Published Aug 17, 2026
The Cat Chronicles / Youtube.com
You’ve probably heard of cat cafes, but have you ever been to a rooftop bar with adoptable cats?
Whiskers and Wine offers a different space for cats and humans to come together, whether you’re looking for a memorable date night, a chill cat yoga session, or want to adopt a cat of your own.
In their first two years, Whiskers and Wine adopted out 250 cats. They also provide a cage-free space for adoptable cats to enjoy their days, and “cat therapy” for people who need it.
Founding Whiskers and Wine
Nicole worked in human resources for over 20 years, but she knew she wanted out of the corporate life. She and her husband were visiting Charleston, South Carolina when she found exactly what she was looking for: Pounce Cat Cafe.
She’d always been passionate about animal welfare, as well as wine and beer. She decided to open her own business incorporating her favorite things.
Nicole and her husband began working on a business plan, and soon purchased their location in North Park, San Diego. They started building right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and were able to open around three and a half years later.
She describes Whiskers and Wine as a resort for cats, with human staff who care for them until they can be adopted. They have two floors to free-roam, plenty of enrichment, and all the socialization they could ever need.
The goal is to find homes for cats while also helping the people in the local community access “cat therapy.” Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by cats while enjoying a drink, doing yoga, or simply hanging out at the bar?
It’s an amazing experience for everyone, from the people who are overjoyed when they visit to the cats who get to interact with new people every day and, eventually, even find their forever homes. It’s much better than sitting in a crate at the shelter!
Community Support
The Cat Chronicles / Youtube.com
As you may imagine, it takes a village to keep a place like this running! Nicole has a great appreciation for the 40 volunteers who help care for the cats, as well as the community support they receive. Every customer, whether they visit once or come back weekly, plays a huge role in helping Whiskers and Wine help cats!
An unexpected challenge they face is that they’re adopting out so many cats, that they’re bringing in new additions weekly. It can be tricky to manage this while keeping the cats healthy and safe, which is their top priority.
They keep around 20 cats in the bar at any given time, and adopt out around 3-5 of them each week. The shelters are full and so many cats need help, so Nicole is thrilled to be offering this support to the cats in her community. She’s even adopted two cats of her own from Whiskers and Wine!
As a thank you for this incredible opportunity, Nicole gives back to the community however she can. There are plenty of fun activities for locals at the bar, including monthly events, cat yoga, and more.
Nicole learned a lot working her corporate job, she says, but she also found herself asking, “Am I getting what I need to give back to the world?” With Whiskers and Wine, she feels she’s able to do that much more successfully.
