Purr Haus is located at 27 S. Seventh St. and opened in Emmaus on November 27th. The picture shows the owner Laurie Mason and her husband Tim Schroeder.
A new boutique in Emmaus will definitely become the cat’s meow.
Purr Haus is located at 27 S. Seventh St., the owner Laurie Mason describes it as "the best thing for cats and cat lovers". The store opened on November 27th across from the CVS Driveway. The space was formerly an office and previously an antique shop. Its name is a tribute to the rich German-American history of Lehigh Valley.
For cats, Purr Haus offers a variety of cat supplies, including beds, bowls, carriers and toys. For human companions, there are cat-themed clothing and accessories, such as T-shirts, dresses, leggings and winter hats, as well as glassware, greeting cards, and umbrellas.
One section is devoted to cat food, such as dried sardines and tuna flakes. The other part provides convenient beauty products, shampoo and overall anti-flea solutions when bathing and brushing your teeth.
Items that customers may have trouble finding at large retailers include blankets matching the host and their cat, and organic catnip toys decorated with images from popular TV shows such as "Golden Girl" and "Hit Creek." The store also has a backpack cat cage with windows that makes the cat look like an astronaut when going to the vet.
There are also household items decorated by local artists, who donate part of their profits to animal shelters, and products that encourage domestic cats to release their inner tigers through play. Guests listened to cat-themed tunes, such as "Kitty Kat" by Beyoncé and "What's New Pussycat" by Tom Jones. A slogan labeled "Tell me about your cat" allows shoppers to share personal stories with Mason.
“Customers’ eyes brightened when they saw it, and we always had a good time talking,” said Mason, a native of Bucks County who now lives in Upper Milford. "They showed me the photos, and we laughed at their stupid antics. Thinking about it, there really aren't many places where'cat people' can talk to like-minded people."
Once, Mason allowed a cat to hang out in the store during a private date with a customer. Mason said that the kitten chose its own bed, toys and backpack.
Mason and her husband Tim Schroeder have always claimed to be cat lovers, and they have owned them for decades. The couple currently owns four cats and are raising three more cats through the start of rescue animals (SOAR) through a non-profit organization located in Lehigh Valley.
But they will tell you that it wasn't until 2011 that they developed a new passion for rescuing homeless cats in the Caspian Valley.
After Mason bought their first home, he found a cat and three newborn kittens in the backyard. Before she found a way to catch wild cats and adopt them, the female cat became pregnant again. Mason and Schroeder found zero luck with the help of the area animal shelter, and most people told them they were full or their bank accounts were empty, Mason said.
"As a person who has always believed that he knows cats well, I am ashamed to learn that I know very little about the rescue world," Mason said. "We see cats roaming freely in our community and think that they survive by catching mice and living the best outdoor life. The reality is that most of them are starving, dying of disease, and Was knocked down by a car. Overpopulation makes this life even more miserable."
In the end, a friend with a rescue relationship helped Mason trap the female cat and sent her to a foster home, where she later delivered the kitten safely. Mason left the remaining two kittens indoors.
"Kittens born outside will suffer," Mason said. "The volunteers who catch these cats, vaccinate them, and repair them are angels on earth. They don't get the support they deserve."
As a reporter for a local newspaper, Mason was able to write articles about the Lehigh Valley Animal Welfare Organization. She initially planned to become a teacher, but while attending Bucks County Community College, a journalism course allowed her to start writing. Mason received his associate degree in liberal arts in 1996.
Sometimes, there will be more difficult news reports that contain similar information about animal rescues. For Mason, the most striking thing is that she reported the story of a pig Nemo, who escaped from a devastating barn fire in Lynn Town in 2019, killing 4,000 animals.
After reporting breaking news in the newsroom, Mason also found shelter among her pets. She said that sometimes, the only thing that can make her decompress and fall asleep is to hug a purring cat on her lap.
"I often joked that when I wrote an autobiography, I would name it'From Murder to Meow'," Mason said, referring to her report on the murder. "I have talked to many people and they found that the cats around are therapeutic."
Mason retired from the newspaper industry last year to help motivate her goal of opening a boutique. This incident has been in her mind since she participated in the cat convention in Asbury Park, New Jersey with her husband in 2008.
At the conference site, there was a huge crowd, waiting in line for admission, and small batches of cat food were sold by hawkers. Mason believes that the area needs something similar, and points out that some places have dog supplies one after another, with only one corner dedicated to cat supplies.
"I realized...'cat people' like me like to shop with like-minded people, buying products that are not only cool but also support a certain cause," Mason said.
In the boutique, Mason struggled to find products that set her apart from the competition.
She bought a cat toy "Dezi and Roo" designed by a veterinarian, and a T-shirt from "Kittees", a California-based women's company that donated a certain percentage of its profits to the no-kill shelter.
Mason emphasized that the main focus of the current business is physical stores. This allows her to frequently change inventory while supporting small-volume manufacturers who cannot complete online sales orders. In addition, she said, shopping in a boutique is an "experience", not something you can get online.
Mason plans to incorporate more cat rescue missions into its business in the future. She invited the rescue team to take a few adoptable kittens to an area outside the boutique on a specific day. These groups also have the opportunity to leave educational manuals and recruit members.
Mason also hopes to cooperate with other local businesses (such as breweries) to carry out cat rescue fundraising activities. She also plans to donate part of the sale of each Purr Haus logo T-shirt and baseball cap to a distinctive cat rescue organization.
"Cat people are a passionate breed. They not only care about their pets, they also care about the plight of all cats," Mason said. "I think Purr Haus will eventually become the center of the Silicon Valley cat community. Here, you can choose a great new toy for your cat, or a fun cat-themed gift for your friends, and learn how to help the locals in need s cat."
The boutique is open from Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 7 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.
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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann can be contacted at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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