Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

In a few days, on Friday, March 1, Club Cat will celebrate its 5th birthday.

This is an exciting milestone for Club Cat. Not just because Club Cat survived Covid-19 as a totally new, nuanced concept in cat-only boarding. But also because statistically speaking, we beat the odds. According to Entreneur.com, around 50% of businesses fail by the end of year five.

Shana with her husband during the buildout

Shana with her husband during the buildout

The night before our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony, I couldn’t sleep. I was utterly giddy with excitement and nervous energy. After tossing and turning in bed for what seemed like hours, I woke up my husband and asked, “Do you really think there are other obsessive cat parents like me?” He rolled over sleepily and said,

“I certainly hope so!”

Club Cat Ribbon Cutting

100+ people attended our Grand Opening including Irvine City Council members, Chamber of Commerce members, prominent veterinary professionals in the OC community, family and friends

In retrospect, it seems like a silly question. After all, we’d done exhaustive research on the market over the previous decade since I had first conjured the concept of building a luxury cat hotel. But no matter how much research we did, no matter how prepared we strongly believed we were, there was always that possibility we were mistaken.

Fast forward five years and it turns out the answer to my question is “Yes!” There are endless helicopter cat parents like me. Big PHEW!”

As the proverb goes, “Necessity is the mother of innovation.” That’s exactly why I built Club Cat.

Shana with her kitties: Maximus Decimus Meridius & Wilbur

Shana with her kitties who are also Club Cat patrons: Maximus Decimus Meridius & Wilbur

For years I struggled to find a place where I would feel comfortable leaving my cats when I was away. As an obsessed cat mama, I could not understand why there weren’t any appealing options for my kitties. For years, I had searched across the country to find cat-only boarding facilities. Not only did I find very few, but the ones I found were not places I felt comfortable leaving my felines. Cage boarding? No thanks. Crammed environment? No thanks. Staff that neither cared about me nor my kitties and their unique needs? No thanks.

The first and only place I’ve ever boarded my kitties was Club Cat. Knowing my cats were in the hands of caring, observant, and communicative people while I was away made all the difference. In fact, that is the litmus test I use when interviewing a prospective Club Cat team member. Would I feel comfortable trusting my human kids with this individual? If that answer to that question is yes, then that person has a future with Club Cat. Because if I can trust my human kiddos with them, I can trust my furry kiddos with them.

The last five years have been the professional highlight of my life. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to serve fellow cat parents who adore their kitties as much as I adore mine. Whose kitties are viewed as actual members of their family. Who want the very best for their kitties and are not willing to settle for less.

I cannot say thank you enough to all of my friends, family, and fellow cat lovers who have supported my vision to create a place worthy of every feline. And to all of Club Cat’s customers, thank you for affirming there is a strong need for Club Cat in Orange County and beyond.

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Club Cat during the early build stages

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Shana standing in the future lobby

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Artist Robin painting the bookend / cat murals

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Club Cat interior designer Monica and Shana’s husband hanging wallpaper

 

 

 

 

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

South Wing

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Shana with artist Robin and designer Monica

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Our playroom!

 

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Club Cat lobby

 

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Kitty guest lounging

 

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Club Cat’s manager Jessica with two of our regulars

Club Cat | Happy 5th Birthday Club Cat!

Club Cat guest getting TLC

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