One kind former veterinary nurse is helping save cats’ lives in Florida with a unique and adorable mobile lounge. As more kittens and cats need help in Central Florida, the traveling lounge keeps them out of shelters and carries them to the perfect human companions.
Kitten season – That means tons and tons of kittens are born across the country. Starting in spring, the shelters and rescues become overcrowded and full of tiny little floofs. If they aren’t adopted after a certain period of time, many shelters will sadly have to perform euthanasia to make room for more cats. It’s heartbreaking and upsetting for cat lovers to know this. But there is new idea from a woman on a mission to end euthanasia in her county.
Botany Cats and The Mobile Lounge
“The Crystal Gems: (Left to right) Malachite, Mica, Jade, and Jasper.” Images via Facebook/Botany Cats
Central Florida’s First Mobile Cat Lounge and Plant Nursery
Botany Cats is based in Lakeland, Florida. Described as “Central Florida’s first mobile cat lounge and plant nursery,” the establishment was started by Janette DeLoach after she visited a cat cafe in Orlando.
“Being a veterinary nurse for most of my adult life and a cat mom since I was 4, this concept of a fun and, most importantly, relaxing space to meet a new pet was eye opening. Cats have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health by lowering stress levels, heart rates, and boosting positivity. The adoption experience should be the same. Calmer humans + stress free cats = forever homes found,” DeLoach writes on her website.
Cats and Cat-Safe Plants
Thus, Botany Cats was born. And the company is mobile! The cats, and the cat-safe plants, are in a refurbished camper that can travel around Polk County. People pay to spend time in a relaxing environment with the kitties and find out which one is right for them, or even if adopting a pet is in their wheelhouse.
And look at the mobile lounge! It’s the cutest thing ever, isn’t it? For a cat lover who also loves plants, what could be better? But, it’s much more than cute, helping save cats’ lives and bring joy to people’s lives too!
“A relaxing, homey way to spend time with cats and see if you want to adopt one. I made it mobile so that I can travel to cat cafes and breweries and farmer’s markets.,” DeLoach said.
Janette, owner of Botany Cats- a first-of-its-kind hybrid cat adoption lounge/ plant nursery
The mobile cat lounge is the only one in the country so far. DeLoach wanted a way to help prevent cats from ending up at animal control. She also partners with the SCPA of Florida to take in the cats, so the shelter has more space.
Polk County’s Feral Problem and Botany Cats’ Mission to End Euthanasia
DeLoach’s cute mobile lounge is helping find homes for cats in Polk County, where feral cats are common.
“Polk County has a huge feral problem. There’s a cat on every street that you walk on. There are so many cats going to Animal Control and therefore so many are being euthanized. It’s heartbreaking, it really is,” DeLoach told ABC Action News (see video below).
Video by ABC Action News:
According to the interview, DeLoach gets about three to four calls weekly from people telling her they have homeless cats in their backyard. She then captures the cats, takes them to get their vaccinations, spayed and neutered, then to their temporary home in the adorable camper.
Because the lounge is mobile, she finds opportunities to interact with the public where they like to go, such as at local eateries in Lakeland. Thus, she can raise awareness and make valuable contacts with people who may be looking for a companion or want to help cats.
This entire concept is to help prevent euthanasia in Polk County, and DeLoach hopes this will end it altogether.
Thank you so much, Janette, for making all the difference in your area to help these beautiful cats! If you are in the Central Florida area and would like to adopt one of the cats from Botany Cats or schedule a reservation, you can do so here.
Janette with Ava the cat
REMEMBER: SPAY/NEUTER, FOSTER, VOLUNTEER, TNR & AS ALWAYS, ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!
“When adopting a cat from us be warned
some assembly may be required!”
Photo by Botany Cats/Facebook
