Meet the Team
misha · owner
Hi, I'm Misha - the purr-oud owner and driving furr-rce behind Wired Whisker, Northern Minnesota's first cat cafe in Duluth.
My journey to creating Wired Whisker began in 2019 with Pet Haven, Minnesota's oldest foster-based animal rescue organization. The heartwarming experience of fostering and volunteering with the organization kindled a deep passion within me for cats. This love took me on a journey I fondly refer to as my "purr-suit of happiness."
As a Minnesota native, it fills me with immense purr-ide, excitement, and joy to provide a fusion of coffee culture and feline therapy to the Duluth community. Duluth is a vibrant city comprised of individuals from all walks of life who value authenticity, sustainability, and supporting local businesses - everything we believe in at Wired Whisker.
Wired Whisker isn't just a cafe; it's a cat-munity where the love of coffee and cats melds to create a truly unique experience. All are welcome at Wired Whisker, and I hope you will join us on our journey to brew a better world.
Do you have cats? Yes! I have four resident cats who are all acutely aware that they outnumber the humans. We lost our sweet Smokey Joe just before the cafe opened, but he reigns eternal as a menu item at Wired Whisker. If you order the ‘Smokey Joe,’ you’ll get a deliciously spicy, Dirty Chai Latte.
What is your go-to cafe drink order? Call me basic - but an oat milk Earl Grey latte never fails! With the cafe now open, I like to experiment and try as many new things as I can.
Which breed of cat best represents your personality? Definitely the Burmese. These cats are people-oriented, loyal, and persistently vocal.
What inspired the name Wired Whisker? I had so much fun brainstorming ideas with friends and family! Ultimately, I landed on Wired Whisker which checked all the boxes and felt like it captured the quirky nature of cats while also tying into the cafe side of the business.
chance · shift lead
What inspired you to become a barista at a cat cafe and what's your favorite part of the job?
I was inspired to become a barista at Wired Whisker because I love making coffee and I adore cats. I saw that this cafe was opening and applied immediately!
What's your favorite drink to make, and what would you pair it with from our cat cafe menu?
My favorite drink to make is any hot latte because I love practicing latte art. I would pair it with a cheese croissant so you hit all the essential food groups.
What's your favorite thing about cats?
I love how cats curl up into perfect little balls sometimes when they sleep.
Do you have any special cat-related talents, like understanding feline body language or calming nervous kitties?
My cat-related talent is that I can draw cats pretty well and I'm good at feeding them the appropriate amount of food.
samantha · purrista & cat caretaker
What inspired you to become a barista at a cat cafe and what's your favorite part of the job?
I was inspired to become a barista at a cat cafe because of our mission! I love being able to combine my passion for baristaing with helping cats find furrrever homes!
What's your favorite drink to make, and what would you pair it with from our cat cafe menu?
My favorite drink to make is a hot white chocolate raspberry latte and I love to pair it with the mixed berry scone!
What's your favorite thing about cats?
Their crazy climbing methods!
marley · purrista & cat caretaker
What inspired you to become a barista at a cat cafe and what's your favorite part of the job?
What inspired me to become a barista at Wired Whisker was the intersection of how important coffee is in people’s lives and how cats and companionship are another important factor in making people’s days better. My favorite part of the job is letting people into the cat lounge, as I love seeing how excited people get to meet our group of cats
What's your favorite drink to make, and what would you pair it with from our cat cafe menu?
My favorite drink to make is a Miel latte (honey cinnamon latte), I would probably pair it with a ginger cookie when we have them!
What's your favorite thing about cats?
My favorite thing about cats is how smart they are. They understand what’s going on around them. They can also get into very silly situations just because they are so curious and smart.
Do you have any special cat-related talents, like understanding feline body language or calming nervous kitties?
I’m really good at figuring out what a cat wants in the moment, whether it be food, cuddles, or wanting to play.
leila · purrista & cat caretaker
What inspired you to become a barista at a cat cafe and what's your favorite part of the job?
Cats have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. I was immediately drawn to this place because I’ve been missing my cats while away at college, and I wanted to help shelter cats find their furrever homes! Not to mention, I love making and drinking coffee!
What's your favorite drink to make, and what would you pair it with from our cat cafe menu?
My favorite drink to make is an iced lavender matcha latte, which would be great with a giant pretzel!
What's your favorite thing about cats?
I love how cats can be cuddly and sleepy one minute and get a case of the zoomies a minute later—they always keep you on your toes.
Do you have any special cat-related talents, like understanding feline body language or calming nervous kitties?
I’m not sure if this is considered a cat-related talent or just an obsession, but I have hundreds of adorable cat photos on my phone.
courtney · purrista & cat caretaker
What inspired you to become a barista at a cat cafe and what's your favorite part of the job?
I was inspired to become a purrista because of how important our mission is to getting cats to their forever homes. I also really enjoy making coffee and having the opportunity to brighten someone's morning.
What's your favorite drink to make, and what would you pair it with from our cat cafe menu?
I love making smoothies and refreshers! I think a perfect pair with the smoothie would be our giant soft pretzels our a cute meowcaron!
What's your favorite thing about cats?
My favorite thing about cats are their unique personalities. Every cat is special in their own way, which makes it so much fun to find them a home that matches.
Do you have any special cat-related talents, like understanding feline body language or calming nervous kitties?
I learned early on that I have a talent for getting purrfectly posed kitty photos and also that I have a knack for training cats to sit/fetch.