Cat cafe opens with passion for rescuing and rehoming cats

A recently opened cat cafe in Newmarket called ‘Catfe Mao’ is home to over 25 rescue cats that guests can cuddle and play with.

Sessions at the cafe start at $25 per hour and include a free drink, free Wi-Fi, massage chairs and board games.

The cafe’s purpose is to provide Auckland stray cats a safe, loving environment before they find a permanent home.

Cafe owners Qisong and Tongxin Li say the idea for the business started as a university assignment in April last year on improving Auckland’s social environment.

“Our main goal is increasing adoption in the community and next week this will be possible as we offer customers the option to adopt.”

Li says most of their cats are taken directly from the streets or from owners who can no longer provide care.

There are an estimated 196,000 stray cats in New Zealand, according to a 2019 study by the SPCA.

Stray cats are more likely to suffer poor welfare conditions including the potential for injury, cruel treatment, diseases and lack of access to food and water.

Catfe Mao provides every adopted cat with food, water and full health insurance.

The cafe has been well received within the community, with over 5000 people booking sessions online since the cafe opened in mid-January.

A limit of ten people are permitted per session to ensure the cats are not overwhelmed, causing the cafe to be booked out for at least a week.