Last week it was announced that Vancouver cat cafe Catoro was at imminent risk of closure due to financial hardship.
Part bubble tea shop, part pet supply store, and part cat shelter, Catoro is a Mount Pleasant community hub for cat lovers. More than 830 cats have been adopted via the store.
Store manager Annah van Eeghen set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to keep Catoro open and yesterday it was announced that they were successful.
As of 8 p.m. Thursday, Catoro had raised more than their goal of $100,000 after a generous $5,000 donation pushed them over the age.
They will be able to remain open.
"I am so proud of Catoro and everything it stands for," says manager Shenna Divina in a statement posted to the GoFundMe page. "There were times where I thought, this is it, Catoro is going to close. Even so, we have somehow managed to keep going, to keep figuring it out, and to keep hoping for the best."
Divina thanked Catoro's "wonderful rescue partners" and "amazing community of adopters, customers, volunteers, and friends."
"While I can’t deny that the last three years have been exhausting, challenging and emotional, it has also been incredibly rewarding," reads the statement. "Each adoption reminds me of why we do what we do, and why I hope to continue doing it...There is so much more Catoro aspires to do, and with your help, we can do it together. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for helping us continue to provide care, food and safety to all the kitties who make a pit stop at Catoro before they find their fur-ever homes."
