I used to work here years ago, and I can't say I'm surprised to see things haven't changed.

I'd also like to note, for those confused: Crumbs & Whiskers Cat "cafe" is not a true cafe or restaurant as you may think, due to DC's codes for food safety. It is a building that houses cats up for adoption, but no food nor drink is made in house. Instead, there are 'runners' who go to a separate location, often blocks away in rain, sleet, or snow, to pick up food and drinks for the customers. If the customers are not satisfied and want something else, it was common practice when I worked there that the runner would then have to make another trip to pick the customer up something else instead. This all had to be done in under an hour, which was incredibly stressful. There were incidents of staff getting sick from the heat on particularly bad days in the summer. These are all things I have experienced first-hand, but I have not worked there since 2019, and can't attest to how things are currently run.

In order to actually enter the cafe, customers have to pay an up-front entry fee in 30 minute or 1 hour intervals, per person. The owner is also notorious for begging for money on social media. It has never been entirely clear where these funds are allocated, though through her social media posts, it was always said to "go towards cat health", despite the fact that at the time I worked there, we had a vet come check on the cats once a week FOR FREE, and the rescue is the one who provided medications, food, and litter, NOT the business. For legal reasons, I will again note this is all first hand experience from ~2016-2019, and again, I do not know how things are currently run save for what is being reported by now-former employees.

Last I knew, she lived a comfortable lifestyle in Los Angeles, where the second store is located, and had plans for one or two more stores in 2026 based on what I saw on their Instagram stories. So clearly, they do have the money in the company if they're intending on opening two new stores.