For South Hills residents who like their weekends with a side of whiskers, Kitty Co. Cat Rescue and Lounge has officially opened in Bridgeville, offering a new spot to relax with adoptable cats in a homey setting.
The Baldwin Street lounge is set up with cushy seating, climbing shelves, and plenty of interactive toys so visitors can spend time with both kittens and adult cats outside a traditional shelter environment. The nonprofit rescue says walk-in hours, small private events, and volunteer shifts are all part of the plan to support more adoptions.
Kitty Co.'s public sessions kicked off Saturday at the Baldwin Street storefront, with regular walk-in hours listed as 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, according to Axios. Visitors are asked to slip on shoe covers, follow basic house rules, including no lifting cats without permission and no unsupervised children under 16, and pay a short-session fee. Axios lists pricing as $6 per 30 minutes and $10 per hour.
Founder and nonprofit roots
Savannah Johnston began rescuing cats during the pandemic and grew that work into Kitty Co., now structured as a mission-driven nonprofit, the organization says. The rescue highlights its 501(c)(3) status along with a focus on spay and neuter services and veterinary care on Kitty Co.'s website. Borough business listings place Kitty Co. on Baldwin Street alongside other pet-focused operations, underscoring its role in Bridgeville's established pet-care corridor, according to Bridgeville Borough.
Why cat lounges can help adoptions
Supporters of cat lounges say that relaxed, living-room-style visits can reveal an animal's true personality much better than a noisy shelter. Short, calm interactions with animals are linked to reductions in stress markers such as cortisol, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The space is intentionally designed for low-pressure visits, and Axios notes that you do not have to be ready to adapt to stop by, something staff says can actually speed up the process of matching people with the right cats.
How to visit or help
Kitty Co. is recruiting volunteers, lining up foster homes, and planning to open the lounge for small events, with the rescue directing would-be volunteers and adopters to its site for applications and up-to-date hours. Adoptable cats from Kitty Co. also appear on online adoption platforms, where several kittens and adult cats are currently listed. For details on location, hours and fees, visit Kitty Co.'s website, and check current adoptable animals on Adoptapet.
