Let me tell you a story.

[Animal Lovers] First year of dating - it was glaringly apparent that WTF Hubby loves animals. So I told him to make sure he freed up the days around his birthday, and I flew us out to LA.

To go live in an AirBnB in La Brea with two cute cats!

Shortly, we were buying allergy meds at Ralphs, because that was the weekend I learned Hubs was allergic to cats. Oops.

Despite the sniffles and the puncture wound one of the cats left in my Kate Spade bag, we really liked those spunky cats!

So if you’re a cat lover like us, we’ve got the purrfect date idea for you:

RAPS Cat Sanctuary

Address: 3380 No. 6 Rd., Richmond, BC (Just over the Knight Street Bridge)
Hours: Open Saturday + Sunday from 12 - 4pm
Tickets: $10 on Eventbrite

[HUNDREDS of cats in one place] I’m not even joking.
The Sanctuary is a forever home for hundreds of cats and kittens who have been abandoned or homeless. And they’re open to visitors!

It’s the place to get your dose of kitty love, especially if you can’t have a pet of your own.

Under the Sanctuary’s care, no animal is ever euthanized due to lack of space, treatable illness, physical defect, age, behavioural or socialization issues.

[A Call for Help] A few days after our wedding, Hubs & I were going to drop off supplies (bleach, paper towels, vinegar) for the cats at the Sanctuary and say a quick hello to a friend who volunteers there BUT our friend had a surprise for us!

[Surprises] She gave us this purr-ty wedding present! (You can find more of these beautiful rocks throughout the Sanctuary, so keep an eye out!)

Second surprise? We got to go inside the Sanctuary! Hubs & I were so excited! It was our first time!

[Play upon entry!] There are a ton of calm, cat-friendly areas to explore: misting station, giant cat tree, cat houses, gardens…

And many furry felines waiting to be pet! Remember to let them smell your hand first!

To help you keep a closer eye out for some new kitty friends, you’ll get to play Cat Bingo! Finish a row on your bingo sheet and claim a bag of cat treats that you can share with your new, cute friends!

[Get Edu-CAT-ed] While some of the cats are temporary residents and will be up for adoption after they’re socialized, WTF Hubby & I learned that many cats spend the rest of their life in the care of the Sanctuary.

Some kitties were surrendered, because someone out there have considered them “broken” (e.g, they’ve lost the ability to use the litter box, they’re seen as aggressive, or they’re sick). RAPS is awesome, because they’re founded with the vision that all animals deserve the right to live their best life - regardless of their behavioural or physical differences.

It makes us sad, but there are good people out there who volunteer their time at the Sanctuary and visitors like you who come keep these kitties company.

[Spend Your Date Doing Good] The entrance fee you paid on your date or visit goes back into helping these cats live their best life! It’s a win-win for everyone!

You and your significant other can also sponsor a Sanctuary Cat for $25/month. If there’s a cat that catches your attention during your visit, you can choose him/ her to be your Sponsor Kitty :)

You can also help by following @rapscatsanctuary on Instagram. The latest IG news is a call out for volunteers and donations of cat food!

Every little bit helps. Consider visiting, sponsoring, or donating this weekend! For more info, visit the RAPS Sanctuary website.