A co-working space and future cafe called Meong Cat Lounge is being developed for a projected spring opening at 348 Second St. in South Troy. The building, presently with two residential units, is being renovated to make the first-floor space a co-working lounge that will be home to up to a dozen cats from partner shelters and rescue organizations, according to the owners, the husband-and-wife team of Astra Wijaya and Sindy Limin, who are digital artists and also own the building and live upstairs.

They tell me they envision a casual co-working space, less focused on the tech sector than other co-working spaces in Troy, where people will enjoy having a place to enjoy the companionship of cats. It will also function as a facilitator for adoptions and as a social space, with a separate room for purchase of food, beverages and cat-related merchandise. The owners say they will have self-serve drinks and snacks at first, but they hope to work with area restaurants to expand the food and beverage program as warranted by demand. Customers will have options to pay by the hour, day or monthly for co-working.

Meong is Indonesian onomatopoeia for a cat’s meow, according to the business’ website. The cat-cafe concept is said to have started in Taiwan, flourished in Japan and spread around the world.