Here’s an innovative idea that we love: a beautiful professional workspace designed so you can work in the company of adoptable cats! While it has things in common with a cat café, the Whiskers Workspace in St. Petersburg, Florida, is about creating a creative and harmonious cat-friendly work environment. It’s the first cat co-working space in Florida.
“There are a lot of cat cafés, but we’re going to be the first cat co-working space,” said owner Diane Emery.
The Whiskers Oasis area of Whiskers Workspace. Images via Facebook/Whiskers Workspace
A Purrfectly Productive Atmosphere
As we know, working with cats and other pets is therapeutic and boosts morale and creativity. By working in a “therapeutic feline atmosphere,” people can feel less stressed and “purrfectly productive.”
With access to all the professional equipment, various room set-ups, comfortable seating, and modern conveniences, things can really get purring! And there are more purrks such as high-speed internet and ample parking.
“We have a lot of parking at our building and high-speed fiber [internet]. Half the space is cat-free, and the other half is full of cats available for adoption. It’s really turned out quite beautiful,” Emery said.
As the community interacts with friendly felines, they also help to change how people view them.
“We want to shift people’s perspective about cats,” she said.
Image shared by Rachel Jolley to Whiskers Workspace
Whiskers Workspace and Rescue Partner CJ Paws
We love that Whisker Workspace is a partnership with the cat rescue CJ Paws. They share the same address in a beautiful two-story brick building with ample parking of their own.
Emery has been working with the foster-based rescue since 2017, which often found homes at a cat café or through PetSmart charity. Originally, the workspace area was designed for use by attorneys. But when the pandemic came, the shift to remote work inspired a new mission!
“So we started researching, and we realized that there were so many therapeutic benefits for working with cats. So it just all came together,” Emery explained.
The beautiful building at 4699 Central Ave in St. Pete, FL
Work Spaces for People/Play Spaces for Cats
When visitors arrive, cats choose how they want to interact. Sometimes, people may need to work in a cat-free area. So, there are spaces for that, too, such as in the Creative Studio.
We enjoy the feline-inspired names for the beautiful and comfortable workspaces:
- Whiskers Oasis – the main kitty playground and place to unwind.
The inviting Whiskers Oasis area. Image via Facebook/Whiskers Workspace
- Coworking Commons – a spacious lobby and collaboration area.
- Feline Focus Room – a private space for people and cat supurrvisors.
Feline Focus Room
- Purr Haven – a fully equipped workspace for three.
Purr Haven
There are also spacious conference areas for larger groups with access to video conferencing equipment and screens.
Cats Are Free to Find Their Human Servants
By allowing the cats to roam free, they feel more at home, as with cat cafés. As they interact with people, they could meet their purrspective families/human servants. If they fall head over paws, they may adopt them through the adjoining rescue.
As the community experiences working with cats, they find it’s a peaceful place. Here, the cats are friendly and affectionate and don’t hassle you about deadlines and other silly human things.
“They’re very easy to take care of, and they’re very compassionate little animals, and they bring a lot of joy,” said Emery.
Below is a video by I Love The Burg – St. Pete about Whiskers Workplace. You can get a great tour of what it’s like, and we must say we’re very impressed!
Video via Instagram/ilovetheburg
Whiskers Workspace and CJ Paws also help the local shelter find critical spaces for cats, such as pregnant mothers who need safe spaces and future homes for their kittens. In addition to all this, they are offering many other events such as Yoga with cats, similar to Tampa’s Cats & Caffeine cat café.
See more of Whiskers Workplace on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Video via Facebook/Whiskers Workspace
