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The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It.
Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog training, to potty talk. It's time to save your rugs, and get REAL! Fresh Patch has been featured on Shark Tank, Oprah and the Today Show. We're here to discuss why every pet owner should have real grass and the benefits that come with it. So sit back, relax, grab some treats and cuddle your furry friend, you won't want to miss an episode!
The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It.
Purrrlandia: From Shelter To Cat Cafe Magic
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Step into Purrrlandia Cat Lounge, a bright, thoughtfully designed space where shy whiskers turn bold and 200+ cats have already found their people. We sit down with founder Kat Killorin—who traded a thriving HR and operations career in financial services for a life of rescue, espresso, and endlessly entertaining felines—to unpack how a cat cafe can flip the script on adoption.
Kat shares how partnering with Best Friends Animal Society streamlines intake and sets cats up to thrive in a group setting. We explore why “what you see in a kennel” isn’t the whole story, how vertical space and multiple resources reduce stress, and why a gentle hiss can simply mean “please give me room.” From “layover kitties” adopted in hours to longer-stay charmers waiting for the right match, the focus is on real matchmaking: lifestyle, energy, and chemistry over color or trend. Along the way, we talk kids learning empathy in the lounge, allergic partners becoming converts, and the joy of weekly adopter updates that feel like winning the cat lottery.
On the cafe side, Kat’s team elevates the experience with best-in-the-area matcha, silky espresso, and seasonal creations like banana matcha, berry purr lattes, and sparkling teas—small rituals that help guests slow down and notice the quiet cues cats offer. Fresh Patch real grass turns windows into mini meadows where loafing meets birdwatching, sparking smiles from passersby who scan QR tags to learn about adoptable friends. With sound baths, meditative clay nights, watercolor sessions, and birthday parties spanning six to sixty, Purrrlandia doubles as a community hub where rescue feels normal, warm, and fun.
If you love animals, curious design, and good coffee, you’ll leave with practical insights on adoption, enrichment, and reading feline body language—and maybe a new favorite drink. Subscribe, share with a cat-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help more people discover rescue stories that spark joy.
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Welcome To Perlandia
SPEAKER_01You may know Fresh Patch from Shark Tank, Oprah, or the Today Show. This is the Fresh Patch Podcast, where good pets get it. Sit back, put your paws up, and enjoy the show.
SPEAKER_06Alright. Welcome everybody to the Fresh Patch Podcast. My name is Gabe. I'm joined today by amazing co-host Adriana. And we have an amazing guest today. If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself.
SPEAKER_04Hi, my name is Kat Kalarin, and I'm the owner of Perlandia Cat Lion Gen Cafe.
SPEAKER_06Amazing. Well, first of all, I want to say the setting might look a little different to you guys. We are inside of Perlandia. There are a bunch of cats running around, and they're so amazing and adorable and friendly, and couldn't ask for a better setting to do this. So thanks so much for allowing us to come on in.
SPEAKER_04Thanks for the podcast takeover. This is a first, and it's kind of like cool and intimidating.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, no worries. We like to take it easy and just you know get to know you, get to know Perlandia a little bit. So we have a few questions prepared. Adrian, if you want to take the first one.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, so Kat, just tell us a little bit about you and how you got this idea for Perlandia. You know, anything you want to share about that.
Kat’s Journey From HR To Rescue
Why Cat Cafes Change Adoptions
SPEAKER_04Sure. So I've always been a lover of animals. Kind of considered a little bit of an Elmira as I was a as a kid. Like, Kat, animal, I love you. Come here. You're my friend. You will be my friend. Yes. Yes. Just kidding. I wasn't that aggressive, but I'm a lover of animals to be sure. Um, my prior life was not in animal welfare. I um was in financial services for a really long time. My background is in human resources operations, um, and I worked for large financial services firms. And um I started volunteering at my local animal shelter at West Valley Animal Shelter a couple years ago when my cat passed, my soul kitty. Nosferatu. His name is. Oh wow, so well, he was a big black cat, but when he was little, he had this teeny tiny head and this bit these big ears, and he was a lunatic. And he just I called him my bite bite bite kitty, so that's where he got the name Nosferatu from. Um, but we called him Nassi for short. But I had him in my life for over 17 years. Wow. Um, and I mean he saw me through my 20s, my 30s, and into my 40s, and I'm like, what a life this guy has had to tolerate me through all of that. Um but it was devastating for for me and my husband to to lose him. Um I started volunteering at the shelter. I'm sure I'm getting the timeline all mixed up too, because I um simultaneously was uh working on a project in Japan. Oh wow. Um so I was traveling back and forth to Japan a lot. Prior to this, I had never been. Um and that's the first time I had seen a cat cafe. Yeah. And and a million other cafes, caviaras and owls. And I was just like, oh, this is an interesting idea. This is an amazing opportunity for these cats because I loved going to the shelter. I was starting to spend so much time. I had a very hectic job. Yeah. Um, but I would go to the shelter. I just plan to be there for a couple of hours. I would spend all day there. And my husband's like, is everything okay? What's going on? You've never done this before. And I was just like, these animals need someone, and they need our support. The shelters are doing the best that they can, they're under-resourced, and there's a lot of demand. Um, and the cats need people to go in and work with them and socialize with them, and adopters need support. And I just found so much joy being able to connect with them and helping them feel hopefully just feel a little bit more content in a or content's not really the word, but loved. Oh, that's great. I was like, Joann's, I'm so bummed that that place is gone. Like I was hitting up Joann's all the time for their remnants, they would have remnant discounts, and I was making blankets and bringing toys for them. And if I hear them bat things around, I'm like, oh gosh, okay, they're finding a little bit of joy in this place, you know, situation that they're in. People would come in and say, Oh gosh, that's not a nice cat, or that's a mean cat, and like that cat is terrified and is confused. They've been in a home for several years, and now their owner has passed and they're wondering where they are, you know. And so having to explain some of that to people to say, I've spent some time with them, I have the joy of being able to connect with them before we open, and this is what I can tell you about their personalities. And there's only so much you can gauge from a cat in a teeny tiny metal box. For sure. Um, and only so much that they can share with you. Um, so they needed that space. So when I saw this cat cafe, I was like, oh my god, this is so cool.
