The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe offers cat cuddling, handmade crafts in Independence

A tiny Siamese kitten face pops up from the window down the hall of businesses on Main Street in Independence. Staring curiously at you, the kitten cocks its head before turning around scurrying into a cat tree. On the brown couch at the back wall is a brown and black cat, stretched out and batting a small toy beside it.

These cuties aren't just for admiring; they're also up for adoption. You can find them and others at The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe, where besides being able to adopt cats, you can pay to spend time with them in their space.

Owner Emily Samuelian said she didn't initially set out to open the cat "cafe" and support foster cat adoption.

The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe is the first of its kind in Independence. It offers a place for stray cats and kittens to get support in the form of shelter, food, medical care and a place for folks to adopt. The space is small, with just a few cats.

"My goal is to eventually be like NEKO Cat Cafe Seattle," Samuelian said. "They have around 20 cats, but that's my goal, to be bigger."

From crafts to cat rescue

Samuelian initially was looking for a retail space to sell her handcrafted goods, rather than be a cat rescue. She was selling jelly at the Monmouth Farmers Market, gradually adding various handmade goods she learned to make through the season.

But with the farmers market season ending, she didn't know where she would sell next. She looked at various retail spaces, but she didn't have enough items to fill up a shop on her own. Instead of just selling online or giving up, she began entertaining the idea of getting her own retail space to set up shop. And through her search for retail space, it occurred to her: I like cats, what's stopping me from running a cat cafe?

Samuelian said she had seen various cat cafes portrayed in videos from Japan and the well-known location in Seattle, but she had never gone to one. Her operation would not follow a traditional cat cafe with the "cafe" aspect. Per food handling guidelines, it would need to be in a separate space from the cats. Instead, alongside the cats, she would have her and other crafters' handmade goods for sale.

The name "little pumpkin" is inspired by Samuelian's "lifelong obsession" with pumpkins.

The first space The Little Pumpkin settled into was in suite G, just across from where she is now. She only stayed a month, but it was a crash course in figuring out her operation. Cats and kittens, boys Thackery and Oreo and girls Sassy and Fern, were all found and brought in to be adopted. Both pairs are bonded and must be adopted as pairs.

Now, the right side of the shop is where Samuelian has her and other vendors' handmade goods out for purchase. Items include earrings, stickers, ceramics, accessories, plants with containers and more. As you walk around, you might spot a gray cat padding around outside the fenced cat area. Meet Saturn, an old, blind cat that has affectionately become the shop pet of The Little Pumpkin.

Caring for cats to be adopted

Because folks are adopting directly from Samuelian, she said she can make sure the homes they're going to are a right fit. The issue with adoptions is sometimes owners won't always take the necessary steps for pets' proper care, simply viewing their newly adopted pet as an object, Samuelian said.

Since these cats were strays, they need training and routines to become socialized and relaxed, Samuelian said. Because there's more space to run around and play, they can "show off" their personalities.

For folks not interested in adopting, you can donate money for medical services the cats and kittens need or for sessions to sit in their space and play with them. The cost to sit 20 minutes with the cats is $15. For groups larger than four, Samuelian recommends scheduling visits ahead of time.

Cats, kittens at The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe

• Fern: A gentle lap kitten, very sweet and wiggly. In search of a lap to cuddle on constantly. Favorite toy: wand toy.

• Sassy: Siamese kitten who does not like to be petted. Must earn trust to be petted. Acts as Fern's bodyguard. Favorite toy: wand toy.

• Oreo: Mellow and affectionate, likes to hide under things and master escape artist. Favorite toy: laser.

• Thackery: Jealous type, always wants to be center of attention. Is easily excitable, plays on the rougher side and gives love bites. Favorite toy: laser.

For more on The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe, check out the website, thelittlepumpkincatcafe.com, and the Instagram page, @the_little_pumpkin_cat_cafe.

Address: 226 S Main St. Suite C, Independence.

Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemily.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: The Little Pumpkin Cat Cafe offers cat cuddling in Independence