The furry, four-legged denizens of Milky & Coco’s Kit-Tea Café need your attention. They cannot, after all, pet themselves.

Fortunately, since the café opened on July 24, there has been no shortage of people willing to step up to the plate and get those cats petted. Altogether, the new business on Fourth Plain Boulevard welcomed about 600 visitors on its first day (though not all at the same time), said Vince Le. He owns the café along with his girlfriend, Christianna Alfonso, and Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez.

“We’ve been going full speed,” Le said.

There are currently about 25 adoptable cats living at the café, Le said. The business, which allows customers to sip on craft coffee and tea drinks while visiting with feline companions, is a partnership with cat rescue Furry Friends. Volunteers from the Vancouver nonprofit are often on-site, taking care of the kitties and making sure everyone’s getting along. Furry Friends staff has carefully selected adult cats that are easygoing and social. So far, the business model is working: 16 cats were adopted in the first five days, Le said.

Alfonso theorized it’s because the cats are so relaxed. The kitty-visiting room — separate from the café and retail area — offers couches, chairs and cat-shaped rugs, as well as a plethora of cat trees and plush cat beds. It’s bright and spacious and each cat has plenty of space for prowling around or sprawling out for a luxurious sunbath.

“It’s just like being able to go into your living room at home,” Alfonso said.

The cat café is not only Vancouver’s first, but it’s also currently the only cat café in the greater Portland- Vancouver metro area, Le said. Le estimated that Milky & Coco’s Kit-Tea Café is the only cat café within a 65-mile radius. In fact, the closest cat café is in Corvallis, Ore., about 90 miles away. Another cat café is planned in Portland, though no location or opening date has been announced. It’s no wonder that business has been brisk, though Le and Alfonso said it took them a long time to find a landlord who was amenable to the concept.

“They didn’t see our vision. Big mistake,” Le said, grinning, as another bevy of customers walked in.

In addition to the three owners, Milky & Coco’s currently has eight employees, four part time and four full time. When the owners decide to hire more, there will be no lack of applicants. Over 400 people responded to the last job postings, Le said.

The café welcomes customers to enjoy a drink or a baked treat and linger at one of the tables. Among the delights on offer are cupcakes, turnovers from Vancouver bakery The Witch’s Kitchen, mini-pies, mouse-shaped pastries and pan dulce from nearby Martizz Bakery. The menu features coffee drinks with locally roasted Kafiex coffee and adorably punny names, like Cat-te, aka latte, and Kit-Tea Toe Beans, aka iced tea with round popping boba. Prices range from $4 to $7 and drip coffee is bottomless.

Customers can also browse the array of cat themed merchandise, such as earrings, keychains, stickers, figurines, branded sweatshirts, books and manga.

The bright turquoise walls and sparkly purple floors were custom-created for Milky & Coco’s, Le said. The colors are particularly appealing to cats (though the owners didn’t learn this fun fact until later). Visitors who look closely at the floor might also notice silver paw shapes sprinkled across the surface.

A glass wall separates the café from the cat socialization area, so customers can watch cat-human interactions while sipping a Cat-ppucino or Ameri-catto. Customers can book time in the cat room for $20 per hour, starting at the top of each hour. The meticulously clean and uncluttered cat area has a “socks only” policy to keep it sanitary; visitors can bring their own socks or buy socks for $2. Beverages can be enjoyed while cavorting with cats, but food must be eaten in the café.

“There were a lot of people who said, ‘Ew, the cats are going to get into the food,’ but that’s not how it works,” Alfonso said.

As with all cat cafes, the hourly fee pays for cat care, but Le and Alfonso said they’re trying to keep things affordable. The rate is slightly more expensive than Pawsific Northwest Cat Café in Olympia ($15 for 50 minutes) but less expensive than Neko’s Cat Café in Seattle ($25 for 45 minutes). Kids ages 8 to 18 get free admission with a paying adult. Children under 8 aren’t allowed in the cat area because sometimes kid-cat interactions can be stressful for both parties (not to mention parents).

Alfonso, who has a background in marketing, designed the café’s logo and website herself. The promotional plan also involves hosting events like cat yoga sessions, cat sip and-paint events and even cat sound baths because Le and Alfonso believe in the healing power of cats. The cafe was inspired in part by the owners’ real-life cats — Milky, Coco, Buttercup and Cleocatra — as well as by YouTube videos of Alzheimer’s patients interacting with cats. In this spirit, the owners plan to partner with HOPE Dementia Support and local assisted living facilities, offering kittypetting time for those who want it.

“It’s that therapeutic aspect of how you feel calm when you’re with cats,” Le said.

Monika Spykerman: 360-735-4556; monika. spykerman@columbian.com

CHILL AND CREATE WITH CATS

Register for all classes at milkyandcocoskitteacafe.com.

Paws, Sip and Paint: 6-8 p.m. Aug. 13 and 5-7 p.m. Aug. 16. An artist will guide the group through steps to create a cat-themed masterpiece to take home. Materials are provided. Drinks are available to buy. $55.

Cat Yoga: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 10 and 24, 9-10 a.m. Aug. 23. Stretch out and enjoy gentle yoga moves while surrounded by friendly, adoptable cats. Attendees should bring their own mats. $45.

Kitty Sound Bath: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 27 and Sept. 24. Relax and recharge during a sound bath with cats, led by Charlie Short. Experience the soothing vibrations of crystal singing bowls plus feline companionship. $45.

Terrarium Class: 6-7 p.m. Aug. 29. An instructor will lead attendees through the process of creating their own miniterrariums. Materials will be provided, including jars, soil, plants and decorative accents. $50.

MILKY & COCO’S KIT-TEA CAFE

Where: 5000 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Suite E103

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends

Cost: $20 per hour to visit with kitties, $4-$7 for beverages

Information: milkyandcocoskitteacafe. com or instagram.com/ milkyandcocoskitteacafe