SPEAKER_06Changed your life.
SPEAKER_04And then also with the doctors, like I would always have to say, which isn't really fair, um, and it's not setting anybody up for success, but it's just the reality of it. Yeah. What you see is not what you get. I mean, this is what I'm seeing right now, but things can be presented differently when they are able to feel more comfortable and confident in a space and in their own skin, um, that what you see is not what you get. And so sometimes that leads to a lot of returns too. Um, and that's not fair for adopters. So having a place like this where adopters can come and really experience the true personalities of cats, really get comfortable and understand this is your family member that you're bringing in. It's a really big decision, and um, so people just have an opportunity to really connect um and appreciate a cat's natural instincts and behaviors and what they need, and and then cats have happy homes and a happy existence until they find one.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04I was saying all of that, but no, no worries.
SPEAKER_06I was saying this earlier, but like just I'm sure we'll show some clips like around um you know what it looks like in here. I can't think of like a better place for cats to live. You know, I'm sure they're so happy here, and like it's so cool to see because it they all seem so comfortable and friendly and and sociable. So that really speaks a lot to like what you were saying about you know cats.
SPEAKER_02Providing comfort for this.
SPEAKER_04I will say a lot of people come in, they're like, Oh my gosh, if I was a cat, I'd never want to leave. And yeah, like it's true. Like the cats, some cats really do have a lot of fun. It's like going to summer camp. Yeah, for sure. But at the end of the week, the kid still wants to go back home to their family. So these cats, as much as they love to run around and they love to get loved on, they're really looking for stability and consistency and a forever home and those people that they can connect with. They're seeing a lot of different people all the time. And for some kitties, again, that might be a little fun, others it could be a little exhausting, but as much fun as they have here, they will need it. Always, always vote home. Yeah, vote for home, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely. So I have a question for you. In your intro, you mentioned that you're an animal lover. So were you always a cat person? Maybe you were more a dog person growing up, or like tell me a little bit about your like connection with cats.
SPEAKER_04I think I was just an animal person. Um I oh gosh, I um have a very a lot kind of story growing up, but I lived with my grandmother for a little bit, and I we lived by a park, and I always found cats, and I was always trying to help them. Um I even found dogs, and like one day she found me in the backyard trying to train a Doberman pincher that I had found wandering the streets. I'm like, fearless kid over here, like hey, trying to teach a dog how to jump, and it was like bigger than me. Um, so I definitely was a lover of all animals, but have certainly connected more towards cats, like they are just they're my vibe. Oh, yeah. Yeah, cats are my vibe. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06I can tell. Best part is your name is cat. So it's so fitting.
SPEAKER_04And then my husband's name is Bob, so like together we have Bob Cat. That was not planned, it just happened that way. Hi.
SPEAKER_06We have a visitor. Uh-oh. Yeah, we set up a little bit of display here, and it seems that everything that we brought in the cats have just been going crazy for, which is just so.
SPEAKER_04Bolly Roger is usually really shy. So you know, when you have like those famous people, like actors and actresses are like really shy, yeah, you know, in their real life, and then they get on camera and they just come to life.
SPEAKER_06You have a future and show business.
SPEAKER_04You're getting your spotlight for today.
SPEAKER_06Joker right.
SPEAKER_04Just knocking everything out.
SPEAKER_06I love it though.
SPEAKER_02I have a cat, so I I get it.
SPEAKER_06It's visual entertainment, you know.
SPEAKER_02They're endlessly entertaining.
SPEAKER_04Uh absolutely. Oh yeah. So much entertainment. Bye, financial services. I get to be entertained by cats all day.
SPEAKER_06Way cooler job, I think.
SPEAKER_041,000 percent.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Were people surprised when you left and started this venture, or they're like, oh yeah, absolutely, totally makes sense.
SPEAKER_04Like naturally, people thought I was crazy.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_04I mean, they're like, wait, what? I mean, I had a very good career. Um and I was like, I'm gonna go open up a cat cafe. And most people are like, what the heck is that? This chick has lost her mind.
SPEAKER_02I'm like, you wait. Yeah. Just wait. Yeah. I mean, I feel like anytime someone, you know, steps in here, like including myself, and we brought, you know, another coworker who this was her first time here, stepped in and was like, Whoa, like this place is amazing. This is not what I was thinking. I mean, it's just so beautifully designed. So cool.
SPEAKER_04Well, and also when you're in HR, like, and I wasn't, I had um moved into more corporate and operations and and technology, so I wasn't like the employee relations person, but everyone's like, oh god, HR, you know. But now everyone's like, ooh, Parlandia. Like even when people are walking by, whether we're open or if we're closed, yes, looking out this window, like the smiles that just get like so ginormous on people's faces, like it just it's like a joy hub. It brings them so much joy. It's almost like if you've ever seen um Soundgarden, the Black Hole Sun, maybe that's a bad never mind. But you know how their faces are like okay, wait, cut that. But yeah, maybe we can add a total clip to that as well. But people are just like they're so happy, and we just get we're like the joy lab. Like they're just it's so nice to see people smile so big. Yes, yeah. One of our very first people coming in when we opened, you can tell she was having a bad day when she came in, and she was like a little bit hard to connect with at first when she came in, and then she just met these cats and she just lit up and she literally left, walked out the front door, and threw her hands in the air. Yeah, like she was so excited. And we were like, Okay, this is really, really neat.
