Oils are being heated in a water bath. Botanical substances are awaiting extractions and infusions. There’s a white board diagramming the molecular makeup of pheromonal compounds such as actinidine and civetone.

Elsewhere in the house, a product tester named Cabbage is awaiting the results. Cabbage is a cat. Zank is trying to create a better cat toy.

The 49-year-old entrepreneur is a research chemist and microbiology expert who has had jobs working for a biodiesel company and a personal care products manufacturer.

But after a layoff, she started her own company in 2023 called Minou Le-Mew. Under the brand name Feline Grove, it creates “handcrafted, small‑batch botanical cat toys" and “wellness solutions” for discerning users like Cabbage.