In what has to be the best news of the season for cat-lovers, the city’s first cat café will officially open Dec. 14.

According to the latest Facebook update, Catfé has its business license and will serve its first customers next Monday at its location at 88 West Pender St., on the second floor of International Village.

The cat cafe phenomenon began in Taiwan and has spread throughout Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. The Vancouver location is the project of Vancouverite Michelle Furbacher, who raised $50,000 through an Indiegogo campaign to realize her dream of a business where humans and cats could mingle.

According to an interview with Beatroute magazine, Furbacher believes that cat cafés serve two purposes.

“Some people really want to be with animals but they can’t make that commitment,” she told the interviewer. And cats can bring people together. “In a lot of cafés everyone is just sitting on their computers,” she said. “I want people to be more interactive [by bringing them together] through their love of cats.”

Apparently, Furbacher received over 500 applications for barista positions.

Catfé has also partnered with the BCSPCA to help facilitate cat adoptions.