by Alyssa Nader
Alyssa Nader is a volunteer with Rattie Ratz Rescue in the bay area of California. Each month KRL will be featuring at least one animal rescue adventure story, and every other month there will be one from Rattie Ratz.
Many of us have heard about cat cafés, which originated in Taiwan and became a beloved craze in Japan, where tourists and residents alike can now choose from the over 150 kitty cafés that are open in the country. Guests can relax and enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee, basking in the company of animal friends as the cats roam about, a welcome break from the grind of everyday life.
Similar cafés have popped up in the US and even the Bay Area, like San Francisco’s KitTea. It’s cute, it’s fun and it’s often for a great cause. Many of these new cafés take on a kindhearted focus, featuring adoptable animals and increasing education about adopting rather than purchasing pets.
Cats are cool and all, but at Rattie Ratz, we may be bit biased towards a different animal companion. We host bi-monthly adoption events in which interested people can come interact with volunteers, learn about and interact with rats and take home a rattie friend of their own.
Check out that menu!
While coffee and rats sounds like a typical morning for a rat lady like me, the Black Rat Café will be the first of its kind, and an unforgettable way to start the day. Guests can enjoy coffee, tea, pastries in a “Barbary coast-inspired bistro setting” while they interact with ambassador rats. Afterwards, they can go on to experience the Dungeon, an immersive theater experience.
I take my coffee black, and my rats grayish black
And of course, this is about the animals: rats who need a forever home. If guests bond with their rattie companion, they can take them home or meet another adoptable rat through Rattie Ratz. Either way, they will walk away caffeinated and changed, with a new perspective on our sweet, furry friends, who are often so misunderstood.
The immersive pop-up will be open on July 1st and July 8. More info, including reservations, can be found here.
A behind-the-scenes look of our rattie model
If a regular adoption event is more your speed, come check Rattie Ratz out and feel free to bring your own coffee along. We will supply the rats.
Rattie Ratz is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to help all domesticated ratties who come to us find a loving, forever home.
Rattie Ratz: Rescue, Resource, & Referral
Click here to email us at: info@rattieratz[dot]com
Call us at: (415) 340-1896
If you would like to know more about Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their Facebook page. If you are interested in adoptable rats or volunteering for Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their website: www.rattieratz.com.
Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Rattie Ratz every other month. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Rattie Ratz.
I know it cost a lot to go in, but where does the monies go for? No one could give me an answer. Please I would really like to know. Thanks.
Hi Linda – as far as we know the money will be going to The Dungeon (the same as if a regular ticket was purchased). The rescue is simply there to help promote and educated the public on rats and rat adoptions.
Thanks. It would be nice if some of the monies went to Rattie Ratz.
This is one of the most ingenious events about which I’ve ever heard! What an awesome way to expose our wonderful rattie friends, who are so misunderstood and maligned. Way to go, Rattie Ratz!
I’m with you on that.