Neko Ngeru Cat Cafe
Lower Hutt, Wellington
Neko Ngeru is a cat adoption cafe upstairs at 215 High Street in Hutt Central, Lower Hutt; its name means cat in Japanese and in Māori. Ken and Richelle Okada opened it in Petone in 2017 as the Wellington area's first cat cafe, and after a closure and a 2022 crowdfunding campaign it reopened in Lower Hutt in December 2023. Its cats come from the public and from rescue groups; they are vet-checked, vaccinated, desexed and socialised by fosterers, then live at the cafe for at least four weeks until adopted after a two-week trial. By October 2026 it counted 284 adoptions. Sessions last 55 minutes, start on the hour and take up to 10 people. In October 2026 walk-in entry cost NZ$17 for adults and NZ$16 for children aged 7 to 12, students and seniors, NZ$1 less online and NZ$2 more at weekends. Children under 7 are not admitted, except carried infants, and socks must be worn in the cat room. The licensed cafe serves Japanese snacks and soft drinks; Friday evening sessions are for over-18s.
- Adoptable cats
- Booking recommended