We welcome to our neighborhood and to the Cooper-Young business district The House of Mews. The House of Mews is a placement service for adopting homeless cats.

The House of Mews located at 944 S. Cooper (in the former Botanical location) is a new home for Puddy Tat Protectors (doing business as The House of Mews ). This non-profit group had been housed at Goodwin's Greenhouses in Germantown, but there was inadequate space and no air conditioning.

This is a unique venture that mixes the loving care that homeless kitties need until they can be adopted, and a business that provides money for the continued care of these adorable felines. The products carried at the House of Mews are local crafts that are sold on consignment, novelty, and cat care items, such as all natural food which is exclusively available at The House of Mews. All the revenues from the business will be turned back into the business. The 15 person staff at the House of Mews (all volunteers) have donated or raised all the money to start the project and have done nearly all of the renovation on the building.

The cats that are cared for here are adoptable. There are a few that are mascots for The House of Mews, but most of the four-legged creatures are up for adoption. Each adopted cat comes complete with its shots, a fecal exam, testing for feline leukemia, and an ID tag, all for a nominal charge. Before you take a kitty home though you can make an appointment to have the kitty spayed or neutered. Some of the kitties have been spayed or neutered already.

If you have a spare kitty, The House of Mews may take it in for care. You must make a donation and show that the kitty has had shots, been checked for feline leukemia, and feline AIDS. They only take in cats through prior arrangement so don't think that you can just dump a cat at their doorstep.

Since this is a non-profit endeavor, The House of Mews has some needs that you could help with. They always can use donations of time and money. Money donations are tax deductible. Donations of time - to hold a cat and give it love or to clean litter boxes or to work in the retail area - are also needed. Goods and services are needed especially veterinary.

The Cats are on a special diet so you can buy Precise cat food (available on the retail side) and donate it to the cat care side of the business. Don't be surprised though if you pick up a basket and find a kitten curled up taking a cat nap because many of the cats roam freely about the entire business.

Elaine Harvey manager of The House of Mews says "The best way for a person who loves cats to help, is to come on in and adopt a cat, or just send one dollar. If every cat lover in Memphis would just send one dollar it would help so much." Mrs. Harvey is also very much in support of spay / neuter programs. If you would like to adopt, volunteer, or donate call 272-3777.