The usual hum of traffic on Geary Boulevard has taken on the tune of a purr from some new residents at San Francisco’s third-ever cat lounge, Whiskerwood Haven. Passing by the storefront, one can see cats sunbathing in their window beds and curiously checking out passersby. Entering the store is like stepping into a whimsical scene. Cats lounge and play on cat trees, scratch posts, fluffy beds and comfy chairs. A TV hanging on the wall plays music videos from the 2000s to 2010s, adding to the cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. In the corner, a paper tree, stuffed logs and mushroom seats sit on top of a fuzzy moss-like rug, transforming the space into a magical, mystical cat forest.
Whiskerwood Haven opened on Sept. 1, offering San Franciscans time to cuddle and play with cats. For $15, patrons can spend half an hour in the cafe, and for $25, they can spend an hour. It’s not only a place to hang with cats, though; all the cats who call the place home are up for adoption. According to John Ngo, the owner of Whiskerwood Haven, 18 cats have found new forever homes in the two months it’s been open. The lounge partners with three local shelters, Pink Paws For the Cause, Bay Area Cats and Gimme Shelter SF. Ngo keeps around 12 cats in the cafe at a time, and rotates through the three shelters when getting new cats after adoptions.
Ngo started building Whiskerwood Haven in January, and while he had some help from contractors with the floors and painting, all the shelves, cat houses and decorations were built by him with advice from the different shelters he works with to make the space perfect for cats to inhabit. “My favorite part of the cat cafe was the decorations and the owner. And the cats, of course. The whole place was very homey inside and you could tell the cats enjoyed being there,” Brenda Reyes, junior design major said.
The idea to start Whiskerwood Haven came to Ngo back in 2020. “I’d been working in cyber security for 15 years, and I was making a living but I was bored and my life felt unfulfilled,” he said. “I bought a plane and got my pilot’s license. Then, I started working with vets and rescues to fly pets to get the medical care they needed. I felt so much more fulfilled doing that. Pretty soon after, I decided to quit my job. You can always make money, but working with animals is my passion, and my life feels so full now.”
Whiskerwood Haven seems to have a perfect location, as it sits directly behind USF, so students who can’t house any animals can still get some animal love. “It happened as a happy coincidence. I found this space and started building it and then I realized it’s right behind the dorms. That’s definitely my target demographic. People who, for whatever reason, landlords, time constraints, can’t have a pet but still love animals,” Ngo said. Clara Richards, sophomore psychology major, said, “It’s so great because I can’t have a cat, my landlord doesn’t let me, but I’ve had animals growing up and miss them. So when I go to the cat cafe it’s so good to have animal time.” Ngo has also decided to create a new offer for students who want to come see some cats. From Nov. 17 to Dec. 12, on Mondays through Fridays, students can book study sessions in Whiskerwood Haven. The study sessions last two hours and cost $20. “The only rule is, you have to study! I want all of you guys to pass your finals!” Ngo said, with a laugh.
Whiskerwood Haven also offers weekly yoga classes with the kitties and an after-hours movie night once a month. The cafe is located on 3000 Geary Boulevard, open every day 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Whiskerwood Haven accepts walk-ins, but you can also book a time on their website.
