June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month: Expand your family by four paws

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. Throughout the country, many cats and kittens can be found in shelters and other establishments, awaiting their forever homes.

Locally, the Taney County Animal Control and two humane societies – The Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society and the Tri-Lakes Humane Society – work diligently to care for both dogs and cats who have been abandoned, surrendered or otherwise find themselves in need of shelter, as they strive to find homes for each animal.

Recently another venue for cat adoptions has joined forces with the Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society, in an effort to match cats to their forever homes.

Mochas and Meows is Branson’s only cat cafe. Owned and operated by Mary Trexler, Mochas and Meows offers visitors the opportunity to interact with the cats in their facility in a relaxed environment.

Guests can enjoy delicious food and a variety of refreshing beverages, relax in the cat lounge with Mochas and Meows free-roaming, adoptable kitties.

‘’I’m still fairly new, but my facility has seen about 200 cats pass through since we opened in 2019,” explained Trexler. “I found homes for 35 cats last year!”

All cats at Mochas and Meows have come to them through the Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society in Branson.

“We are a behavior-based facility, and it is my mission to find every cat that enters our lounge its perfect forever home,” said Trexler. “Not just the first home that comes along, no matter how long that takes.”

Trexler noted that, while many gravitate towards kittens, the addition of an adult cat to a household is often a wiser choice.

“You don’t really know a cat until it reaches social maturity, around two to three years old,” Trexler explained. “As a behaviorist, I constantly see and hear about cats who were given up due to ‘unruly’ behavior, when, in reality, the cat is just behaving as a cat naturally behaves. When a cat winds up in the shelter for any reason, but specifically behavior issues, they are less likely to be adopted, especially if they are featured alongside the cute, playful kittens. Because of things like these, when you adopt an older cat, you are oftentimes literally saving its life, giving it another lease on the life all cats deserve. An adult cat, especially a rescue cat, is likely to have trouble connecting with people or developing trusting relationships with humans. Adopting and loving a rescue cat can change its whole outlook on our entire species. And, what could be cooler than that?”

Picasso adopted Crystal Wolfe and her family.

Special to the Branson Globe

Branson Globe staff writer Cindy Thomas understands the benefits in adopting a cat.

“Dexter is a rescue kitty, actually our second one,” Thomas explained. “When Callie, our first cat, passed at age 19, our dog, Lacey (also a rescue) started behaving strangely. Figuring she was lonely, we went to the shelter to look for another cat. The shelter manager unlatched a cage with some cats. This little yellow guy came bursting out of the cage, sped over to me, and jumped up in my arms. I looked at my husband and said, ‘Well, I guess this is my cat.’

Thomas continued, ‘Unfortunately, Lacey really was ill and left us a few months later. It was as though Dexter tried to pick up the slack. He likes to cuddle and seems to know if I feel sad or depressed – he gets on my lap and tries to help. When we got home after my dad’s funeral, Dexter was waiting to crawl up and start patting my face with his paw. He also walks fairly well on a leash, most of the time, so he is the talk of the neighborhood. He plays nicely with children and he likes most dogs. He’s about three years old now, and I hope he is with us for a long time!”

Crystal Wolfe shared her adoption story. “We are a big dog family. Our last dog was a Newfoundland that topped the scale at 182 pounds. It was decided that, when he died, that would be our last pet. The kids would be grown, and it would be time to travel,” said Wolfe. “Our precious King Kennedy died the day after Christmas 2019. In April, 2021, I was at the local Humane Society Adoption Center. I was sitting on the couch waiting to talk to a dear friend of mine. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. By the time I turned to see what it was, it was too late. This shaved creature had run across the room and jumped onto me. It was hugging me and clinging on for dear life. I could not see its head, since it was hanging over my shoulder. I did not move, I was paralyzed with shock and a little fear.”

“Jayme Tabuchi, the Humane Society Executive Director heard the commotion and came out of her office,” Wolfe continued. “She told me not to move and explained that the poor baby had not moved since it arrived that morning. It had been shaved since it had matted hair so bad when it arrived. She begged me to foster it for the weekend. The poor thing was traumatized and did not need to be left over the weekend with little staff. Our family had never fostered a pet and I was not about to star. We did not want another pet, and we are not small dog people. I explained this to her and she smiled and explained that she would provide a pet carrier, food and whatever was needed. The frightened animal was still holding on and not letting go. She then told me that she would consider it a favor. I gave in. I cannot even begin to explain my shock and surprise when she lifted the animal off of my shoulder to find out that it was not a dog but a cat. A 32-pound cat named Picasso. He came home with me. I unloaded his supplies and did not say a word to my husband or the two children that were home that weekend. The cat laid on a chaise lounge in our living room and did not move for hours. When he was discovered, my husband was not thrilled, but I told him we were just fostering him for the weekend. We all went to sleep and I woke up to the cat lying between my husband and I in our bed. By the time Monday morning came, the cat had officially adopted us, and I returned to the adoption center to sign papers for his adoption. We are not cat people – we are Picasso people. He is our masterpiece and we are so lucky to have been picked by him to be his family.”

At Mochas and Meows, Trexler encourages potential pet parents to come meet her cats.

“Our adoption fee is $150 and begins in-store,” said Trexler. “We won’t accept an application on one of our cats until you’ve come in to visit, ensuring that our cats get a fair opportunity to make an emotional connection with all potential adopters.”

Mochas and Meows is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., located at 3265 Falls Parkway, Suite V, in Branson. Mochas and Meows encourages advance prepaid reservations, as they only allow 10 guests in the cat lounge at a time. For more information, visit their website, www.mochasandmeows.com.

“Cats are literally furry therapy. They even purr at a frequency that is believed to heal the human body,” explained Trexler. “Got a little extra room in your heart? Consider expanding your family by four paws!”