Matchmaking People And Cats
SPEAKER_06It's hard not to have a smile on your face when you're in here. Like, like I was saying, the cats are so sweet, and it's funny you mentioned too, like people kind of peering in on the outside. When we got here, we were kind of uh you were dealing with an adoption at the time, we were kind of just waiting for you to finish up with that. And one of your cats, Sofrito, a nice little black and white, spotted, very handsome guy, uh, was looking out the window, and I swear I saw at least two or three people while we were out there for like 10 minutes walk up and kind of connect with him through the glass. I was like, that's so cool.
SPEAKER_04And then we have the little tailor tags. Yeah. So there's a QR code. So even if we're closed and people see the cats, they they can scan the QR code to learn more about the cats. That's awesome. But then we'll get a notification when they do it. So like in the middle of the night, I'm like, hee hee, so fritos in the window. And then they'll come in and be like, I saw this kitty in the window, so frito, but they already have like information. Yeah, because it'll give them like their um their basic details, but also a little profile on their personalities and stuff. So it's really cute.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's so cute. I definitely liked the tags that was looking at them. Um, so we just saw that you hit 200 cat adoptions, which is amazing. So congratulations on that. 2080 after today. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Incredible.
SPEAKER_02It's amazing. Um, how many how do the cat adoptions work here in case somebody is interested in coming by and getting a cat?
SPEAKER_04Absolutely. And just to kind of sit with that number for a minute, we are so grateful to our community and to our partner best friends. Um, we've been open a little over seven months and to have that response where people want to rescue and give these animals a safe place to land and a whole lot of love and to have that many in just such a short period of time. For us, it's just we're forever grateful. Um, the adoption process is a really easy, streamlined one. We wanted to make sure that listen, if you find love, let's get love home to you. And the quicker we can get animals into their their homes, the quicker we can get more in here. And we can work with our rescue partner to help relieve the pressure on shelters. And so it's just that we all kind of depend on each other for that. Um, but uh we ask that people come in and experience the cat first. So it's not a window shop. You'll come up, ooh, that cat's cute. How was it your youngest cat? Like, don't that's not really um the experience that that we're providing people. We really want them to come in and experience that cat personality, and we we talk about what their interests are, what their home is like, um, and then share them with them more information about the cat. So it's matchmaking, right? Sometimes people will be like, oh, that cat is so pretty, or I wanted a this cat or a that cat, and then that totally changes when they get to see the cat. You know? Um so we've had people come in wanting kittens, they leave with an adult, you know, they come in wanting an orange cat, and they've never thought of a black cat, and they've got a black beauty now as part of their family. So um it's really about understanding that that connection and what's right for both parties. Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_06This guy's having fun.
SPEAKER_04This is Kisses. Oh, and Sofrito!
SPEAKER_06Sofrito! We were just talking about you.
SPEAKER_04He is the coolest. She got the memo.
SPEAKER_06So this this perfectly leads into my next question here. Um, so I kind of mentioned it before, but these cats are so incredibly well behaved and awesome and social. Like it's it's kind of like everyone's had that experience of like going to your friend's house and the cat immediately hides. But all the cats here, they're always out, they're playing, they love the people, which is just so awesome to see. So um kind of like going off that, like on average, how many cats are you like housing here?
SPEAKER_04So we try to keep an average of about 25. Oh wow, but we do get a lot of adoptions each week. So we're gonna say 25 right now. We have, well, now 19, because we just had the adoption. Um, but we do tend to get more cats into the space at least every Sunday from our rescue partner. Um, and we're looking to increase that to have an average of 32 so that we can really um help more animals find homes and have a softer place to a transitional place for them to land. Um, but we are licensed for up to 50. Oh wow.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, like what makes this place so incredible is it's just such an amazing opportunity to connect with cats and you know find the right one for you. And I think it's really translated to adoptions, and so it's kind of funny. I remember coming here dropping off some grass, and I was like, Oh, like, can I get some shots of the cats with the grass? And you're like, Oh, we're we're running out, we had a really good week, and like we're low on cats, like maybe next week. And I was like, that's such a good problem.
Social Cats, Vetting, And Group Dynamics
SPEAKER_04Like, so it is sometimes people are like, You should have a hundred cats because you have a big space, and I'm like, Yeah, you try managing that, you know. Um because even though we can have 50, maybe one day we'll get to that. But our first priority is making sure that the cats feel comfortable and confident. Um, and if you have too many and they're not vibing, then it's a problem. We've got issues to deal with, you know. Um, but our rescue partner, Best Friends Animal Society, does an amazing job vetting the cats. Obviously, we're not gonna have any feral cats coming in here. They make sure that the cats are human social um and also perceived as cat social. We do monitor them when they first come in. And of all the cats that we've welcomed into the space um since we've been open, we've only had two cat aggressive cats. But those types of cats are very quick to spot. They start stalking hackles up and they're like, I'm out for blood. Um, so but we've only had that twice. But our rescue partner is really good with the vetting process. Some, when they first come into the space, they're like, Hey guys, I'm so frito, you know. Let's hang. Others are like, Um, I'm slinking away to like behind the litter boxes.
SPEAKER_06I need some time, you know, to warm up. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04But what's also really beautiful is watching those cats blossom. Like we get to see, you know, obviously we don't love when they're like when they come in and they're feeling a little bit terrified, but they're just feeling completely disoriented. Of course. And then like the move for those types of cats is behind the litter boxes first. I'm like, but that's the smelliest place, but okay. I guess we really get to know everyone. And then they we have these cat walks everywhere. So enrichment's really important, vertical space is really important. Oh yeah, lots of resources are really important, and we have a lot of that. Um, but the next move is to a little fight over there. Sorry, DeWalt is a tunnel troll. Like she gets really protected. She's like, This is my tunnel troll. Oh, hey, your toll with a cat slap. Um, but um, then they go up on these little bridges here, and they will just observe until they feel comfortable. So they'll watch the cats, they'll watch the people, and they're like, Okay, I'm vibing this place, and then they'll start to come down. And hey, sometimes there's a little bit of you know, conversation. So when we hear a cat hiss or if we see them SWAT, like humans interpret that as like, oh my gosh, they're fighting, they don't like each other. I'm like, nope, they're just communicating. They're like, you're in my personal space. Like, cats are really big on personal space. Boundaries for sure. Like, I don't know you yet. We're not gonna get that close.
