House of Mews Memphis, Arkansas

Lived in midtown for years and always knew of House of Mews. Now that I’m an adult with my own place and finances I can now provide a forever home for a cat to help keep me company through this pandemic. When I emailed this owner initially their response was within 24 hours fast. Now, almost a week after sending my application, complete silence. Just unprofessional in my opinion. Seems like it’s very rare people get to adopt from this “organization.” If you’re looking to adopt don’t get your hopes up or waste any time here and just try somewhere else like Mewtopia

Sporadically open. Hours are not correct. The lady who owns it is a nut.

This place has not changed in over a decade. The cats are treated pretty well, and have a pretty cool place to explore and lounge around in until they MIGHT be adopted. The owner of this place has been consistently rude. She is more like a cat hoarder than a rescuer and this place is just where she can keep them. She consistently ignores part of the whole rescue mission which is education. Instead of vetting potential adopters and volunteers for their potential to be a good home, she just decides whether or not you are up to her standards. And chances are, even if you are a good cat owner, you will not meet her arbitrarily high standards. I see a lot of people on here commenting about rude workers, and chances are they have actually dealt with the owner herself. If this place really cared about re-homing rescued cats and not just sheltering them for as long as possible, they would work to improve in their capacity to educate potential adopters without immediate judgement. Plenty of people out there make WONDERFUL homes for rescued animals even beginners. Everyone has to start somewhere and working towards the goals of an actual rescue would include pairing people with a cat that is a good fit for their home, EVEN if they are first time cat owners. Rejecting people at every opportunity simply because they need some guidance and direction is not the way rescue should work.

Lots of cutes cats that need loving homes and families

I appreciate all the effort and care Elain puts into talking care of her kitties to make certain they go to good, safe homes. I adopted a kitty from HOM seven years ago. When the time came to find another kitty as a companion to the first one, I approached HOM, even though it was closed due to Covid-19. Since I wasn't certain how long it would take to make contact I made inquiries about another couple of kittens elsewhere. I happened to be chosen to take a kitten from another location. As I drove home after having picked the little boy up, Elain called to set up a meeting at HOM. When she found out I had a kitten from another place she did not disconnect or become irritated with me. She spent the next 2.5 hours texting with me, giving me advice and answering my questions on how best to take care of the kitten I had just brought to my home that was not from HOM. I have read these negative comments. Elain reads people well and knows if she feels she can trust you to take proper care of a kitty. If she knows it doesn't feel right, she will decide in the best interest of the kitty. That is her calling.

Absolutely wonderful place. Miss Elain was sweet and knowledgeable. We were given time to explore the personalities of different cats until one lovely kitty chose my daughter. The adoption was quick and easy but very thorough. She really loves her cats and they love her, too. The building was clean and the kitties were healthy. All around great experience.

My family and I stopped in because it seemed like a wonderful business and we were drawn in by the cats in the window. Upon entering, I noticed an older woman glaring at my children. Noticing that they were not doing anything inappropriate, I looked at her to say hi. Her immediate response was to say "hurry up and close the door, there are cats in here" - so I turned around to observe the closed door behind me, and we'd entered quite efficiently (we're cat people - we get doors!). I gestered to the closed nature of the door and she began ranting about how no one respects the need to close the door quickly. I realized quickly that she just wanted to be angry, and I was in an unfriendly, mentally ill environment. I suggest caution.

I love House of Mews!

Adopt a new friend from here

We live up the street an for the last past two weeks we have been going on the days the paper said today i got there we stood at the door a min lady even looked at us. Walking back to the car I called to see if they were open she had an …

I am afraid that they have crossed into crazy cat lady territory. The smells wouldn't be tolerated at the animal shelter. It smells better in fact. I do not recall them having an odor problem when they were across the street. Whoever regulates this industry needs to have a look.

The place smelled nasty, cats looked uncared for, and the staff was rude and uncaring!!

Varying hours so always call ahead, not very friendly staff, but there are wonderful cats here to meet and potentially adopt. So in the end even if they aren't very nice to you, they're doing an important job finding homes for these babies.

