Paws for a Moment has opened in Malaga, Spain, combining a remote working office and cat cafe featuring 20 rescue animals and a Ukrainian survivor.
The venue, located on Plaza de Uncibay in the city centre, bills itself as the world's first coworking space designed for cat lovers. Local newspaper The Olive Press reported that the establishment serves as an office, a cat cafe, and a social hub where workdays are accompanied by meowing cats.
Malaga, situated on southern Spain's Costa del Sol, has emerged as a major destination for international remote workers. Founder Micha Buenaventura, an entrepreneur of Philippine origin, chose the city after reading in Forbes magazine that Malaga had been named the best city in the world for digital nomads.
Buenaventura became fascinated by cat cafes during a visit to Japan, where feline hospitality venues first achieved popularity among city residents unable to keep pets at home. He decided to blend that hospitality style with modern desk facilities, creating a shared workspace for the growing population of foreign professionals based in southern Spain.
Establishing the feline colony
Buenaventura arrived in Malaga in March 2022, according to media reports. Securing municipal licences, veterinary clearances, and the necessary administrative paperwork required roughly one year of preparation before the venue could open.
He collaborated with veterinarians, shelters, and animal welfare charities throughout the planning stages. The rescue cats were introduced gradually over several months so they could adapt to one another and form a colony without territorial conflict.
To arrange temporary foster homes for the animals, Buenaventura established community groups on WhatsApp and Telegram. The volunteer network expanded rapidly, growing from an initial group of seven members to more than 300 supporters.
The cats initially lived in a temporary flat in the neighbouring coastal resort town of Benalmadena. They later moved into a permanent, specially adapted apartment featuring hammocks, terraces, and quarantine rooms, with regular visits from veterinarians and animal care professionals.
A frontline survivor from Ukraine
Today, the cafe houses 20 cats rescued from animal shelters. Most of the resident felines originate from the surrounding Malaga area, having entered rescue facilities after being abandoned or surrendered by previous owners.
Among the residents is Apollo, a rescue cat brought from Ukraine. According to the cafe manager, the animal was left alone after surviving a Russian missile strike that killed an entire family.
A Ukrainian soldier subsequently took Apollo in, and the cat spent a full year living alongside military troops on the front line.
The cafe manager explained that helpers had to fly Apollo through four countries to reach Spain. When he collected the cat, the manager noted that Apollo behaved like a dog because the soldiers had treated him that way.
Community projects and therapy sessions
Beyond providing workspace for laptop workers, Paws for a Moment operates as a social hub for local animal lovers. The premises host regular film screenings, painting classes, origami workshops, and Mexican loteria bingo games.
The business collaborates with local animal protection organisations, including Amam and CityCats, to rehome abandoned strays across the Costa del Sol. Through a campaign called Cat Tinder, staff publish photographs of animals seeking homes and organise meet-and-greet sessions.
A small memorial corner has also been created inside the cafe. Visitors can leave photographs and tributes to deceased pets, regardless of the species of the animal.
The venue also provides therapeutic access in collaboration with charities and medical professionals. Children with serious illnesses or disabilities can visit free of charge, while adults experiencing depression, anxiety, or eating disorders can attend if referred by a partnered psychiatrist.
Hourly rates and European expansion
Paws for a Moment is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 21:00, and on weekends from 11:00 to 21:00. Guests pay for their time inside rather than for drinks, with rates starting at 9 euros for 30 minutes and rising to 65 euros for a full eight-hour working day.
Visitors are advised to book their desks in advance. While the space is geared primarily towards adults, children are permitted to enter provided they obey rules not to frighten the cats or disturb working patrons.
For coffee lovers seeking an unusual luxury beverage, the menu offers kopi luwak, recognized as one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Produced using beans that have passed through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet, known locally as the musang, a single cup costs 40 euros.
Approaching its second anniversary, the business has begun expanding beyond southern Spain. Over the summer, Buenaventura opened a branch in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and preparations are underway to open a second Spanish location in the coastal resort city of Marbella.