SPEAKER_06So you got a little George Washington cat underneath your uh your chair there.
SPEAKER_04You get all the good, I can't see anything.
SPEAKER_06Oh no worries, no worries.
SPEAKER_04I felt like I get distracted because I don't like it. Yeah, cat cafe ADD or cat strafted.
SPEAKER_06Yes, that's a real thing.
SPEAKER_04Yep, kind of cat strafted all.
SPEAKER_06I don't know how you get any work done here.
SPEAKER_04Me too. So yeah, best friends is the most amazing partner. Um, we really couldn't ask for a better partner.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Amazing. Um, we also work with best friends as well, with mostly the dogs, but um, they have been fabulous to work with overall. So it's cool to hear that you guys also work with best friends.
SPEAKER_06Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02Oh there goes another one. They're doing a little redecorating.
SPEAKER_04You guys are really letting people know. Yeah. Everything gets knocked down.
SPEAKER_06These cats are real, they're not AI. No, they're really knocking stuff over, so really playing. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02Just love being curious. You have said that you know the cats kind of get adopted quite quickly. Um, I know one of the girls here said that on average a cat stays about 12 days. It's about two weeks, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, which is um 14 to 17 days. And that's also because we do get some shy cats, and so it takes them some time to get acclimated um and to get comfortable in the space before they can actually start interacting with folks. But then we also have cats that we call layover kitties, like they just come and they're here for an hour and they're gone. Oh wow, yeah, because people are just again, if they're social and um and a little bit more outgoing, people see them very quickly and then they don't stick around.
SPEAKER_06That's great. That's that's it, like I keep saying, it's a good problem to have, you know. Like helping these kitties find home and like efficiently is such an amazing thing, really.
SPEAKER_04And then sometimes we have cats that have been here for a longer period of time. Um and people are like, Oh, why do you why is this cat here so long? I mean, when we've only been open for seven months, the longest stay we've had is like a little over three months. And like the best thing I can say is, or the only thing I can come up with is like the universe takes time, man. So sometimes like that alignment does take time because people will come in and they're like, This cat, I love this cat. They're the most amazing cat, you know, and everyone wants to hang with them. Like, how come no one is pulling? Trigger on this babe. But it's just because they're waiting for again the universe is working its magic. Like we had for sure. Tree of life, the coolest cat, and she was here for so long. Um, and everybody loved her, and we're like, What is what's the deal with tree?
SPEAKER_02Where's her person?
SPEAKER_04And her um, her new parents they come in like all the time, like at least once a week, we see them, and they're like, We won the cat lottery. Look at these pictures, and that's gonna be so rewarding. They're like, come back. Now they want another cat, and the husband was the one that was like, I don't know. And now he's like, Okay, what about another cat? Yeah. So we're making cat fanatics.
SPEAKER_06This guy, he has a lot of personality, I could tell.
SPEAKER_04He is adorable, he's so cute, and he's available for adoption. He is anybody takers? Although sometimes I'm like, number three, do you want to be number three? I have two cats at home, but I'm like, how can you?
SPEAKER_06That's awesome.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that would be that would be hard too, to like not want to take all the cats home.
Adoption Timelines And “Layover” Kitties
SPEAKER_06So we've been talking a lot about the cats. Obviously, that's a big part of what you do here. But tell us a little bit more about like the cafe side of things. Was that always kind of something you had envisioned, or um did that kind of come along when you knew you wanted to do like a cat-related thing? I know you mentioned seeing them in Japan, so I'm sure that was like a big influence as well.
SPEAKER_04Well, I definitely knew that I wanted a cafe. Okay. Um to what it's become, that was not that was just organic evolution and amazing parista hires. Um, I wanted to keep it simple because I wanted to make sure that we were focused on cats. Um, I also wanted to make sure that we had enrichment for humans. Like when I'm chilling, I like to drink something. And I just thought for sure, like making sure that our our human guests are comfortable too and taken care of. So we've got enrichment for for both of our animals.
SPEAKER_06Amazing, yeah. I love enrichment too.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, right. Yeah, um, and so that was a really important part. We knew we wanted to have a cafe for sure, and have it just still be um crafted um rather than like there's a coffee station. Um, because not everybody likes coffee.
SPEAKER_05Right.
SPEAKER_04Um, and then we hired some amazing team members, some that have barista backgrounds, and they're like, What if we did a banana matcha? And I'm like, okay, what do we need for that? And then it's so it began. They're like, what about this? What about that? And like, okay, let's try it. And they just love what they do, and they also will make videos about it just to share, because they just, I mean, I I'm so grateful for the team that that we have, the family that we've created. Like, they're just all about the cats, and they're all about like building this place up and making it the best place to hang out. Literally, a lot of the team members like if they're not working, they're still here. Like, oh I was talking about Chloe, hey Lexi, hi Jen. They come for their drinks.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I was talking to Jen earlier, and she was telling me, like, up for the adoption today, that she was happy for him, but she was on the verge of tears because she built up such a connection.
SPEAKER_04I would cry too. We're the Tender Hearts Club. Yeah. Because it's just like it hurts so good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Amazing.
