Richmond cat cafe closes temporarily due to feline-induced flooding; fundraiser planned to help with repairs

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A newly opened cat cafe in Richmond has to close temporarily after a freak flooding accident, the business said on Instagram on Tuesday.

The Purrfect Bean says there was some major flooding in their cat lounge upstairs that leaked down into their cafe space due to “a series of freak accidents” involving a cat named Roller, a towel and a sink.

The cafe said all cats are safe and unharmed, just hanging out on the furniture or splashing around in the water. They are all back in their previous foster homes.

Servpro, a restoration company, said it has already begun the reconstruction process.

The cafe will have to redo the entire flooring and bathroom in the cat lounge, along with the ceilings and walls in the cafe area.

As of now, The Purrfect Bean will be closed for at least the rest of the year.

To help pay for damages, the cafe is hosting a fundraiser at Byrd Park on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Jace from @findyourexitplan on Instagram, and Alex, the tiramisu guy on TikTok, are hosting the event as a pay-what-you-can pop-up featuring a limited Purrfect Bean and Exit Plan menu collab.

Alex will be serving free tiramisu.

The fundraising will go to the cafe and the workers to help over the holidays.

The Purrfect Bean opened its doors in August and has adopted out over 100 cats through Purring Hearts VA.