KALAMAZOO, MI - Opening a cat cafe wasn't always a part of 28-year-old Abbey Thompson's plan.

Thompson studied psychology in college and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in the subject. She wanted to eventually become a child psychologist.

But after a trip to Australia nearly a year ago and a visit to Sydney's Catmosphere Cat Cafe, she was hooked.

"Literally anyone who knows me, knows that this is all I've talked about for a year," said Thompson, a residence hall director at Western Michigan University. "It's all I'm ever thinking about."

Cat cafes are small shops that offer a coffee shop atmosphere with the addition of cats.

There are a handful of these popular cafes throughout Michigan, including Catfe Lounge in Ferndale, Tiny Lions in Ann Arbor and Happy Cat Cafe coming soon to Grand Rapids.

"I love coffee and I love cats and I want to open that up to other people," she said.

The Kzoo Cat Cafe will include a selection of beverages, snacks and of course, adoptable cats.

Thompson has two cats of her own but her experience with the animals comes from time spent volunteering at animal shelters. She's also partnered up with Cat Nap Lodge in Richland.

Cat Nap Lodge, a non-profit cat rescue, will provide adoptable cats and the cafe will use their adoption process. The process consists of an application, screening and a veterinarian reimbursement fee of $150, which includes an exam, feline leukemia test, vaccinations, spay/neuter and flea/parasite treatments.

"It will be really beneficial for them, because they're so small, they can almost double the number of cats that they can now take in by having cats living at the cafe," she said of Cat Nap Lounge. "So I think it will be a really beneficial partnership on both ends."

To raise the initial $15,000 needed to obtain a location, Thompson is using kickstarter.com. With Kickstarter, money is pledged and the project has 30 days to raise the amount sought. If they don't meet that deadline, they will not receive any of the funds.

Thompson said her goal, pending the success of the Kickstarter, will be to open by summer. While most of the details are still being worked out, she said they plan to be open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weeknights and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Patrons will be charged $15 upon entry and Thompson said unlike other cat cafes, no time limit will be set and there will be no reservations.

"Having a background in psychology, I totally understand the concept of therapy animals or emotional support animals and this is kind of an extension of that," she said. "Especially if you can't have one or don't want to, you don't want the commitment or the cost. This is another alternative really to that."

For more information or to make a donation, visit the cafe's Kickstarter or Facebook page.