Frisky Business on East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs is the first and only cat cafe in the Coachella Valley. Opened in December 2022, Frisky Business is where cats, community and kindness come together. Owned by Claire Rogers— and her partner in life and business, Sonny von Cleveland— the mission of the venture is to offer gourmet vittles, a cozy welcoming community space, feline appreciation and so much more! There are more than 4000 homeless cats in the Coachella Valley and Frisky Business partners with the Palm Springs Animal Shelter to give shelter cats greater visibility to be adopted; to date, more than 90 furry friends have found new homes.
Rogers— originally from Vancouver B.C.— immigrated to the U.S. after a more than 20 year stint in London, working as a model, in the corporate world and as a coach. At the time of the pandemic, she was helping others navigate corporate burnout. When Covid hit—and during 18 months of lockdown— Rogers says she reevaluated her life. She hadn’t seen her family in too long and wanted to be nearer to them, but after time in London she was over the rainy weather and chose the Coachella Valley. An animal lover and self-described ‘cat whisperer,’ she says she can turn the most scruffy and miserable kitty around. Cats at the cafe include many black cats— who tend to spend 75% more time in shelters— and felines whose owners have passed away.
But Roger’s mission is even greater than a devotion to kitty cats. Living in the UK, the news from the States had seemed dire; full of division and not the America she remembered. Her desire to create a safe and welcoming space — regardless of politics, economic status or abilities— led her to create Frisky Business. Before 10am, the pastries, coffee and cat love is free to those who can’t afford to pay. She says: “Nobody should be lonely or by themselves.” The mission goes further by hiring folks with disabilities: “We've crafted and put into action thorough policies to promote inclusivity and diversity in our hiring practices, with a focus on individuals with disabilities. Our commitment extends to offering 4-month paid internship programs uniquely designed for this community. More than just a short-term opportunity, this program serves as a pathway to long-term career development. Interns gain invaluable skills that empower them to pursue permanent positions within our organization or elsewhere, with a special emphasis on roles related to animal welfare, customer service, and barista skills.”
The clientele is full of regulars including Dayna Steele who says: “My husband is allergic to cats so sometimes I go over there and take my laptop and just hang out with the fur babies.“
The “ripple effect of kindness” Rogers envisioned, is taking root and she says many regulars will ‘pay it forward’ and buy a coffee for someone who might need it.
A classically trained chef, Rogers says she knew she couldn't do it all, and curates her menu with mouth watering local fare including freshly roasted coffee from Coachella Valley Roasting Company, matcha, soothing teas, an array of baked goods from Aspen Mills Bakery, and savory vegan sandwiches from Chef Tanya’s kitchen. It wasn’t easy to open, she says. It took nearly 16 months and navigating through a lot of red tape, but the thriving business and community space is definitely giving her the life purr-pose she craved.
