The next step in the progress toward Denver's first cat cafe is complete: A lease has been signed for a space at 3929 Tennyson Street in the Berkeley neighborhood. Located between Okinawa Sushi and Downpours Coffee, the future home of the Denver Cat Company is on a stretch that includes Hops & Pie and Axios Estiatorio, and will see the addition of Atomic Cowboy and Denver Biscuit Company—among others—in the future.

Sana Hamelin, the founder of Denver Cat Company, is hoping for a November 15 opening date, but could possibly speed things up and start welcoming cat-lovers by the end of the month. If the doors open before October 25, when Oakland's Cat Town Cafe is slated to debut, Denver could beat out the California city for the country's first cat cafe.

Once complete, Denver Cat Company will offer coffee, tea, snacks, and likely beer and wine. Working with the Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue, cats will rotate at the cafe and be available for adoption. Curated local art and wine-and-painting classes are also part of the plan, with the help of partner gallery Teller Street Gallery.

In the meantime, a crowdfunding campaign has been extended to bolster the funds needed, and Teller Street Gallery is offering a painting fundraiser on Saturday, October 25.

· Now Is Your Chance to Support Denver's First Cat Cafe [EDen]

· Everybody Panic: Denver May Get Its Own Cat Cafe [EDen]

· Atomic Cowboy & Denver Biscuit Company Will Open in Berkeley [EDen]