Picture this: John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” plays softly as the scent of a pumpkin candle floods your senses. All of the sudden, I’m having coffee in the company of a little cat. All of my troubles seemed to fade away.

This was my experience inside one of the newest additions to downtown Grand Junction: a cafe where customers hang out with cats. I got to do so on a recent Saturday.

In conjunction with Dog Dynasty, a dog grooming and daycare center, The Downtown Cat is just one door down in the same building at 1649 Main St.

I entered and passed a sign warning, “Don’t let the cats out,” and I was met with a warm lean from PK, a sweet black and white spotted kitty.

Gentle mews filled the room and toys were strewn about as if to invite anyone that enters into a game of fetch.

Or whatever kind of game cats play. Some cats basked in the sunlight, which  filled the windowsill. There the cats sat in a pile of each other akin to a caveman style of snooze.

The Downtown Cat is a new establishment that has worked with The Loma Cat House to get cats adopted into their forever homes. On Saturday, Aug. 30, The Loma Cat House held an adoption event at The Downtown Cat, which was reportedly successful, as many cats found their families.

The event also featured Taqueria El Camino, a local Mexican food truck. The Downtown Cat values supporting other small businesses in the area. They hosted a small makers market with several small businesses at their grand opening on Aug. 9.

The Downtown Cat housed a variety of cats with different ages and abilities. I was told the story of a cat who was adopted a week before the adoption event that only had three legs. At the Loma Cat House, it received the support it needed to function independently and find a forever home.

Entrance into the cafe is $9 per person and proceeds go to help fund these types of events, as well as to take care of the cats while they are at The Downtown Cat.

In addition to adoption initiatives, The Downtown Cat is a cat grooming and boarding facility. They have been in business since 2011.

Local Mesa County resident Shay Harlow visited The Loma Cat House and The Downtown Cats’ adoption event.

“I have too many cats, so it is hard not being able to adopt but I totally would if I could,” Harlow said. “I love that this business saw a need, or maybe a strong want, within the community, and seized the opportunity, because it’s been extremely successful and helps a good cause; and there’s nothing like it here.”

The Downtown Cat is a great, family-friendly experience for any cat lover. The cats room has cat toys and human toys with board games such as “Cat-opoly” and cat themed tic-tac-toe.

And just when you think The Downtown Cat and Dog Dynasty couldn’t get any better, a parakeet said goodbye to me on my way out the door. Not for adoption, but still stealing people’s hearts.

In the lobby there are snacks and drinks while you wait for your furry friend to be done with their grooming, or just to hang out after a visit with the cats.

Even if someone can not adopt a cat right now, they are always looking for a friend to hang out.