BRANSON, Mo. – Guests at Branson’s lone cat cafe can expect to have more room to lounge and more felines to lounge with in the future as an expansion of Mochas and Meows is underway.
Mochas and Meows owner and founder Mary Trexler opened her business and rescue on Nov. 1, 2019 at Falls Shopping Center. The cafe is divided from the feline rescue portion of the building, Purrr-adise Lounge.
Trexler told The Heartlander her current feline residents have just 1,200 square feet to roam and only 10 guests can lounge with them at one time. A current expansion of the cafe looks to provide an additional 3,300 square feet for cafe customers to enjoy their beverages before going to hangout with the felines.
The rescue partners with the Branson Humane Society, and is an official behavior-based rehabilitation facility for felines.
“More so than just fostering with the intent to adopt, we are a behavior-based rehabilitation facility for rescue cats,” Trexler said. “We specialize in the older cats, the ones who are less likely to get adopted.”
Money from the cafe goes back to the feline rescue mission. In the three years of its existence, over 170 cats have been fostered and adopted. In July of 2022, the city of Branson recognized Trexler and her establishment with the “You’ve Been Caught Doing Something Good” award for her efforts to pair humans with often-forgotten furry companions.
Trexler also hosts her Childhood Abuse & Trauma Survivors program on Thursdays at 6 p.m. The group was founded in 2020 and is an in-house, peer-led therapy support group for victims of childhood abuse and trauma.
All 27 cats within Purrr-adise Lounge are adoptable except for four permanent residents who have made Mochas and Meows their forever home. After the expansion, Trexler hopes to foster close to 45 felines at one time.
“It is the most relaxing atmosphere to be in. You can sit around and sip your coffee with a cat in your lap.”
Trexler’s favorite feline – Blue, a permanent resident who came from the county shelter’s euthanasia list – seemed difficult to deal with at first. Trexler says it took five weeks before anyone could touch him. Now, Blue finds pleasure in welcoming guests at Mochas and Meows where he can often be found curled up on a customer’s lap.
Customers are not allowed to bring food into the feline portion of the establishment, but are welcome to bring their drinks for the experience.
“The environment is not perfect for every cat. But the majority who come to me leave with their forever family,” the owner said.
Trexler has enrolled online at the Animal Behavior Institute and plans to become a certified feline behaviorist. The business owner says her passion is taking care of and educating others about cats. Her goal is to hold a feline workshop with small children to teach them how to properly handle felines, and to identify body language and behaviors so the next generation of pet owners are well-educated.
For more information about Mochas and Meows, visit its website.
