What's better than time spent petting cats? How about also enjoying coffee and pastries, and possibly taking home a new best friend?

Lancatster Cat Cafe will open later this fall at 222 N. Duke St., Lancaster. The business will feature adoptable cats from Columbia Animal Shelter, along with a cafe space. The cat cafe is owned and operated by Jax Lanza, who believes it's just what Lancaster needs.

"As soon as I moved to Lancaster about three years ago, I was immediately taken with its vibrancy and the way it cultivates creativity in our community of artists, makers and small businesses," Lanza said. "For this reason, I was surprised that we didn't have a cat cafe! Cat cafes are becoming more and more popular in big cities and smaller ones, as more people are appreciating the love that we all share for animals and their well-being."

Lanza first visited a cat cafe in San Francisco and fell in love with the concept, adding, "Since then, I've tried to go to one in every new city I travel to."

Partnering with Columbia Animal Shelter was a natural fit.

"I've visited Columbia Animal Shelter before as a patron/just a guest and couldn't believe how wonderful the space was," Lanza shared. "Everything was so clean. The cats were so relaxed, and the staff was incredibly helpful. I knew that I wanted to work with them because of the attitude they have towards the animals they help and their mission to create a more humane environment for animals, provide education to the community and foster a love of pets. All of these points align perfectly with my own mission."

As Lanza explained, the cat cafe will be multifaceted. "Hypothetically, if someone is interested in just coming in to have some coffee and a pastry, they will be able to sit and enjoy the cafe atmosphere without interacting with cats at all," Lanza remarked. "However, if the plan is to play with cats, this will be reservation based. Folks will be able to call or go online to our website, which is coming soon, and book a 30-minute or hourlong reservation - fondly called 'Cat Seshes' - to spend time in the rooms with the adoptable cats free-roaming." Customers who are interested in adopting a cat will be directed to the Columbia Animal Shelter's website to apply online and will be contacted by shelter staff members for the next steps.

Lanza shared that opening a business required a leap of faith, explaining, "I never imagined myself being an entrepreneur or running a business at all. I have a background in education and taught special ed for five years before coming to Lancaster. Teaching was incredibly rewarding, and I am very passionate about providing accessibility to those with special needs."

After leaving teaching, Lanza became a barista in a busy coffee shop, which provided the perfect background for running the cafe portion of the Lancaster business.

Lanza hopes people will give Lancatster Cat Cafe a try.

"Adopting an animal is one of the greatest joys in life - knowing that by coming together, you and your new pet will be enhancing each other's lives and becoming enmeshed in such a unique way," Lanza said. "We adopt pets simply because we have love to give and want love in return. And I think that's beautiful."

To learn more about Lancatster Cat Cafe, follow the business on Facebook.