Cats in the Café

– About Our Cats –

All our cats are available for adoption. Some of them stay longer than others to teach newbies how to behave around humans and other cats. We call them ’Worker Cats.’ We call all other cats ‘Available Cats.’

When cats/kittens arrive at the cafe, they need to stay for a month. We study their personality during this period and people can submit the pre-adoption forms. After a month or so, we will look for the best match for that cat/kitten. We also sometime cannot release cats if there are less than 10 cats in the café.

We work with some cat rescue organisations in the Wellington region like Feral Nation and Rachel’s KittyCat Rescue NZ. We do some rescue activities by ourselves and accept surrendered cats with careful screening.

Jack

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Black
DOB: Aug. 2024
Gender: Male
Personality: timid
Size:   4.0 kg

Status: Waiting for trial!

My Story:

I was rescued with my siblings, Bubbles and Mo, around Taita by Rachel’s Rescues. We also spent some time with For the Love of Cats before we came to the café. That’s where we met dogs, so I am pretty okay with them. I am going to be timid my whole life because I didn’t meet people until I was three months old. But I can become a loyal and affectionate friend if you give me a chance. So, be patient with me. If I am hiding under the couch, please don’t reach under to touch or play with me. I come out only when I feel safe.

Things I like: 

hiding until I feel safe, playing and looking cool

Yomi (Yomigaeri)

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby/White
DOB: 21/11/2017
Gender: Female
Personality: Timid but snuggly & cuddly
Size:  4.6 kg

Status: Trying new home! 

My Story:

My name is now Yomigaeri. That means resurrection in Japanese. I earned that name because I was declared dead, yet, here I am! I left my home for a long time and they thought I was deceased, so they changed my NZCAR registry then they moved to Australia. Later, when Feral Nation rescued me, my microchip scan told the story. Now I am hoping to find a loving home without other cats so I can feel safe.

Things I like: 

Petting, brushing and relaxing in the sunbed

Jasper

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Grey/White
DOB: around Oct. 24
Gender: Male
Personality: Timid but playful
Size:  4 kg

Status: Taking applications!

My Story:

Oh, Hi. I’m Jasper. I come from a cat colony in Naenae where I lived with my extended family in a chicken coop—with chickens. The people fed us but we didn’t know how nice people could be until Feral Nation rescued us. I’m still a bit unsure about everything and I need time here at the café to decide if I like you or not. So, let me come out from hiding  at my own pace. I love to eat so you might see me at mealtimes.

Things I like: 

Hiding, eating and playing

Edith

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tuxedo
DOB: 27/10/2024
Gender: Female
Personality: timid but friendly
Size:  3.6 kg

Status: Taking applications!

My Story:

Hi, I’m Edith. I’m here with my friend Frank because we were too good at hunting birds. We were adopted back in March 2025 through Feral Nation as part of the Mama’s Last Litter programme. We were happy and well cared for but we got returned because we killed a few too many of the sanctuary birds near our home. Now we are at Neko Ngeru to find a more understanding or better located home. I’m more shy around people than Frank, but I warm up after a while, so give me a chance.

Things I like: 

Play hunting, affection

Frank

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tuxedo
DOB: Around Nov. 2024
Gender: Male
Personality: timid but friendly
Size:  4 kg

Status: Taking applications!

My Story:

Hello, I’m Frank. My friend, Edith, and I came to Feral Nation in January of 2025 as part of the Mama’s Last Litter programme. We were adopted in March and we were happy in our home. Unfortunately, we are perfect predators and our person was not prepared for the birds we brought home. Even clown collars didn’t stop us. We were returned and now we seek an understanding family who will provide us a home far from a bird sanctuary or keep us contained so we won’t catch any more birds.

Things I like: 

Play hunting, affection

Cyndal

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby/White
DOB: Aug. 25
Gender: Female
Personality: fearless
Size:  1.6 kg

Status: Waiting for trial! 

My Story:

Hey there! I’m Cyndal. I burst onto the rescue scene when I was just six weeks old. Yes, I jumped (those who say fell are lying) out of a hole in the wall next to a takeaway shop in Cannons Creek. No one could find my family, so some people walking past took me home and to a vet the next day. That’s how I came to be with Feral Nation and now with Neko Ngeru. They know they are lucky to have me and so will you.

Things I like: 

Playing, being the cutest in the room

Rupert

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby/White
DOB: Feb. 25
Gender: Male
Personality: sweet, quirky
Size:  4.2 kg

Status: Taking applications with sister Hilda! 

My Story:

Hi! I’m Rupert. I came to Feral Nation with my sisters (Xena and Hilda) from a home where I was living with about 20 cats in Taihape. I’m a bit shy at first, but super loving once I relax around you. I am talkative at times, especially when I’m nervous. My coat feels different and some say I have some Abyssinian ancestry. Who knows? I am sure to be a loving addition to a quiet home. I’m also okay around other cats.

Things I like: 

playing at hunting, petting, resting in the grey bed on the door

Hilda

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby/White
DOB: Feb. 25
Gender: Female
Personality: bold and cuddlly
Size:  2.5 kg

Status: Taking applications with brother Rupert! 

