OCALA, FL (352today.com) – For cat lovers, bookworms and anyone looking for a cozy new hangout spot, Purrs and Pages is preparing to open its doors and welcome the community one purr at a time.
The new cat cafe and bookstore, located at 1216 E Silver Springs Blvd., will officially open June 5, 2026, offering visitors the chance to relax with books, snacks and adoptable cats in a calm, cat-friendly environment.
Owners Amanda Damron and Matt Gray said the idea for the business began after visiting cat cafes in other Florida cities with their families and wondering why Ocala did not have one of its own.
“We were like, ‘Why doesn’t Ocala have one?” Damron said.
What started as an idea quickly turned into reality.
“Six to eight months later, here we are,” Gray said.
The pair said they wanted to create more than just a business. Along with wanting to bring a new family-friendly attraction to Ocala’s eastern side, where they feel there are fewer entertainment and gathering spaces compared to other parts of the city, their ultimate goal is to provide a welcoming space for the community while also helping rescue cats find forever homes.
“We wanted to give people the experience of it as well as helping out the shelters and community, help the cats find forever homes,” Gray said.
The front portion of the business features a bookstore and retail area filled with cat-themed books, gifts, artwork and merchandise, along with pastries and bottled drinks. The cat lounge, located separately in the back, will allow guests to reserve timed visits with the cats.
“Everything is cat-themed,” Damron said. “We have tons of cat-themed books. We also have pretend kitty cats, if you can’t adopt a real one.”
Purrs and Pages plans to house approximately four permanent resident cats along with 12 to 15 adoptable cats from local rescue organizations at a time. Guests interested in adoption will be able to scan QR codes connected to each cat to access information and complete the adoption process directly through the partnering rescues.
Gray said the business also hopes to help ease overcrowding at local shelters, particularly during kitten season.
“There are lots of great pets out there that need a forever home,” Gray said. “People don’t need to go to some custom breeder. They can adopt from these shelters and get a great loving pet for their family.”
In addition to the cat lounge and bookstore, the owners plan to host community events including cat yoga, meditation sessions, painting nights, bingo and literacy-focused activities for children.
“We have a lot of activities planned to be interactive and engaged with the community,” Damron said.
The owners also hope to encourage reading and screen-free activities for children through future literacy programs.
“We’re hoping to have Sunday mornings where kids can come in, hang out with the cats and have somebody from the community read books to them,” Gray said. “We want to bring back that love of reading.”
The business is also intentionally taking a slower approach to its opening in order to help the cats comfortably adjust to the new environment.
“We can’t exactly do a huge grand opening because it would stress the cats out too much,” Gray said.
The business is currently accepting donations of books and cat supplies for the cafe and resident cats. Community members interested in donating are encouraged to contact the business through social media or by phone at 352-581-5822 until regular business hours begin after opening. The owners also created an Amazon wishlist featuring supplies for the cats and lounge area.
Hours of operation and additional grand opening details are expected to be announced closer to opening day. Reservations for the cat lounge and future events will be available through the business website.
“At the end of the day, if somebody leaves here happy and maybe a cat finds a forever home, then we’ve done what we wanted to do,” Gray said.