Vancouver's Catoro cat cafe, the Studio Ghibli-themed cat forest where locals can hang out with rescued felines, is once again facing closure due to financial difficulties.
In January 2023, a fundraising campaign brought in more than $100,000 to keep the cats sheltered at the business at 666 E Broadway.
Now, almost two years later, owners Annah van Eeghen and Dan Wilson have launched another GoFundMe and are looking to raise $50,000.
"We're asking for a smaller number because we are in a bit better shape," Wilson says.
When the pair bought the business in 2022, it was in debt for around $350,000. Since then, things have trended in the right direction, but finances are still tight.
"We're feeling really hopeful that in the future we won't be having to make these large asks," says van Eeghen.
Catoro has 40 to 50 cats under their care at any given time, with some staying off-site at foster homes. Since it opened in 2019, more than 1,500 rescue cats have been re-homed.
On top of the usual costs associated with running a retail or food business in Vancouver, they have to pay for cat supplies.
Part of the issue is vet costs for the cats. Normally vet costs run up to $20,000 per year, but that doesn't include specialized cases.
Recently one cat was surrendered to Catoro to re-home because their owner couldn't afford the insulin costs, and the cat had fallen quite ill. The bill for a six-day stint at the veterinarian was $8,500. Luckily a single donor stepped in to help, but van Eeghen says that's not the case every time.
Recently, to make sure they had supplies for the cats, Wilson sold tickets he'd bought for Bruce Springsteen's Vancouver concert. Springsteen is one of his favourite musicians.
"I'd do anything in my power to prioritize our cats," he says. "The day of the show came, and I would have felt guilty if I knew I had a resource to put towards the care of these rescue cats and not utilized it."
So far they've raised more than $19,000 in a few days.
"We're so incredibly happy and so grateful," says van Eeghen.
Restructuring
Currently, Catoro is a for-profit business.
That's not the long-term plan, though. Wilson and van Eeghen are planning to restructure it if they can make it through the current financial situation.
It's a difficult process, says van Eeghen, but she's hopeful once that's done they'll have access to different avenues for financial aid.
A new structure, literally
Catoro is facing the need to re-home itself soon. A new tower with 113 condos, 24 social housing units, and commercial space on the ground floor has been proposed for their block.
They expect to have to move in the next year or two, says van Eeghen, though hopefully not too far.
"Our long-term goal is to be able to relocate inside the neighbourhood we're in," she says. "We love East Van."
However, they haven't begun looking for a new home as they need to get through the current situation first.
Visiting
Catoro currently has 16 cats in its cat forest and people can visit them by appointment.
"They are happy to meet all the guests that come in the doors, and they're getting lots of playtime," says van Eeghen.