SPEAKER_04Like it's been like we've had some ugly cries. I'm like, I'm so sorry. But I was so happy. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06So, um, going back to the cafe side of things, I have tried the coffee before, it's absolutely delicious. But we're gonna do a fun little segment today. Um, your team has prepared us a few samples to try out, and we're gonna do a little taste test.
SPEAKER_04Oh, nice. Well, and we're told by this is not self-proclaimed, it is what people in the community say, but we've got the best matcha in the area.
SPEAKER_06So I love matcha. Yeah, she's she's all about the matcha.
SPEAKER_04So the coloring, what do you think?
SPEAKER_02It's beautiful. I love the green.
SPEAKER_06The presentation is immaculate personal order.
SPEAKER_02They all look delicious. I have no idea what minus the matcha. I think that's like a banana matcha, is my guess.
SPEAKER_00And then matcha, this is the very purry latte on the left. Then you're very sweet on the on the right.
SPEAKER_06Alright.
SPEAKER_04Nice for our um this month's drinks. We thought it would be really fun to name them sweet nothings that you can tell the purista, and they're like, oh, thanks. You're very sweet.
SPEAKER_06Oh, for Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we're totally cheesy around here. Love it. I love it.
SPEAKER_06Awesome. So let's uh let's dive in here, huh? Cool, okay.
SPEAKER_04Well, I've I've tried them.
unknownTrue.
SPEAKER_06Okay, so this one here, I'll pull one out for you.
SPEAKER_04I'm trying not to hit this mic, but I can help serve.
SPEAKER_06Oh, no worries.
SPEAKER_04This one here is the berry purry latte.
SPEAKER_06Berry Purry latte.
SPEAKER_04How berry purry? It's a mystery because you can do either a strawberry or blackberry or both. We get like some interesting creations from people too. Yeah. No, I I love I love the creation. I like experiments. Yes.
Building A Cafe That Enriches Humans
SPEAKER_06Do you want me to pour it?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I'm good. I'm good. You guys try. This is a good one.
SPEAKER_06You're uncaffeinated.
SPEAKER_04I am oh big 10.
SPEAKER_06I uh, in preparation for this, lightly caffeinated this morning, so I should have plenty of room. Alright. Cheers. Alright.
SPEAKER_04I don't know, maybe I should join in on the next one.
SPEAKER_02I'm like, huh. That's really good.
SPEAKER_06Flavorful.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, definitely berries.
SPEAKER_06Berries for sure. Am I getting like a little bit of like lavender in there, maybe? No?
SPEAKER_02I don't taste lavender. I feel like I don't know if I'm seeing rose because like there's roses. There's like something there.
SPEAKER_04For the month of February, we do sprinkle some flowers and roses inside.
SPEAKER_06I see. Wow. Very refined. I'm impressed.
SPEAKER_02This is really good. Like I'm not so much of a coffee person. Again, matcha is my go-to, but this is really good. I don't feel like I'm gonna get the jitters or like it's super bitter, which is what I usually like don't like.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, and it's interesting too, like berries and coffee. It's not something you would normally associate, but pretty good.
SPEAKER_04Nice. I would rate that. Yeah, and we have a good smooth and espresso, so everything is espresso based. Oh, hi, bud. Oh, we have a friend. Matcha. Matcha. Hey, just in time, matcha. We're having some restaurants. Don't mind me. I just shot this just in case. Kurjmina over here. Oh, jeez. See, I was afraid to move. Oh, yeah. I'm just not gonna move. I'm gonna sit here. I was gonna pour it for you, but I'm gonna knock something down. Oh no, that's okay. I'm gonna be a cat.
SPEAKER_06This one's a little more movable, so.
SPEAKER_04Okay.
SPEAKER_06Cool. So for this next one, we're gonna try this banana matcha over here. Which again, I talked a little bit about the presentation.
SPEAKER_02Something.
SPEAKER_06But look at these coasters, man. These are so cute. I'm excited.
SPEAKER_04Our architects are also illustrators. So they made the kitty creature.
SPEAKER_06He wants some too.
SPEAKER_04Yes. Maisie, not for you. Alright.
SPEAKER_06Now, this is gonna be the big test because as I mentioned, Adrian is a huge matcha person. So if you get her stamp of approval, that's a big deal.
SPEAKER_04And be honest.
SPEAKER_06Alright. Oh, okay. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04One might have a little bit more cold foam than that.
SPEAKER_06Alright.
SPEAKER_04That looks so silky smooth.
SPEAKER_06Alright. Cheers. Cheers. Alright. Let's try this one out. Oh. You want some of this?
SPEAKER_02It's very smooth. Yeah. I like it. I mean, I'm also not a banana person, but it's also bad. It is really good. Yeah. It's like subtle, but yeah, because I feel like sometimes the banana is like overpowering. But no, this is really good. Super good.
SPEAKER_04I'm a huge strawberry matcha is very popular. The banana is like the most popular. But we also, right now for February, we have a raspberry matcha with pistachio cold thumbs. And then we had a zombie matcha for Halloween and chocolate. Oh my god, it was so good.
SPEAKER_06Maybe we could put some grass in the matcha. Oh, okay. Someone's trying to get on your shoulder. You want to use me as a bridge?
SPEAKER_02Yes. Okay. I'm available. Backing up, backing up, backing up.
unknownHi.
SPEAKER_06And that's that's matcha, right? That's matcha. Okay, I we definitely mentioned that.
SPEAKER_04I mean, he he timed it perfectly. Yes, he did.
SPEAKER_06Alright.
SPEAKER_04You want to come on the grass? Alright, last but not least is your berry sweet.
SPEAKER_06Alright, the berry, the berry sweet. Okay. So I'm guessing this is kind of gonna be kind of like a refresher from Starbucks kind of thing.
SPEAKER_03Oh.
SPEAKER_06But way better, but ten times better.
SPEAKER_02So this is a refreshing tea. Tea with strawberry and raspberry.
