Purrs & Beans is New Zealand's longest running cat café, located down the driveway at 188 Hinemoa Street in Birkenhead on Auckland's North Shore. Originally established in 2015 as BaristaCats Café in Auckland City, the sanctuary rebranded in 2020 and now provides a tranquil, welfare-focused haven for a clowder of resident rescue cats, many of whom are older or manage special needs.
Operating as a small, independently run social enterprise, Purrs & Beans partners with rescues such as Gutter Kitties and 9 Lives Orphanage to foster cats and facilitate adoptions, with 100% of adoption fees returning directly to the rescues. Guests can enjoy feline therapy in a carefully managed environment alongside hot beverages and light snacks, or simply stop by the front counter for a takeaway coffee. To ensure animal welfare and safety in accordance with their SPCA welfare plan, entry is scheduled in timed sessions with restricted guest numbers.
Located down the driveway at 188 Hinemoa Street in Birkenhead, Purrs & Beans holds the title of New Zealand's longest-running cat café. First opened in 2015 as BaristaCats Café in Auckland City, the sanctuary rebranded in 2020 and settled into the North Shore's 'village with a view'. The venue provides a peaceful, domestic-style retreat designed specifically around the comfort and health of its resident rescue clowder.
Run as a small, mission-led social enterprise by founders Faith-Ashleigh and Shane, Purrs & Beans operates under a high-welfare model. Many of the resident cats arrived from difficult beginnings, are older, or have ongoing special care needs. Rather than operating as a high-turnover petting zoo, the space is structured as the cats' permanent home, with strict session capacities and quiet surroundings that promote low-stress interactions between visitors and felines.
Welfare is the core pillar of the establishment. The café maintains an SPCA welfare plan that dictates all visitor guidelines, including a strict age restriction requiring all guests to be at least 10 years old, with children aged 10 to 14 requiring direct supervision by an adult aged 18 or older. These measures safeguard both the wellbeing of older cats and ensure visitors enjoy meaningful, peaceful feline therapy.
In addition to housing its permanent residents, Purrs & Beans serves as an active foster station for local rescue organisations Gutter Kitties and 9 Lives Orphanage. The team cares for these cats on-site, socialises them, and facilitates their transitions to permanent homes. Whenever an adoption is completed, 100 percent of the adoption fee is returned directly to the rescue charity.
A visit to Purrs & Beans centres on calm connection. Admission fees contribute directly towards vet care, specialised diets sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition, and daily operational overheads. Guests can reserve timed general entry slots or attend community gatherings like the monthly cat movie night.
Alongside feline cuddles, the café offers a beverage menu featuring freshly prepared coffee, teas, and cold drinks, as well as light snacks to enjoy during your session. Visitors pressed for time can also drop in strictly for a takeaway coffee at the counter, catching a quick glimpse of the cats relaxing in their dedicated outdoor 'catio' before heading on their way.