My Story:

Hey! My name is Hilda. You won’t forget me. I was rescued with my family (including Rupert and Hettie) and 20 other cats from a home in Taihape. My eye got an infection so I have a scar but my vision is fine, as you will see when I leap to catch the toy mid-air. I could be queen here but I think I will let my mamma Hettie rule for a while. Cuddles are fine but playing is better and best of all is food. I love to sing at night (or anytime I feel like it) so if you like a talkative cat, I’m for you.

Things I like: 

Leaping for a feather toy, mealtimes, and petting

Lottie

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Torbie
DOB: around Nov. 2024
Gender: Female
Personality: timid until I trust
Size:  4.1 kg

Status: Application on hold (new cat)

My Story:

I was born outside in Lower Hutt. I started to play with this lady who gave me food. Then she put me in a box and I went to live with some other people. I was not happy. I didn’t like anybody until I got my first heat. By then I was with a different lady. I started to trust her and play with her especially when I saw how this other new cat loved getting petted. That Mamma Hettie had plenty of experience and I felt I could learn from her. Now we are at the Café and I’m scared again, but I can see the other cats like people, so I may try eventually to relax. You can call me Lottie.

Things I like: 

Hiding until I feel safe. Playing. Petting will have to wait until I trust you!

Hettie

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby
DOB: ???
Gender: Female
Personality:strong and affectionate
Size:  3.5 kg

Status: Application on hold (new cat)

My Story:

I’m called Mama Hettie because that’s who I am. There were lots of us mamas where I came from in Taihape and we all cooperated to raise the kittens. About 20 of us came to Feral Nation in one day. Now I am still able to teach younger cats their manners even though I won’t have to have any more of my own kittens. (That’s a relief!) I have a large collar on me to keep my from scratching my ‘hot spot’. Hope that will be off soon. I love getting my chin scratched by humans though and am learning to appreciate laps.

Things I like: 

Petting and being a good role model for the other cats—definitely Catnip!

Squiggles

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tortie
DOB: around 2024
Gender: Female
Personality: timid until I trust
Size:  4.4 kg

Status: Application on hold (new cat)

My Story:

I was rescued by Poneke Ngeru and adopted with my brother in the winter of 2025. But, some bad things happened and I had to run away to the neighbours. They didn’t want me so my person surrendered me to Neko Ngeru but wouldn’t give up my brother. (There was a lot of drama with the humans that I didn’t understand) Then my name got changed from Waffles to Squiggles and I had to put up with all these other cats. I. Hate. That. At least I can kind of get away and still get food and petting in a high box. I hope to have my kind humans all to myself, please. Get me out of here!

Things I like: 

Staying away from other cats, getting petted while in a high box

The cats below are worker cats. They will stay in the longer to teach newbies how to behave in the café.

Pippin – Worker Cat

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Black & White
DOB: February 2021
Gender: Male
Personality: Wise and weary
Size: 2.3 kg
Entered: 20/04/2021

My Story:

I’m Pippin because I will always be small. I have congenital Myasthenia, so I seem tired all the time and I can’t do all the things other cats do. I get special care, so I am doing all right. I can eat my food from a spoon and walk a little way, but I need to rest a lot. The other cats think I am a little gross because I drool on myself. That’s why I also need humans to give me a bath and my paws and belly are stained brown. You can brush and comb me to help me as well. I come to the café by day and go home with the Okada’s at night.

Things I like:

Beanbag beds, brushing, getting fed and trying to lick myself.

Clio – Worker Cat

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Tabby
DOB: 15/07/2025
Gender: Female
Personality: playful & cuddly
Size:  2.1 kg

My Story:

My name is Clio and I am sure we will be friends. I was surrendered to Feral Nation with my brother and sister. I have always been small and I couldn’t get the operation or get adopted for a long time because of that. My medical reports are fine, I just don’t focus on my food enough. There are so many other fun things to do, I can’t be bothered to eat. So, if you are around during mealtimes, please don’t distract me.

Things I like: 

Playing with all the toys and other cats, human laps, and running out the door.

Isla – Worker Cat

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Silver Tabby
DOB: 21/03/2025
Gender: Female
Personality: playful & cuddly
Size:  2.4 kg

My Story:

Hi, I’m Isla! I came to Feral Nation from Otaki when I was two weeks old with my mum and five siblings. Mum was abandoned by her people and she was having trouble raising us. Fortunately, a kind person got us to Feral Nation. I grew along with my brothers and sisters but couldn’t get de-sexed at the same time because I was too small. I had lots of tests done on me to see why I haven’t grown but the only thing they can figure is that I don’t care enough about eating. I do love to sit on laps and play though. So, if you’re around at mealtimes, try not to distract me.

Things I like: 

playing, laps and bossing the other cats

Hulk Hogan – Worker Cat

Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Colour: Ginger
DOB: Jan. 2025
Gender: Male
Personality: playful, snuggly
Size:  3.7  kg

My Story:

I was born around Taita and surrendered with my mom and siblings (Bill, Cameo, Sydney and Toast) to For the Love of Cats Rescue. My name used to be Chris, but I got a name sponsor to change mine to Hulk Hogan. I never met him, so I don’t know how we’re alike. I was fostered around dogs, so they could be fine. I’m more timid than my siblings but will become brave over time. I like to sit beside you when I trust you. Come see me!

Things I like: 

Snuggling with Pippin, playing with all the toys