Catlands, Montgomery County’s first adoptable cat lounge, is preparing to begin construction on its upcoming Kentlands location, with a late November or early December opening now being targeted.
The MoCoShow first reported in July that Catlands was planning to open at 375 Main St. in Gaithersburg, taking over the space previously home to the short-lived Baby Bar, which operated in 2023. After Baby Bar closed, signage for Colour Couture Salon was installed at the location, though the business ultimately never opened.
Owner Shannon Irlander recently shared additional details with The MoCoShow about how Catlands will operate and its focus on finding homes for rescue cats. “At its heart, Catlands is about helping rescue cats find their forever homes,” Irlander said. “All of our cats will come through our local rescue partner and will be available for adoption.”
The cats will live in a comfortable, free-roaming environment where they can socialize, play and interact naturally with visitors while waiting to be adopted.
Guests will book 50-minute sessions to spend time with the cats, allowing potential adopters to get a better sense of their personalities before deciding whether to adopt. Irlander said the hope is that the additional interaction will help lead to more successful adoptions.
The boutique concept will combine a cat lounge with an adoption experience, inviting guests to “play, lounge, adopt” while interacting with adoptable cats in a relaxed setting.
Catlands had initially been targeting an October opening, but the timeline has since shifted. According to Irlander, construction is expected to begin as soon as possible, with the buildout anticipated to take approximately six weeks.
Once construction is complete, the cats will be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings before Catlands begins welcoming guests. The business is now hoping to open in late November or early December.
