Cat cafe planned for downtown Batavia

A cat cafe, where patrons can visit with adoptable felines, plans to open in downtown Batavia.

The Batavia City Council will vote on the plan for Kitty Cocoa Cafe on Monday night. Earlier this week, aldermen, meeting as a committee of the whole, gave a preliminary thumbs-up.

Alderman Christopher Solfa said his family has visited similar cafes in Florida.

“My daughters love it, and they told me I better vote to approve it,” Solfa said.

On Monday, the council will decide whether to update the city’s zoning code to allow pet cafes downtown and whether to grant a conditional-use permit to Kitty Cocoa Cafe. If approved, the business will be at 139 First St. in a space formerly occupied by a veterinarian’s practice.

The cats will not roam freely. They will be in a glass-walled room and will not be allowed in the food preparation or service areas.

People will pay for 15-minute increments of cat time, according to the cafe’s application.

The cafe will serve coffee, cocoa and baked goods.

The owner, Alyssa Biala, said she will work with local shelters to get the cats adopted and that the adoptions would be processed through those organizations.

It would be allowed to have no more than 10 cats at a time.

“I think it will be interesting to see how it pans out,” said Alderman Alan Wolff, noting there aren’t any similar businesses in nearby towns.

ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com