The writing was on the wall for Prince, an all-white cat scheduled to be euthanized at an out-of-state animal shelter.

And life wasn’t looking promising for Grayson, who was found wandering in the Hometown Walmart parking lot after someone splashed a substance in his bright eyes.

While the two - along with 10 other rescued felines - still need furrever homes, they’re enjoying a stay at Coal Cats Café in Tamaqua, where they play with customers, enjoy long naps and bask in the sunlight.

Folks can come into the 209 W. Broad St. shop for a beverage or a snack - but the owners say that’s not what it’s all about.

“Our mission is to get the cats adopted,” said Ron Chamberlain, who opened Coal Cats Café with his wife, Kim, less than a month ago.

The shop has a café, a gift shop and a room strictly for the foster cats. Inside, visitors can cuddle, pet and engage the cats with an array of toys.

Ron said the cats are rescues from Starting Over Animal Rescue of Andreas. All are spayed, neutered and treated for any other issues.

“They’ve been just great,” he said of the nonprofit.

The Walnutport area couple plans to add a few more cats to the mix, and when one gets adopted, they’ll get another one in.

“We just had our first family apply to adopt one,” Ron said.

Visits are not only fun for the customers, who pay a fee for 45 minutes inside the “cat den,” but good for the cats, who enjoy the attention.

Ron said he began thinking about the venture about eight years ago when his daughter, Jenna Dowling, and friend visited a cat café in North Carolina.

“Her friend brought back a cat,” he said. “I heard about it and I thought that it was a really neat idea. I always had it in the back of my mind and now I had an opportunity to do it.”

Ron said he often drove through Tamaqua while renovating properties around the region.

“I felt something. I felt this is where I wanted the cat café to be,” he said. “I love the town. I love it. It’s an awesome town.”

He purchased the property in November, and overhauled it with the help of family and friends.

He added windows for the cats - and humans - to peer out, and tacked cat walks to the walls. There are areas for the kitties to perch, and places for them to hide.

“There are no cages,” Kim said. “They have free roam.”

As for the theme - it’s all about coal mining, Ron said. He built a coal delivery wagon, and added a mine shaft and coal car. Old mining lamps and other paraphernalia serve as decorations.

He explained that cats once played an important role in mining operations. They kept the rodent population down, and thus, saved the horses and mules from sickness and disease, he said.

The Chamberlains recently added a large cage with tortoises. Fish tanks will be next.

“The cats just love watching fish,” Ron said.

Coal Cats Café sells T-shirts, cat toys and cat treats.

The grand opening was earlier this month on the same weekend as the Tamaqua Area Historical Society’s Heritage Festival.

“We had 500 to 600 people come through,” Ron said. “I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting us.”

Coal Cats Cafe is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be found at www.coalcatscafe.com or on Facebook. Call 570-710-4095 for more information.