I’ve tried reaching out to them. I have a stray Cat, I’ve named Rio who’s very sweet, but unpredictable at times. I’d like to get her spayed, but I’m afraid to pick her up as she scratched my hand once and it swelled up. She has babies and brings them to me. One I adopted, two I had a friend in Georgia who adopted them and a few weeks ago she came to my house with one baby. A white kitten who’s eyes just opened. He’s got beautiful blue eyes. I reached out to them last year and they never responded to me. I get that they are probably overloaded, but as cat lovers, I’d expect them to reach out to help one who’s just trying to get help for the stray and help me try to find a loving home for her kitten. I can’t find anyone in Memphis who cares. I have a job that takes me out of the Country every week. I’d think the House of Mews would at least reach out to help.

It was cool but it did hurt my brain A LOT because of the smell

The volunteer's were kinda rude and really didn't want to converse, but the kitties are precious and deserve a great forever home !!!

My family and I walk by this place all the time and look at all the cats. Once, we went in, and my son who loves cats had a question about one of them, and the woman there was on her phone and said, "I'm busy" rather than answering his question. My immediate thought was that she doesn't like children, but then I read the rest of the reviews and its seems that perhaps she doesn't like people more generally. :)

The owner is a very rude and judgmental person! I agree with all the other negative comments about her. Horrible customer service and very unfriendly.

Visiting from Nashville, and a lover of cats, I decided to pop in here when I noticed the shop across the street from Burke's bookstore. I didn't stay a single minute. The odor singed my nose hairs. Will not come back unless the smell is fixed. There is no excuse for the place to smell of pure ammonia secondary to cat urine. If a litter box is cleaned every day, then there is no smell. It's quite simple.

Nice people who really care about the welfare of their resident cats ~

Me and my daughter went here and the lady didn’t even acknowledge us. Keep in mind, we are the only Black people in the store. A white guy came in after us and she greeted him with a smile and said “hello”. When he left, her face went back down and she ignored us again. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!! I was looking into adopting two brother kittens, and I turned in an application. I was denied request due to the fact I am 18 and they do not adopt to anyone under 21. That’s fair, but I am married to a man who …

Those cats look like they haven’t been brushed or washed in months, smelled like it to. Almost left because of the smell alone. Cat fur was everywhere and the woman there was on her phone the whole time. I wasn’t even bothered that she didn’t greet me, but at least do more than look at who comes in and go back to your phone.

Fantastic place with a great purpose. Found my lovely boy Esteban here!

I just love watching the Cats sleeping and climbing through the windows! They have the coolest cat poster on the wall of a cat in full Fisherman's gear with a fish on its hook:) It's open at different times so call first if you want to go in! And they always have need of monetary and non monetary gifts^:^ *************** UPDATE ****** 1st time actually in the place, and the odor that wafts through the mail opening hits you with full force, The blonde lady @ the counter was snippy and bordeline rude, I made a comment about the hours, and that it was the 1st time we found it open when we're on that end of town and she made a snarky, toned comment about the hours being posted on the door. I believe their hours have changed within the last year. I've since learned she is the founder. Kudos to her for the work that's being done to protect and rehouse those beautiful Cats, but customer service training and some fabuloso might be in order.

The staff cares about their cats

I also had a horrible experience with the owner. I feel sorry for the cats that don't get adopted because of her. They are the ones that pay for her rude disrespectful manner.

The smell was HORRIFYING. We were there for a grand total of 5 minutes and our clothes and hair wreaked of cats the rest of the day. The lady's response was that there were 30 litter boxes, so of course there will be some smell. Really? Because no cat shelter or boarding facility that I've been to has ever smelled like that. Also, there has to be a better system to get people in and out without kitties escaping other than yelling at them as they walk in.

Sweet ladies doing noble work.

The owner Elain is very Rude and not helpful with adoptions. She is very impatient and judgemental and stated she would not get the cat for me. The place smelled so bad it was hard to breath and my cloths and hair still smells after leaving there an hour ago. I am surprised this place stays open with the poor customer service. We love animals and have rescued many in ours lives that lived long spoiled happy lives. Consider other places, but please don't buy. Adoption us the best way.