When Kitty Curiosity Floods a Cat Café: The Tale of the Purrfect Bean’s Temporary Closure
In the heart of Richmond, Virginia, what began as a heartwarming story of rescue cats finding homes through a unique business model has taken an unexpected turn. The Purrfect Bean, a beloved cat café that opened just this past summer, has been forced to close its doors until the end of the year following what can only be described as a feline-induced disaster. The culprit? A mischievous five-month-old Tuxedo kitten named Roller (formally known as Roll the Dice), whose playful antics led to a bathroom sink overflow that caused extensive damage throughout the two-story establishment. According to the café owners, Roller, known for his tendency to “sneak attack” his fellow cat companions, was engaged in a spirited tussle with a towel near a sink when the unfortunate incident occurred. While the café assured patrons that none of their furry residents were harmed during the flood, the water damage has proven catastrophic for the small business, requiring complete renovation of flooring, ceilings, and walls, not to mention replacement of expensive coffee equipment.
The incident, while devastating for the business, reveals the unpredictable joy and occasional chaos that comes with creating spaces where rescue animals and humans can interact. As water cascaded from the upstairs cat lounge down into the café space below, some of the resident cats remained comfortably perched on their lounging furniture, while others, as the owners amusingly noted, “enjoyed splashing around in the water.” This image of kittens finding unexpected delight in what humans perceive as disaster perfectly encapsulates the spirit of these unique creatures—adaptable, curious, and finding joy in the most unusual circumstances. The café’s rotating cast of adoptable cats, sporting creative names like Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Hole Punch, Hickory Dickory Dock, and Anastasia Romanov, have been temporarily relocated to their foster homes where they typically spend their nights when not “working” at the café.
Despite the setback, The Purrfect Bean has demonstrated remarkable resilience and community spirit. Recognizing the financial impact on their staff during the holiday season, the owners quickly organized a local pay-what-you-can fundraiser at Byrd Park, enlisting support from local food vendors including TikTok’s “The Tiramisu Guy” and a local Matcha cart called “Find Your Exit Plan.” Additionally, they established a GoFundMe campaign specifically to support their employees who now face unexpected unemployment during what should be the busiest and most profitable time of year. “We are beyond grateful to be in a city that is built on community,” the café crew wrote on Facebook, expressing their appreciation for the outpouring of support they’ve received since announcing the temporary closure.
The Purrfect Bean’s mission extends far beyond serving coffee and providing a space for cat cuddles. From its August opening through early November, the café has facilitated more than 100 successful cat adoptions, creating a tangible impact in addressing pet homelessness in their community. Each adoption is commemorated with a Polaroid photo of the cat with their new family, displayed on an overflowing corkboard near the front door—a visual testament to the café’s success in matching cats with loving homes. This celebration of new beginnings makes the temporary closure all the more poignant, as it interrupts not just a business operation but a vital community service that has proven extraordinarily effective in its short existence.
The extensive repairs required before reopening highlight the unique challenges faced by businesses that combine food service with animal rescue. The entire ground floor requires new flooring, ceilings, and walls, while the upstairs cat lounge bathroom needs significant repairs. Essential equipment, including the espresso machine and coffee grinder, must be replaced after suffering water damage. For a relatively new small business, such expenses could be devastating without community support. Yet in this challenge, the café has discovered the strength of the bonds they’ve built with their customers and the broader Richmond community, who have rallied around them with donations, shared their story across social media platforms, and committed to supporting their fundraising efforts.
What emerges from this unfortunate incident is a story not just about a business setback, but about the deep human-animal bond that fosters such unique establishments in the first place. Cat cafés like The Purrfect Bean exist at the intersection of entrepreneurship and compassion, creating spaces where people can experience the joy of animal companionship while supporting rescue efforts. The flooding incident—caused by nothing more than a playful kitten being exactly what it is meant to be—serves as a reminder that working with animals always involves an element of unpredictability. Yet as The Purrfect Bean looks toward reopening in the new year, their commitment remains unshaken. The café’s story has captured hearts beyond Richmond, reminding us that sometimes the most meaningful ventures are also the most vulnerable to life’s unexpected moments. As they rebuild, the image of Roller the kitten—innocent instigator of chaos—stands as a mascot for the beautiful unpredictability that comes with opening our businesses, and our hearts, to animals in need of homes.
