Meet Our Cat Cafe Team

Nicole and Chris holding two orange tabby cats, standing in front of a decorative tree and a chalkboard sign that reads 'I found my forever home!'

Nicole & Chris are the proud owners of Whiskers & Wine! Since she was a child, Nicole has had a passion for animal welfare, and all kittens big and small. They visited Charleston, SC for the full eclipse in 2017, and discovered Pounce Cat Cafe. Adoptable cats, wine & beer!?! Perfection!

Nicole decided on the spot to ditch her two decade Corporate America HR career and become a certified Crazy Cat Lady! What could be better than an amazing experience where humans get cat therapy, and help socialize cage free cats in a supportive, enriched environment?

The journey from concept to creation took more than five years. Three and a half years were spent building the kitchen, cat cave, and second floor outdoor CATio on Adam’s Avenue in North Park. The grand opening was August 26, 2022, and Whiskers and Wine adopted more then 100 cats in its first 6 months!

Fun facts about Nicole & Chris: They love to travel and explore new places. They earned their sailing license for 35+ feet sailboats, and they both owned motorcycles. Chris is a consumer law attorney and is W&W’s IT, legal and technical expert.

Woman with blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a brown jacket holding a gray cat with a red collar outdoors in a park.

Christina here! Cats, wine, and cheese are a few of my favorite thingsssssss. I’m a huge theatre & literature nerd (shout out to Edgar Allen Poe) and am originally from Chicago. I also love hiking & photography.

A woman with short curly gray hair smiling and holding two kittens, one orange and one white, indoors.

Hi, I'm Yolanda and these are my babies Milo and Harper.  I'm originally from Chicago but have been in San Diego for so long that I feel like a native!  I recently retired  from my banking job and am thrilled to be part of the W&W team. I have had cats all my life and love being around all the beautiful kitties.

Hi, I’m Sophia! I was born and raised in Los Angeles, moved to San Diego for school in 2018, and decided to stick around. I love coffee, visual arts, and most important, my fur child Etee “Bee” Beelzebub (long story). She is the queen of my home and prefers to be an an only child, so I am glad to be a part of a mission where I can help cats find their furrever homes while also getting the rest of my cat fix!

A man with red hair and a beard smiling while lying on a couch with a black cat resting under his arm. The man is wearing a gray hoodie and a silver bracelet, and is leaning on a multicolored, patterned cushion.

Hello there! Pete here. Born and raised in Chicago ( we are taking over!) Originally a dog guy but have since been converted to the dark side. Animal lover and cat dad/step dad to Fin and Eve. Big fan off all things music, nerdy, and whiskey related.

A collage of six photos featuring cats and a dog. Top row, from left to right: woman with sunglasses and a dog, a tabby cat partially covered with a blanket, an orange cat lying on a lounge chair. Bottom row, from left to right: tabby cat wearing a straw hat, orange cat wearing a straw hat, tabby cat lying down.

Hi I'm Vanessa. I'm originally from New York, however San Diego is my one true home. My cat dog next to me is Ferguson. We are literally attached at the hip. Followed by Ronda Rousey, Fat face, Tito, Crookshank, & Mr. Fluff. I love all things tequila, cats, & seeking out a new adventure in this beautiful city. 

A collage of two photos: the left shows a tortoiseshell cat lying on a red and white checkered blanket on a couch, with a green armchair and houseplants in the background. The right shows a young man with glasses sitting on a porch, smiling, with a black and tortoiseshell cat lying beside him.

Hey there! I'm Julian, and this is my daughter Pumpkin (her government name, but she's usually just "mama" or "big mommas"). I was born in Apple Valley, where I lived most of my life before moving to San Diego in 2023. My passions are filming and music production. Favorite hobbies are trivia nights, coffee & thrift runs, and exploring the endless food and bar spots San Diego has to offer!

A collage of three photos: the top left features a calico cat sitting on the arm of a beige couch indoors; the bottom left shows a cream-colored cat with darker markings lying on a multicolored fluffy blanket indoors; the right image depicts a woman with dark hair in a black sleeveless outfit standing outdoors on a wooden platform, with greenery, a lake, and a group of people in the background.

Hello! I'm Diane and after growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I really enjoy living in sunny San Diego. I love calling this place home and I adopted my babies, Butter & Skghetti, right here at Whiskers & Wine! When I'm not playing with cats, you can find me watching reality TV or tap dancing.