By Ava Keller, Marketing Intern
Whisker Wonderland is more than just a cat lounge or an adoption center—it’s a dream come true for founder Anna Montano. Anna’s journey began about four years ago when stray cats started appearing in the backyard of her North Side home. She was curious about why there were so many and what she could do to help. What started as a hobby quickly became a life mission for Anna. She quit her corporate job and started to teach herself everything she needed to know about the crisis of homeless cats and how to start being an independent rescuer. She joined Facebook group chats and spoke to rescue organizations around the area for more information. “It took over my whole life,” Anna said. Initially, she fostered the rescued cats in her own home, bringing them to the vet herself and paying for it out of pocket. However, she realized after a little while that she needed a new method. Not only was she running out of room in her house, but the cats weren’t getting any visibility for adoption. Anna decided to find a bigger space for the cats to roam where people could visit them for fun or meet them before they were adopted. She would create a place that resembles a magical wonderland for cats and people alike. Usually, the saying goes, “Curiosity killed the cat,” but in this case, curiosity is what saved them.
Despite the challenges of being an independent rescuer, Anna is driven by the magic of transformation: turning scared, sick strays into healthy, happy cats ready for adoption. Many strays are in dire condition when they are found—suffering from infections, broken bones, and other health issues. Anna takes them to the vet and provides them with the love and care they deserve. These experiences led her to create Whisker Wonderland Cat Lounge & Adoption Center, an organization designed to spread magic to everyone who visits, giving the cats a new chance at life and lounge visitors a magical opportunity to play, relax, and adopt a new furry friend.
In designing the lounge, Anna wanted to make sure it would be magical and accessible for all visitors. There are three rooms inside the space; a kitten room where you can play and snuggle with kittens, a sensory-friendly tranquility room for people who are more sensitive to stimulation/noise or for those who just need a break, and a welcoming main room equipped with tables, games, puzzles, and fun cat toys. The atmosphere in every room is brought to life through floor-to-ceiling murals crafted by talented Pittsburgh artists Shane Pilster and Max Gonzales. Finding the right neighborhood for the lounge was critical. , The tight-knit community of Bellevue is exactly what Anna pictured for Whisker Wonderland, offering her and the cats the support they need to thrive. Bellevue Forward’s founders, RJ and Jeremy, were instrumental in bringing Anna’s vision to Bellevue. They introduced her to the property and the neighboring businesses and even built a website for her. Bellevue’s community helped bring Anna’s vision of Whisker Wonderland to life and has made Anna and the cats feel right at home.
Caring for rescued cats isn’t cheap–Anna relies heavily on donations to keep Whisker Wonderland and her rescue mission operating. You can support Whisker Wonderland with a monetary contribution through their GoFundMe page. Donations of supplies are also greatly appreciated, including dry cat food, wet food (preferably Purina Fancy Feast), scoopable cat litter, and paper towels.
Visit the Whisker Wonderland website and schedule your time with the cats today!