Water-loving cat flooded a Virginia café overnight — and was caught ‘water-skiing’ the next morning
Chaos and laughter greeted staff at a Richmond cat café when a mischievous kitten turned the space into an unexpected water playground. Patrons of the Purrfect Bean of Virginia might have pictured a peaceful coffee shop with cats lounging, but on December 2, 2025, staff discovered a flood that was anything but ordinary, all thanks to a tiny troublemaker who had found a way to make a big splash.
As reported by 12 On Your Side on Friday, December 12, 2025, when the city's only cat café opened that morning, a volunteer noticed water pooling across the floor and dripping from the upstairs lounge. At first, staff suspected a plumbing problem, but the real cause soon became clear. A five-month-old tuxedo kitten named Roller had gotten into the bathroom overnight. Using a towel left on the counter to block the drain, he somehow managed to turn on the faucet, causing water to overflow from the upstairs lounge into the café below. “It was like, just like a monsoon,” said café owner Michelle Langham. Staff recalled seeing Roller play near the sink earlier, but nobody expected him to create a full-blown indoor flood. According to the feline's profile, Roller is as clever as he is playful. “I’m too smart for my own good,” the bio reads, and this was certainly evident when he caused a flood at The Purrfect Bean.
When volunteers investigated, they found Roller happily splashing around in the water, while the other cats scrambled to higher surfaces to avoid getting wet. “He was water skiing. A lot of the other cats climbed on the high spots to stay dry, and they were not happy, but he was having a grand time,” Langham shared. Meanwhile, the flooding caused serious damage to the café. Floors, ceilings, and walls were soaked, the upper floor lounge bathroom was damaged, and essential equipment like the espresso machine and coffee grinder needed replacement, as per the New York Post. The café, which opened in mid-August and had already hosted over 100 successful cat adoptions, was forced to close temporarily while repairs were planned. “We definitely will be turning the water off and putting a valve in, so that will be off from now on. We have video cameras also to check in,” Langham said.
To support their staff who suddenly lost their usual income right in the middle of the holiday season, the café organized fundraisers and set up a GoFundMe campaign. All cats, including Roller, were placed in foster homes during the repairs, where they usually spend the night before joining the café each day, ensuring they stay safe and dry. Despite the chaos, the café received strong support from the local community. "It’s pretty overwhelming, but we have had so much support from the community. We have so many awesome people who have offered to help us that we’ve just felt so much love, and we’re just so lucky to be in such an awesome place like Richmond." While staff work on restoring the café, the playful kitten remains available for adoption, ready to charm a permanent home with his mischievous antics.