Whiskers and Manes Cat Cafe opens at Wolfe Ranch
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — From left to right, Wolfe Ranch Office Manager Debbie Wilson, Erika Melchor and Rachel Buchanan of the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown and Wolfe Ranch Executive Director Beth Andrew pose for a photo inside the brand new Whiskers and Manes Cat Cafe.
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — The Chamber Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting and Q&A session for Whiskers and Manes on Friday afternoon.
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — From left to right, Wolfe Ranch Office Manager Debbie Wilson, Erika Melchor and Rachel Buchanan of the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown and Wolfe Ranch Executive Director Beth Andrew pose for a photo inside the brand new Whiskers and Manes Cat Cafe.
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — The Chamber Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting and Q&A session for Whiskers and Manes on Friday afternoon.
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Wolfe Ranch Executive Director Beth Andrew and her husband make a trip to the Bay Area every year, and during a recent trip, they stumbled upon a cat cafe in San Francisco and "fell in love." A few years later, they learned that a similar establishment had opened in Iowa and almost immediately decided to visit.
"We had a ball. We loved it," she said.
They enjoyed the experience of eating and drinking while interacting with felines so much that Andrew had the idea to open up her own version at the facility just southeast of Marshalltown along Highway 30, and she found an eager partner in the local chapter of the Animal Rescue League. Initially, the couple planned to wait until they retired to launch their own, but Andrew then realized she had the space right at the Ranch inside of the main building.
On Friday afternoon, Wolfe Ranch and ARL employees along with the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new space, which will be open by appointment only for the time being by calling (641) 752-6446. Essentially, it's two separate rooms: one where people can sit and enjoy bottled beverages and prepackaged food while watching the cats through a clear window, and the other where they can pet and hold the cats themselves, although no food or drink is allowed in the latter room. Merchandise will also be sold.
Andrew credited her office manager, Debbie Wilson, for instructing her to stop dragging her feet and move forward on making her vision a reality. The ARL stepped in to provide litter, food and most of the cats, along with one who was rescued off of the street in Newton.
"She gave me a kick in the rear and she's like 'We're doing it.' So we got the bids. We got the renovations, and we got with the great Animal Rescue League and we're here," she said. "So it's my dream, and I have to tell you, when they brought the cats, I got teary."
Of course, ARL of Marshalltown Executive Director Rachel Buchanan is hopeful the partnership will encourage cat adoption, and both she and Andrew are excited to present a one of a kind experience that is the first of its kind in the area. As Andrew put it before cutting the ribbon on the new venture Friday, incorporating animals into the services offered at Wolfe Ranch is a key part of their mission.
Never one to rest on her laurels, Andrew already has the ranch's next big project lined up -- renovating three of the bedrooms inside of the main lodge and turning them into Airbnb rentals. Wolfe Ranch is located at 2932 240th Street, Marshalltown.
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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.