Many cat owners know the warmth of snuggling up with your furry friend and sipping a hot cup of your favorite drink. These individuals know firsthand that nothing beats a dreary day quite like tabby time and a trip to the local coffee shop; thus came the existence of the cat cafe. Cat cafés, dating back to 1998 in Taiwan, have allowed not only a new and adorable third space for humans, but also for thousands of future cats to find their ‘fur-ever’ home. This wonderful establishment has yet to come to Lincoln, but Emily Cancelmo and her boyfriend and team member, Andrew Altman, have embarked on a mission to change that.
“That’s when we met our first cat, Skwid. She was surrendered to the vet clinic I was working at and was sitting there for six months waiting for a forever home. I ended up just bringing her home one day,” Cancelmo said. “We fell in love with our cat and were joking for years that we should just quit our jobs, open a cat café, and spend the rest of our lives helping cats find their forever homes. Finally one day we both just went ‘why don’t we?’ And we’ve just been chugging along ever since!”
According to numerous animal-based organizations, there is an estimate of between 60 and 100 million stray cats in the United States alone. According to other organizations, only about 2 million of these cats get rescued annually. That leaves tens of millions of kitties to either be stuck on the streets or euthanized. Although it will take a lot of work, this doesn’t have to be the case.
“It’s good that people adopt animals,” senior Alyssa Freeman stated. “Volunteering at animal shelters and getting your animals from an animal shelter is a good experience because you see an animal be sick, and you see them get better, and then you see them get a house. You know, they find a family that loves them, and it’s really a gratifying feeling.”
Not only does Stray by the Bay plan on saving as many cats as they can, but they are also thrilled to share their plans on bringing a relaxing coastal vibe to the landlocked state of Nebraska. When it comes to their future menu, there’s no room for disappointment. Cancelmo and Altman have years of culinary experience, ensuring that the freshly baked café items and locally sourced coffee beans will scratch that ‘early morning trip to the coffee shop’ itch like no other.
“We think 2026 will finally be our year, as we’ve gained interest and momentum with our cause,” Cancelmo said. “We’re currently in the talks with two different landlords that are very excited to be the home of our physical location, so hopefully we can strike the right deal with one of them and get renovations started come spring time!”
It’s clear that this couple has their heart set on opening this year, but they can’t do it without our help. You can check out their social media (@straybythebay on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X) where you can find information, updates, and their GoFundMe page.
