Today we’d like to introduce you to Quin Whiddon.
Hi Quin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sydney’s Sanctuary began with a lifelong love for animals and a heart for rescuing those in need.
For 28 years, I worked as a flight attendant, and while I loved my career and the opportunity it gave me to travel the world, I often missed the companionship of a furry friend while I was away. Somehow, no matter where my travels took me, a cat always seemed to find me at my hotel. I would make a point to find a local store, buy food, and make sure they were fed while I was there. I used to say that if I ever won a huge lottery, I would spend it saving as many cats and dogs as I possibly could.
Then my husband, Alex, brought home a sweet little white flame-point Siamese kitten that we named Sydney. He became such an important part of our lives and, although I didn’t know it at the time, would eventually become the inspiration behind Sydney’s Sanctuary.
Trips to pet stores began to tug at my heart as I saw cats sitting behind plexiglass waiting to be adopted. I found myself wondering what happened to the ones who weren’t chosen, particularly the older cats and those who might be overlooked again and again. That curiosity eventually led me to become more involved in animal rescue.
I began volunteering in 2011 and, over the years, volunteered with organizations including the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, PAWS Chicago, Austin Pets Alive! and Austin Humane Society. Those experiences gave me a much deeper understanding of animal rescue and, more importantly, allowed me to see firsthand where additional help was needed. I realized there was a need for more foster space and alternative environments where cats could feel safe, decompress, socialize and have greater opportunities to be seen by potential adopters.
That realization became the foundation for Sydney’s Sanctuary.
Our mission is not only to provide a safe, nurturing haven for homeless and rescued cats, but also to help educate people about the true—and often misunderstood—nature of cats. Ultimately, my vision has always been to establish a permanent sanctuary where even more animals, including those who may be older or harder to place, can have a safe place and a second chance.
Sydney’s Cat Lounge grew as an extension of that mission. The lounge gives adoptable cats from shelters and rescue organizations in and around Austin, Hawaii, Mexico, Honduras and beyond, greater exposure while allowing people to connect with them in a relaxed, cage-free environment. Every cat in the lounge is adoptable and cared for through our nonprofit.
After 28 years as a flight attendant, I retired in October 2025 and was finally able to dedicate myself fully to animal rescue and to growing the mission I had envisioned for so many years.
I never hit that huge lottery I used to dream about, but somewhere along the way I realized I didn’t need to. I could start with what I had, build something meaningful and help one animal at a time.
What began with a little white kitten named Sydney has grown into something much bigger—a mission to give cats a safe place to land, an opportunity to be understood and loved, and ultimately, the second chance they deserve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges early on was finding investors who understood the concept and could see the vision. Cat lounges and cafés were still unfamiliar to many people, and I quickly realized that if someone wasn’t a “cat person,” it could be difficult for them to understand why people would want to spend time in a space centered around cats—or the larger purpose behind it.
I also never realized until starting this journey just how polarized people can be about animals. There are people who identify very strongly as either dog people or cat people, and I’ve never really understood that because I simply love animals. I love cats, I love dogs, and honestly, I love just about anything furry. We have a lot of squirrels in our neighborhood, and if I see one in the road, I will literally stop my car and honk my horn until it gets safely across the street. That’s just who I am.
The challenge was getting people to understand that Sydney’s was never simply about opening a place where people could come play with cats. There was a much larger mission behind it: creating another avenue for homeless and shelter cats to be seen, helping people better understand cats, and ultimately increasing their chances of finding permanent homes.
Building something that people haven’t experienced before requires you to believe in your vision even when other people don’t quite see it yet. There have certainly been obstacles along the way, but each one has made me even more determined to prove that this concept can make a meaningful difference for both the animals and the community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sydney’s Cat Lounge & Sanctuary?
Sydney’s Cat Lounge is more than a place to spend time with cats—it is an extension of Sydney’s Sanctuary, our nonprofit rescue organization, and was created to give homeless cats greater visibility and a better opportunity to find permanent homes.
We work with shelters and rescue organizations in Central Texas and beyond to bring cats into our care, where they live in a completely cage-free environment while awaiting adoption. Rather than meeting potential families from behind kennel doors, our cats are able to decompress, socialize and show their personalities in an environment that feels more like a home. Guests also have the opportunity to spend meaningful time with them, which allows connections to happen naturally.
What really sets Sydney’s apart is that we have created an experience around the mission. I didn’t want the lounge to feel clinical or institutional. I wanted people to walk through the doors and immediately feel transported somewhere unexpected. The design is an imaginative blend of Alice in Wonderland with the elegance and whimsy of Bridgerton, complete with a castle, catio and outdoor maze for our feline residents. Guests can relax with the cats while enjoying a curated selection of wine, premium sodas, mocktails and floral teas.
One of the things I am most proud of is that the beauty and experience of the lounge never overshadow its purpose. Everything ultimately comes back to the cats. Every visit, merchandise purchase and beverage sold helps support the work of Sydney’s Sanctuary, including food, veterinary care and the everyday costs associated with rescuing and caring for our cats.
I am also incredibly proud of the recognition Sydney’s has received in such a short period of time. We officially opened in East Austin on November 4, 2025, and within our first few months were featured by Austin Monthly, Tribeza, Spectrum News, Fox News and Community Impact. To have people embrace something that was once so difficult for others to understand has been especially rewarding.
As an African-American woman and founder, I am also proud to have created something that is distinctly my own. Entrepreneurship does not always have one particular look or path, and I hope my journey encourages other women—especially women who may not always see themselves represented in traditional entrepreneurial spaces—to pursue the ideas they believe in, even when those ideas are unconventional.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Sydney’s is whimsical and beautiful by design, but our purpose is serious. Every cat that comes through our doors deserves safety, compassion and the opportunity to be loved. If someone visits us simply because they want a unique experience and leaves with a greater appreciation for cats—or, even better, with a new member of their family—then we have accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that may surprise people is that I started this chapter of my life after an extensive career as a flight attendant. I think we sometimes put an expiration date on pursuing a completely different dream, especially as women. I retired in my late 40s and essentially started over—becoming an entrepreneur, running a nonprofit, opening a cat lounge and learning an entirely new industry.
I went from working on airplanes and traveling the world to worrying about cat food, vet appointments, adoptions, employees, websites, plumbing and everything else that comes with owning a business!
What I’ve learned is that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin, and you certainly don’t have to pursue all of your dreams when you’re young. Sometimes the experience you gain during the first half of your life is exactly what gives you the confidence to create something completely different in the next.
Pricing:
- Weekday Sessions $25 for 45 minutes
- Weekday Sessions $40 for 75 minutes
- Weekend Sessions $28 for 45 minutes
- Weekend Sessions $45 for 75 minutes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sydneyscatlounge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneyssanctuaryatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sydneys-Sanctuary-and-Cat-Lounge/61573720073727/yelp
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SydneysCatLounge
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sydneys-cat-lounge-and-sanctuary-austin
- Other: https://sydneyssanctuaryatx.org/home