SPEAKER_06Ooh, alright.
SPEAKER_02Thank you.
SPEAKER_06Alrighty.
SPEAKER_02Cheers. Down the hatch. Just the smell alone on this is so good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Delicious. Oh man.
SPEAKER_02On a hot day, like this would be so good.
SPEAKER_06A nice sweet tea.
SPEAKER_04I can't wait for our spring line.
SPEAKER_06We're all excited about your proposal.
SPEAKER_04See, now, like, again, this was not the plan for the cafe. And now you're like, okay, what's next month's recipes? Yeah. And we gotta do a photo shoot. Like, we gotta get the cats together. So Maisie, who was here, she was trying to make an appearance because she's this month's model. Our pinup cat.
Taste Test: Matcha, Lattes, And Teas
SPEAKER_02I love it. Yeah, no, I mean, even if you're not gonna come here to like come in with the cats, like for sure, like just coming in for you know, a latte or anything like that, it's so good.
SPEAKER_04And you get your fix and you're supporting cats.
SPEAKER_06Yes.
SPEAKER_04100% supporting some rescue cats.
SPEAKER_06He's trying to take my water home with him.
SPEAKER_04It's okay, we can share.
SPEAKER_06Should I open this up for him?
SPEAKER_04I feel like this point. He's like, I got something in my mouth. I need to wash it down.
SPEAKER_02Look at you, you made a friend.
SPEAKER_06I made a new friend today. So this is my cat matcha. I just adopted it five seconds ago.
SPEAKER_05209. Yes!
SPEAKER_04Okay.
SPEAKER_06Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_04You're being extracted.
SPEAKER_06So here's my genuine opinion. All three of these are super amazing. I love how like I'm a big flavor person. Like, I know a lot of people just like the coffee, but yeah, these are all so flavorful and delicious, and you know, pretty cool that you can get a really tasty drink, come here, and you get to hang out with cats. I mean, that's a pretty, pretty awesome combination. So cross to you.
SPEAKER_04Enjoy in your heart, enjoy in your mouth. I mean, wait, was that too cheesy?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, no, this is awesome. Honestly, I'm like, I was gonna try to rank them, but they're all so good.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, they're all so different and so good. So I I feel like you a lot of people would be happy finding a drink here.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02And then you can pair it with a Japanese donut.
SPEAKER_06Oh, you have Japanese donuts.
SPEAKER_02You guys haven't tried okay. I feel like there was like a sesame, is that what that was? I don't know. It was at the sound bath and the whatever those are. Probably cookies were so good. I think they were cookies, I can't remember.
SPEAKER_04Sweet coyote. We also have sweet coyote um vegan bakery. Um, so those are the sesame matcha. Yeah, those are really cool.
SPEAKER_06I will definitely be picking one up on my way out. No doubt.
SPEAKER_04And then, yeah, the ring donuts. So ring is a bakery in Kanoga Park. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_05Oh, ooh, okay.
SPEAKER_04And they're um gluten-free. Um, they're made out of tofu, so they're not like the you know, American donuts that are really in your head and like leave that coating in your mouth. They're just they're so good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Is it vegan by chance?
SPEAKER_04We do have vegan donuts too.
SPEAKER_06Okay, fun.
SPEAKER_04And non-vegan, but I actually love like the vegan ones. I love the texture. So you have to try them.
SPEAKER_06Little side story here. I think I've told you this before, but one of the reasons we found um found you guys and you know wanted to work so bad for you with you guys. My sister um saw your like post on Instagram and sent it to me and was like, this is so cool. Um, you guys need to work with these with these people, and they're local. Like, how amazing is that? And the reason I ask about vegan, like, shout out to my sister Jessica. Yeah, shout out to vegan, so and she's been wanting, she hasn't had the chance yet, but after this, I'm gonna I'm gonna bring her here myself, dang it. And uh and uh yeah, she's gonna be stoked. She's gonna be stoked on the vegan donuts, so that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04Awesome. Well, we can't wait to meet her. Woo-hoo. And thank her.
SPEAKER_03Just taking stock of who's wandering. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06It's so funny. You're just like talking in there like all around you. It's hilarious.
SPEAKER_02Um, so we definitely have been working with you guys for a bit, like Gabe said. Um I feel like almost close to like when you guys were opened. But uh, you know, you've had some of our grass here for the cats. I know we have one out in the window, and it's always cool to just see the cat, you know, hanging out and looking outside. And but um, you know, how has the grass, you know, helped the cats in the space, or what have you noticed?
SPEAKER_04Um, we noticed that whenever we have a fresh patch delivery, there's always a line. So I think we've done a post like where you can see them sort of waiting for some are like friendly and they can all co-mingle in the grass, and others are like, okay, I'll wait for that guy to be done. I don't know what she's doing. She's wild. Trying to get the plant on the other side. It's not on that side for you. She's also obsessed with TV, by the way. I don't know if you saw her earlier. No. She'll like move if somebody cats land on the fresh. Yes, they do.
SPEAKER_06That's eight lives now for that one.
SPEAKER_04Oh my gosh, she's a lunatic. I love her. Um, what were we talking about? The fresh patch. The fresh patch. Oh yeah, she's a lover of the fresh patch too. Um, but they just love the fresh grass and they like to eat it sometimes. Yeah. Um, and uh some more than others. I'm like, oh gosh, you gotta lay off the grass. Oh. We'll sprinkle a little catnip in there too, or for extra enrichment because they love to roll in the grass. Oh yeah. Or just like sit in it when they're watching the birds. Yeah. Because we're next to a bird store and they gifted a little bird feeder, so we'll put the grass right under the bird feeder. Um, and just it's it's really cute enrichment. So we're bringing the outside in, oh yeah, um, and some greenery in because you need a little greenery in it.
