PET lovers across the south will have the purr-fect place to unwind as plans are underway to open the first cat café in Bournemouth.

Feline fanatic Jaya Da Costa has today launched a £25,000 crowdfunding campaign to open Pause Cat Café where people will be able to cuddle rescue cats over a coffee.

Cat cafes first took off in Japan 10 years ago and have since been set up in areas across the UK, attracting long waiting lists.

The 34-year-old said: “My cat Rooney used to be incredibly scared of people. I was going through a tough time, my mum had cancer and I was mourning the loss of my best friend.

“Rooney and I healed each other and I began to realise the value of human-animal interaction.

“Earlier this year I happened across a cat café during a trip I won to Milan. I knew straight away that I had to bring the concept to our local community.”

The cafe, at Old Christchurch Road, near Horseshoe Common, will have 12 resident rescue cats roaming its two floors and will promote rescuing felines.

People who cannot have pets will be able to book an hour’s slot for £5 to interact with the cats to fund their care and community projects.

Jaya said animal welfare is paramount and she has consulted experts, charities and academics as well as working closely with the local council animal welfare and environmental health departments.

More than £105,000 has already been raised but the remaining £25,000 is needed to transform the former estate agents into a cat-friendly space which will include microchip activated areas where cats can be alone, exercise equipment, an isolated health care unit as well as fund vet and animal behaviourist advice and a CCTV system to monitor the cats.

Jaya said: “Please help to make Pause Cat Cafe a safe haven for our rescue cats, with everything they could wish for.

“Your contribution will enable us to support our local community and promote the therapeutic interaction between humans and animals.”

For more information search Pause Cat Café on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To donate to the crowdfunding site, go to https://igg.me/at/pausecatcafe