans. Inuyasha is actually their favorite manga series so this match was obviously meant to be! Gomey’s mom is an amazing costume maker…check out her work @scarletstitchery and maybe catch a glimpse of Kagome helping out from time to time!

(we’ll come back to #196…)

#197 Wiley! A good samaritan rescued this baby after she had been attacked by another animal outside (presumably a coyote, hence her name). It took her some time to recover from her injuries, but she was always sweet and friendly through it all. Once her wounds healed, she made her way to the Catfe and stole the hearts of many with her cuddly nature and hilarious zoomies. Wiley wasted no time settling into her new home, cuddling on the couch with her new cat dad the very first night and taking her role as Queen of the household very seriously. All hail Queen Wiley! 👑

These stories are the best part of the job ❤ Congrats to our kitties and their new families! #SKCyalater taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago

👋 Hello, friends! Important announcement incoming…

After more than 3 years of being St Pete’s and Tampa Bay’s OG cat lounge, Sunshine Kitty Catfe will be closing in just a few short weeks. I don’t have additional details to share right now (please don’t ask) other than the fact that *November 5th* is the last day our Cat Lounge will be open for visits 😿 So if visiting has been on your bucket list or you’ve been thinking of adding a new kitty friend to your family, this is your sign to book your appointment meow! To those of you who have visited countless times already and have come to know and love everything that is SKC, we love you too and would of course love to see you one last time as well!

After everything it took to get to where we are now, it is surreal to be sharing this news, and I’m sure it is just as surreal to be reading it. The reality of the situation has not quite sunk in yet, so let’s instead keep the happy kitty vibes going….here’s a long overdue adoption update to soften the blow…

#193 Campfire! This handsome lovebug now answers to Pete (for St Pete!) and could not be happier in his new home with his new kitty sister, Fern! Pete’s cat dad was so excited and proud to be adopting, he asked if he could update the number on our adoption tally sign…how cute is that?! This adoption really shows off my matchmaking skills, if I do say so myself, and you can follow Pete and Fern’s blissfully happy kitty life @fernie.b_petey.p 🤩 Congrats to Pete and his new family! 🎉

More updates to come, but in the meantime…please visit! Let’s get all the remaining kitties in our lounge adopted before we close! 🙏 #SKCyalater taken in Sunshine Kitty Catfe by @sunshinekitty_catfe

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3 years ago