SPEAKER_06Well, we got the grass, they're more than welcome to loaf in it as much as they want, do you know, roll around, whatever makes them happy.
SPEAKER_04So yeah, they loaf, they tumble, don't really have any accidents, so that's good. I mean, maybe once they got confused. But for the most part, yeah, they just really love to lay in the grass, roll around in it, and it's just really sweet to see them just snoozing.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it's it's so awesome for us to like be a part of this, you know, and like bring some extra joy to the cats. So thank you so much for for allowing us to do that.
SPEAKER_04Thank you for reaching out and allowing us to have some fresh patch in our space. It's really been great for them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I feel like unintentionally, though, like the way the space was designed, our large patch just fits perfectly in the spot that you have. It's like we got your measurements right now.
Fresh Grass Enrichment And Window Moments
SPEAKER_06Also, I want to say this, but like that video that you created about Fresh Patch, there's that one clip of you opening up the box, and there's like six cats like just waiting for it. It's like so cute.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I love all the content that you guys you know share whenever you share a video with us. I'm like, oh, Pearl India posted. You know, so it always makes my easy.
SPEAKER_06Oh, sorry. But um, is that you putting the videos together or our amazing team? Oh they do a great job. Yeah, they do a great job.
SPEAKER_04They put it together and we get it posted. Yeah, we just have fun doing it and they have fun doing it too.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, they always capture great content with the cats, whether it's with our grass or just in general, it's always cute.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Yay.
SPEAKER_06So we've kind of talked about it a little bit, um, but you get these cats from one of our long-term partners, uh Best Friends Animal Society, who they're amazing, and you know, we send them patches for their dogs, um, not so much for the cats. Like maybe that's something we could start in the future. Um, but how how is it working with them? And you know, does it feel good? You know, like is it fulfilling helping these cats in need, like, you know, find a good home?
SPEAKER_04And I'm gonna bring you here. Will you listen? Aw, yeah. What a good boy. Yeah, there we go. Loaf it, loaf it up. Okay, let's keep them out of trouble. I'll hold on to your little adopted buddy here. You can hold them for now, but of course, of course. Um working with best friends has been amazing. They've just been such an amazing supportive partner from the start. Um, and we feel so fortunate to partner with them. We love the organization, what they do for animals, um, that they're helping find them homes, care for them when they really need them, rescuing them from euthanasia and overcrowded situations, advocating for them in so many states and making a huge impact on their lives. And we get to be a part of that story. Um from a support standpoint, they are just they're so on it. They do such a great job with bringing cats into the space, um coordinating their volunteer transport because that's all volunteer-based for the most part, um, uh, to get the cats here. Um, so it's nice to see volunteers signing up to make it's a little bit of a trek, but it's so beautiful. We've got rolling mountains, you know, so bad of a drive, you know. And we treat our best friends really well when they come. They get probably get some coffee. Yeah, absolutely. It's the least we can do for as much as they do.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely. Um I'm sure they're stoked on you because of how many cats you're getting adopted, you know. I'm sure it's like really helping out, you know, with capacities and all that sort of stuff.
SPEAKER_04So well, and it's sweet to see them come in, like a lot of the volunteers, and they recognize cats that they've worked with in the space, and they're like, oh my gosh, that cat is so happy here. Like I remember this one cat howellite um was here, and one of the volunteers, she had come, it was her first time, and she's like, Oh my gosh, this guy was like totally shut down um in the the space because it you know it's a tiny, um, a tiny kennel, and he was running around, he made his best friend here and just having a good time. Like he was just a totally different cat, and just to see how much they love the animals like we love the animals and how they recognize um how well this supports them, it's just really special to to watch. Uh, and they take great care, so we're always in communication. Um, shout out to Jen. Jen is our um our care manager, and she is just she is so amazing. Like she's on top of it, and she just I don't know how she does it. She also has a farm at home.
SPEAKER_05Wow, okay.
SPEAKER_04She um she takes amazing care of us, she does amazing work like on-prem at Best Friends, and then she's got this, you know, farm. Wow.
SPEAKER_06That's a lot.
SPEAKER_04But she's always making sure that the cats are cared for, that we have all the resources that we need, um, that we're coordinating, you know, quick transport if we or medications if we need to give them things. So we're always, you know, cat first. Um, and um we've just been it's been great.
SPEAKER_06Amazing. Like and and and keep going. I want to hear more.
SPEAKER_02No, that's that's great to hear. I mean, you know, like we said, we do work with best friends, but you know, the more that we hear stories like this, it just it's like so reaffirming that you know we continue to work with such a great organization, and you know, you have your own contact with the cats, and you know, we again we're more on the dog side, so it's just nice to see just well and their marketing team is getting involved too.
SPEAKER_04Like we did our first adoption event with them here. Hang on. A little love nibble um, and we're looking to do another one and then just partnering a lot more to get more exposure. So they're really invested in us, and we're a thousand percent invested in them, and it just feels like a really great relationship. I'm really grateful. Yeah, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_06That's amazing. Side note, I'm taking this one for myself.
SPEAKER_04You're taking the matcha? Oh, oh, right. She doesn't like banana. We'll get you a different matcha. No, it is it is very good. They're all really good though.
SPEAKER_02So it's bad. Oh man.
SPEAKER_06Delicious. Gosh. I live down the street, so like I gotta come in here and get some coffee. Yeah. For real.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Um, but you're not normally a matcha guy. So that's like he's been getting into it because I like drinking. He's like, okay, like, let me try.
SPEAKER_06So it's gotta be something good about it, right? Yeah. But this is probably the best one I've ever had. So congratulations.
SPEAKER_02Thank you.
SPEAKER_06You have my seal of approval.
