Health and safety has always been a priority at Cat & Craft. 

In light of the current events we are facing as a nation and global community, I want to detail some of our standard operating procedures – those that have been in place since the day we opened, as well as those we have now voluntarily implemented as we all continue to monitor developments around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

Such topics are usually not very interesting to the general public so I’ve refrained from delving into too much detail unless asked, but peace of mind is important during times like this and I speak for everyone at C & C when I say we are more than happy to be transparent with our operations – especially on the subject of maintaining the clean and safe environment we pride ourselves on. 

As a food service establishment we are monitored and licensed by the San Diego Department of Environmental Health; Food and Housing Division. We strictly follow all their health and safety regulations – which is how we’ve maintained our A rating with them – and our baristas conduct cleaning and sanitation duties throughout the day. 

If you’d like to learn more about the rules and regulations for food service establishments you can read about them here: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/deh/fhd/

To further support the health and safety of our employees and customers, we’ve chosen to implement additional measures in the cafe to help protect against the spread of any virus or pathogen. 

Given the cat lounge is a separate environment from the food prep area, it does not fall under SD/DEH guidelines.

However, thanks to the help of our partner, LYFF Rescue, we have a very stringent cleaning practice in place – which I want to detail for you here:

1. Use of hand sanitizer required before entering the cat lounge
2. Protective shoe covers provided for guests to cover shoes when entering the cat lounge
3. Before the first group of guests arrive each morning, a mixture of water and Top Performance 256 Disinfectant (which kills over 50 known viruses and pathogens, used throughout veterinary hospitals and animal boarding facilities around the country) is sprayed on all cat shelves, counter tops, cabinets and furniture surfaces. This is repeated multiple times throughout each day. 
4. All cat litter mats are washed and sanitized each morning.
5. All cat litter boxes are washed and sanitized each week. 
6. Wand toy handles and door handles are disinfected hourly each day. 
7. All bedding, towels, and floor coverings are regularly laundered in hot water with bleach. 
8. All glass windows in the cat lounge are cleaned twice per day with a vinegar and water solution (avoids airborne chemicals causing problems with cat respiratory health). 
9. We run two air purifiers with HEPA filters and a UV-C Sanitizer daily.
10. Upon closing each evening, the floor is cleared and mopped with Top Performance 256 Disinfectant.
11. Each Monday, we are closed so that we can conduct a “deep clean” of the cat lounge. This is typically a full 8 hour day spent cleaning the space. 
12. Effective this week, adoptable cat takeaway cards will be provided on request.
13. Also effective this week, no more than two individuals will be briefed in the cat lounge entry vestibule at a time, and anyone asking to be briefed individually will be accommodated. 

While we have not received any formal notice regarding procedural changes from the DEH, CDC, WHO or local government we are closely following and will abide appropriately to protect the health and safety of our customers and staff. 

The good news is… this too shall pass.

Thus far the CDC reports pets are not at risk https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals. And all of us who have had experience with cats know that a cat’s purr is a highly comforting experience when times are tough. 

We continue to be a space you can come to for comfort when the world around us gets a little scary and we appreciate your continued support as we get through these times together.