Online fundraiser created to help Tiverton cafe stay afloat, create rescue, after business temporarily shuts down, cats removed

A Tiverton eatery has to change their business model, at least temporarily.

Bajah’s Cat Cafe’s future is up in the air after the cats were removed Friday by the RISPCA and other organizations after it was learned that the business was also running a rescue without a license to do so.

Owner Amanda Souza, who was emotional after the cats were seized, apologized in a Facebook live video stating that she made a mistake and couldn’t refuse helping cats when they were brought to the business despite only being allowed to have cats from Forever Paws at the cafe.

Souza did not fault those who removed the cats noting that they were just doing their jobs. They were responding to a complaint that a cat was dead which Souza said wasn’t accurate, however, it was learned that Baja’s was missing a license for a rescue which led to all of the cats, over a dozen, being taken.

Souza also stated in the video that the organizations are working with her, leaving hope that at least the Forever Paws cats could return at some point.

For now, the cafe at 137 Main Road will be closed until possibly next Friday where it will re-open without the cats in the morning hours to hopefully stay afloat.

Souza had been working toward a legitimate rescue, and a GoFundMe fundraiser was created Friday evening to help make that a reality and to also keep the cafe in business.

“Hey everyone, this is Jayla and Antonia, the managers from Bajah’s Cat Cafe. We’re making this GoFundMe to help raise money towards our rescue, and to help the place get back up and running. Our mission is to properly get licensed and restart our rescue mission. We have been here for over a year working at the cafe and this was the most disheartening and upsetting thing to deal with. Watching the news, you’d see that we unfortunately got shut down, and had our cats removed due to licensing issues. Your support is going to directly help us to build this rescue. We are a registered 501 C3 at the end of the day. We appreciate your support greatly, as many people have reached out to see if they could help. Donating or coming in for a coffee or sandwich is helpful during this terrible time. Thank you!”