SPEAKER_02And he'll be in here more. Um but you know. As I mentioned, you know, obviously like we follow you on Instagram and love the content and see like there's a lot of events that you guys do from like sound baths to crafts, but any of those like new exciting events that are coming up that you would like to share with others?
Partnership With Best Friends Animal Society
SPEAKER_04Sure. So we have more sort of in the works. Um where we have our clay date coming up on Friday where we're gonna be working with we'll see how it is. Like, really, I'm like, I just want to make sure that the cats are safe and everyone's happy. Um, but um we're really trying to infuse meditative art in the space. Yeah, so we're starting with clay, and um people will get to make whatever they want. So pinch pots or dishes, um, wind chimes, um, but through um air dry clay, um, we're working with breathe people. Um, and uh Rebecca is amazing. Um, she just makes these very intentional um art kits. So we're looking at also like meditative uh watercolor, um watercolor with cats. Um and um so we have a lot of those coming into the works and just themed too. So for those that are just looking to have some art time with cats, those that want to connect because you know they've gone through loss and they can, you know, kind of release those emotions, but also create in the spirit of um just certain things like that um we're bringing into the space, also looking at more sound bath and some yoga, some curlaches maybe.
SPEAKER_05I like it.
SPEAKER_04So more to come. We're just getting started. Um and we're also open to ideas. So we've been doing a lot of parties lately too. Really? Oh fun. Like from six-year-olds to sixty-year-olds. We've been having like a lot of birthdays, and that's been a really good evolution.
SPEAKER_06What like a fun, different activity to do for like celebration? That's that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04Oh, yeah, like the cat people love it. And like the parents love it too because it's not like, oh gosh, we got another party at this, like, you know, Chucky insane place. Yeah. I was like, I'm trying not to normally, but you know, like where the energy is like insane and I don't know where you take your kids these days.
SPEAKER_06I was gonna say, I hope for the parents' sake. I was gonna say, for the parents' sake, I'm hoping the kids are on decaf.
SPEAKER_04Oh yeah. We do like um busy spritz for them, like little sodas.
SPEAKER_06I'm sure they love that.
SPEAKER_04Um, but I mean, if anything, their kids are going home meowing, but they're not like you're welcome.
SPEAKER_02Like, I want to be a cat now.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, that's pretty much what happens. Yeah, I too can.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. And I'm sure they'll like remember that birthday forever. So definitely.
SPEAKER_06I always see cats. Um, or every time I come here, I always see kids like just connecting with the cats and begging their parents to take them home, you know, every time I'm here. So it's pretty, pretty awesome. And like, you know, good for anybody any age. Like, I've always I've every time I've come here, I've had such a blast and been like, you know what? Maybe I am a cat person, you know.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Um, but we do allow kids of all ages, which is not typical for um places like ours. Um, and and sometimes, you know, we have to work a little harder to make sure that everybody is is good in the space, but yeah, just feel like it's such an important part of a kid's development to really get to experience and understand cats in a space like this. Um, so uh it's really nice because when we get to help them make that connection and build that compassion and sensitivity to animals early on, like it's just it's really meaningful.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03And we're starting early with making those cat keepers.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, exactly. See, that's what I needed as a kid. You know, I needed that early introduction to cats, but my dad sadly is insanely allergic, so kind of like uh our coworker who's stuck on the other side of the grass.
SPEAKER_04Did I tell you my husband's allergic to cats? Oh, I didn't know that. Wow, but he's obsessed with cats now. He's like, it hurts so good.
SPEAKER_02He's like taking Benadryl and I mean, I like my first interaction with cats was my mom's friend, their cat had kittens, and they're like, come on over, bring her over, and I was a kid and started petting all the kittens, and then ended up with a full-on just having a reaction, complete reaction, rushing to the store to like get Benadryl. But I feel like even then I was like, I am gonna get over this. Like, I don't know how, but like I want a cat. Exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for me. And I mean, I didn't have a cat growing up or anything, but I was just like, I'm gonna have a cat one day, like, and yeah, ended up getting a cat like way later down the line. And I'm just like, I feel like people can grow out of it. That's all. I mean, sometimes it kind of flares up more than others, but for the most part, it's possible.
SPEAKER_04It's possible. I should just surprise my dad.
SPEAKER_06Just get him a cat. Let Lewis be like, sorry, man.
SPEAKER_05Like, don't eat much of that.
SPEAKER_06Oh man, that's amazing. Cool. So that is all the questions we have for you today. I don't know if you do you have any um final thoughts? Any and do you want to shout out your social media, website, that kind of stuff?
Events: Meditative Art, Yoga, Parties
SPEAKER_04Oh, sure. Well, first, thank you guys so much for for coming and creating a little kitty city around here. It's really cute to see all the stuff that you guys have. And there's another thing getting knocked down by a cat. And seeing the cats explore. Yeah. Um, it's been really great to have you here, so thank you. And yeah, for those that don't know us, we're located in Thousand Oaks, California. Um, it is just outside of LA proper, but it's the most beautiful drive, especially right now. So enjoy the the scenic view as you make your way down the 101 and and come towards us. And we have a cafe, so you can hang out in the cafe anytime, or you can come into to the lounge. Um any uh any interaction in the space supports the cats in our care. Um, so so we appreciate it. Um and uh yeah, social media. We're on at Perlandia Cat Lounge with the RERs and we really lean into the purlia. So, yes, Perlandia Cat Lounge.
SPEAKER_06All right, well, go ahead and give them a follow to everyone who's still with us right now. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Also, give us a follow on on all social media platforms Instagram, TikTok. You know them all. Give us a follow. Um, but cat, thank you so much. This has been absolutely incredible, and I am definitely slowly morphing into a cat person. So thank you so much. And thank you. Yeah, thank you everybody for watching, and stay tuned for more.
SPEAKER_01Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch Podcast, where good pets get it. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow and shop all real grass supplies at freshpatch.com.
