Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon Riley

Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon Riley


Purr-suing Passion: Launching a Cat Café & Empowering Women in Business

April 23, 2025

This week on the podcast, we’re thrilled to share a conversation that’s as heartwarming as a kitten curled up in a sunbeam. We sat down with Kat, the visionary behind a brand-new cat café that’s more than just a cute concept—it’s a bold entrepreneurial leap powered by passion, purpose, and plenty of purrs.

Starting a business is never easy, and as a woman navigating the world of small business ownership, Kat brings honesty, creativity, and courage to the journey. From building a welcoming space where people can relax with adoptable cats, to launching unique merch and time-based cat-cuddle sessions, she’s truly crafting something special for the community.

In this episode, we talk:

  • How Kat turned her dream into reality
  • The challenges (and joys!) of opening a cat café
  • Why supporting women-owned businesses matters
  • What’s next for the café—including sneak peeks at merch and experiences
  • And of course... so much cat talk