Purrfect property up for grabs after Sunshine Coast cat cafe closes

The owner of a former Sunshine Coast hinterland cat retreat and cafe hopes the next of the property’s nine lives can still include felines as it hits the market.

The Hobbits Knob Cat Retreat and Cafe was popular with locals and tourists.

A unique Sunshine Coast property with a cat cafe and cattery is on the market, after the well-loved Hobbits Knob Cat Retreat and Cafe closed in March last year.

The auction, set for February 16, will provide an opportunity to snap up the nine acre multipurpose property at 129 Dales Rd, Chevallum.

Owner and operator Tania Barton said she made the heartbreaking and difficult decision to close the business after a change in her personal circumstances.

“I‘ve been going through a divorce and property settlement for a few years and I decided that I really wanted to concentrate on the children and myself,” she said.

“It was such a huge responsibility and with everything I had going on I wasn‘t able to put in the time.”

Ms Barton said she had been contacted by hundreds of customers and visitors who were shocked and devastated by the closure.

“It was really humbling and nice to know that I did impact a lot of families from the coast and afar, which was nice,” she said.

Tania Barton said the decision to close the business was heartbreaking.

The property also includes a five bedroom home and nine acres of bush property.

Ms Barton opened the Hobbits Knob Cat Retreat in 2007 and later added a cafe for guests to mingle with their four-legged residents.

“I’ve always been cat mad, since I was a young girl, and I’ve been very passionate about their welfare,” she said.

Working with the Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge, Ms Barton said they were able to rehome over 65 adult cats through the cafe.

Hobbits Knob Cat Retreat and Cafe could house up to 125 cats.

Ray White Mooloolaba real estate agent Candice Contencin said the property was an exciting opportunity due to the potential for future use.

“(It could) continue as a cattery, be used for a veterinarian’s clinic or similar, or potentially repurpose it for a microbrewery or function centre due to the beautiful environment it’s in,” she said.

Ms Barton said she hoped new owners would continue using the facilities for felines.

“There is a major need for it on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.

“But in saying that, the property has got such a good vibe and feeling about it that there is such opportunity with whatever someone wanted to do in there.”

Originally published as Purrfect property up for grabs after Sunshine Coast cat cafe closes