Katy's Cat Café Raises Nearly $9,000 to Stay Open After Seasonal Slowdown

Katy's Cat Café, described as Sarasota's only cat cafe, raised nearly $9,000 in emergency donations to avoid shutting down after a steep drop in visitors during hurricane season.

As first reported by Your Observer, owner Marian Morcos said the nonprofit had announced a need for $8,000 in emergency fundraising by a Saturday deadline. Three days before that deadline, donations were nearing $9,000, Morcos said.

The cafe later stated on Instagram that it had reached its fundraising goal and was "back in business as usual for another month." The donations provide temporary relief as the business works to attract more visitors.

Seasonal Slowdown Threatens Cat Rescue

The cafe, at 1490 Boulevard of the Arts in the Rosemary District, doubles as a rescue operation through its nonprofit arm, Katy's Cat Charity Co. Since opening in 2025, the organization has helped about 60 cats find homes, according to Your Observer.

Morcos said the cafe needs 15 to 25 visitors a day to cover its costs. During the off-season, that number dropped to five to 15.

She attributed the slowdown partly to hurricane season, saying fewer people are out, students are in school and some residents leave Florida during that stretch. Business picked up around February and March 2026 after a similar dip in late 2025, she said.

The donations will go toward rent, utilities, cat care and emergency medical expenses, Morcos said. Rent is the biggest cost.

Loyal customers drove the fundraising push. Morcos said she was grateful to the community.

"… we were able to raise a lot of money in a very short period of time, and that's really saved us," she said.

From Chemical Engineering to Cat Rescue

Morcos, who holds a degree in chemical engineering, said she left that career because she didn't feel connected to the final product. She moved to Sarasota to open the cafe, which is named after her own cat, a Russian blue named Katy.

A glass wall separates the cat lounge from the coffee shop, which serves drinks, pastries and gelato. Guests can visit the lounge to interact with adoptable cats without ordering from the cafe, and there is no time limit.

The nonprofit rescues cats independently and also takes in cats from other rescue organizations.

The cafe was housing nine cats as of early November and generally accommodates up to 14, with room for additional kittens in some circumstances, according to Your Observer. It is set to receive more cats from Cat Kids Rescue.