Kitten Surprise

At nineteen, many young people have a hard enough time picking a college major, let alone deciding what to do for a career. But Nicala Teague was sure she wanted to make her community better by combining her two great passions. That’s why, in May, she opened Meow & Mocha Cat Cafe in Guthrie, where patrons can get a tasty treat and help felines find their forever homes.

“So many people are interested—people from all over,” Teague says, “people who are allergic to cats but their kids aren’t; people who can’t have cats; people who are looking for adoptions. There are so many different reasons to visit the café.”

Three of the Meow & Mocha cats belong to owner Nicala Teague, including Mr. Oscar. Photo by Brent Fuchs

From the beginning, Teague worked to build relationships with local animal rescues and animal welfare organizations to bring in cats. Teague says her business and other feline rescues are simply two sides of the same coin.

“At the end of the day, that cat is getting fed; that cat’s getting snuggles; that cat gets to lay on a couch all day and sunbathe, and that is what we need,” she says. “That’s what I love to see, and that’s the reason I started it.”

The results meow for themselves. In the café’s first two weeks, five cats found forever homes with loving owners. But it’s not just the kitties who benefit from Meow & Mocha. Comfort for everyone is Teague’s goal. A sign inside the door encourages visitors to “paws & reflect” as they grab a drink and de-stress. The café offers boba drinks and coffee with some seasonal creations, including a refreshing strawberry boba for summer and peppermint and pumpkin spice flavors for the fall. Visitors can relax on couches or lounge at tables, munch cookies and cake pops, and enjoy the murals Teague and an artistic friend painted throughout the shop.

Patrons are welcome to enjoy the café side as long as they like, but there are a few rules for Meow & Mocha visitors to follow if they want to make some new furry friends. They must book ahead on the café’s website, pick a time slot, and pay a small fee, which ensures there are not too many people for the cats’ comfort. Visitors also will be asked to sign a waiver, listen to a brief orientation, sanitize their hands, and take off their shoes before entering the sanctuary for the safety of the kitties.

“We want the cats to be comfortable,” Teague says.

Guests place their shoes on a rack outside the door of the cat lounge. On the other side sit at least six sofas as well as all the toys and scratching posts a feline could want. About twenty-five cats are perched or tucked away in every crevice of the 1,600-square-foot lounge space, waiting to play or curled up napping. Soft jazz plays over the speakers, and Teague keeps the area dim for maximum relaxation.

The cats at Meow & Mocha live in the café full time until they are adopted and leave for their forever homes. Photo by Brent Fuchs

“I’ve had moms text me and say, ‘Hey, I appreciate letting us have this moment, this hour, because my daughter is incredibly stressed, has so much anxiety, and she loved it. She was able to relax. She was able to bond with an animal.’ And that just brightens my day,” Teague says.

Teague also hopes to make a difference in Guthrie at large—for cats and people. She wants the café to be a community and event space in the future for movie nights, study parties, and more. Teague loves living and owning a business downtown and envisions it and the larger area as a destination full of history with something for everyone.

“I want café patrons also to go buy a T-shirt from down the road. I want them to go buy some freeze-dried candy from down the road,” Teague says. “I want them to enjoy the entire town, because that’s what community is.”

Teague’s cup of compassion is overflowing, and the cats and coffee lovers of Guthrie can’t stop purring about it.

Written By

Paige Willett