Small Cat, the long-haired calico banished from her home of five years at Comma Coffee, will have her day in court Friday.
The cat was banned in November after an anonymous complaint to the state health department.
Owner June Joplin launched a campaign in February to bring back the feline mascot, circulating a petition at the store and online. In April, Joplin submitted the petition and an application for a variance to the health department.
The department will decide on the variance at a hearing at 9 a.m. Friday at 4150 Technology Way, Suite 303.
In February, Dustin Boothe of the State Health Department explained the department's decision. He said Nevada law prohibits animals from places where food is served.
"Animals can carry diseases that can spread to humans," Boothe said at the time. "It's not a routine thing, but they can carry bacteria or other organisms that can make people sick."
Joplin said the cat was never allowed into the food-preparation area and that she would erect a sign alerting customers to the fact that there was a cat on the premises.
She said Small Cat, a stray who wandered into the store, actually made the entire block of businesses more sanitary by keeping the mice population under control.
She argued the issue went beyond a cat in a coffee shop. She said it was about personal freedom.
"As a business owner, I should be able to decide how I want to run this business. If people don't like it, they can go somewhere else," she told the Appeal in February. "This is about one small cat, but it's about so much more, too."
Joplin encouraged customers in an e-mail Sunday to support Small Cat.
"Your support is greatly appreciated and valuable," she wrote. "If you can show up in person that would be awesome. It's a public hearing so you are most welcome. If not, you can send a letter of support that we will read there, and/or hold good thoughts for us that morning."