The San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission pounced on the opportunity to approve a cat café in downtown San Marcos at 235 N. LBJ Drive, next to the Stellar Café, on May 9.

Commissioners voted 6-3 in favor of approval with a variety of amendments and conditions to allow the Cattery Lounge & Snackery, which will allow customers to snack on prepackaged foods and drinks prepared offsite while interacting with cats that are up for adoption.

Michael and Mikaela Kelton, owners of the Stellar Café, which shares a wall with the Cattery Lounge, spoke in opposition to the proposal, saying the potential for odors and allergens to affect their customers could negatively affect their business.

One of the coffeeshop’s employees has already gotten an EpiPen in case of an allergic reaction to the cat’s next door.

“A loss of an employee would be even worse [than losing customers],” Mikaela said.

Several people spoke in favor of the Cattery Lounge & Snackery, which is in the process of becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The lounge will partner with PAWS, a nonprofit animal shelter in Kyle.

Kirsten Peek, who is on the organization’s board of directors, said the location downtown could provide better access to cat adoptions and improve the county’s capacity to manage animal homelessness.

“My time as an adoption counselor with PAWS showed me San Marcos needs more accessible adoption options,” Peek said. “There are no regular adoption options in downtown San Marcos.”

The business had to go before the commission because in the area where the cafe has been proposed, city codes do not automatically allow kennels. The business applied to the city for a warrant allowing the use.

The proposal’s approval came with amendments, including items requiring the litter boxes be elevated one foot off the ground and all trash bags holding cat waste be double-bagged with 3-millimeter bags. The business will also have to come before P&Z again one year after being granted a certificate of occupancy to have the warrant allowing it to operate a kennel downtown be considered for renewal.

The cafe will move into the space formerly occupied by Stratosphere Hookah Lounge. Before the cafe opens, Heather Aidala, executive director of the Cattery Lounge and Snackery, said the business must complete its building plan and be approved by the city's animal control division. June is likely the earliest the business could open, she said.

The cafe will be limited to no more than 10 cats and six kittens at any given time.