Melissa has been a rescuer of cats since she was a little girl. The rescue and foster genes are in her blood as her father, a sheriff of a small town in Illinois, was always one to feed, rescue and find homes to stray alley cats.

Pruitt’s inspiration to take action came from Adam Myatt and Anne Dunn, the owners of Cat Town, the United States’ very first cat café in Oakland. After paying a visit, Melissa immediately knew that this is what she wanted to do. She loved the idea that cats can get out of the stressful environment of a shelter, and into a safe place where they can roam free, relax, and receive healthy attention.