September 1, 2025
Jiji Rescue Cat Cafe
Last updated: 12 Sept 2025
Located in North Willoughby, Chatswood, Sydney, Jiji Rescue Cat Cafe is a great place to meet cats have a coffee and snack and enjoy spending time with friends. Jiji Cat Rescue Café was founded by Yuki Arai. Originally from Japan, Yuki has brought the popularity of cat cafés in Japan to Sydney. Since opening in 2023, the cafe has found homes for around 100 homeless and abandoned cats.
Cat rescue
I asked Yuki about her experience rescuing cats, she said, ‘Cats are independent. They don’t live in packs like dogs. When I feed them and care for them, they learn humans can be trusted. With patience and unconditional love, we can open their hearts and earn their trust.’
Set in a leafy suburb, I was able to find parking easily near the café. On entry, I was greeted by a friendly staff member, who took my order before escorting me in to meet the cats, that were happily lounging on the couch, one in a cat bed on the floor, and another perched in a cat tree.
Meeting the cats
Popcorn, a white and ginger male was the first to greet me and the staff happily told me that it was one of the other cat’s last day at the café, and he was being taken to his new home that afternoon. All of the cats come from rescue groups and are available for adoption. The café’s main goal is to help these cats find their forever homes and so far, have managed to rehome 36 cats.
Besides a great drink menu, there’s also a snack menu with gluten-free banana bread and cookies, healthy protein balls, and wraps available, plus there’s cat art for sale and I bought a birthday card for a friend while I was there, knowing that the money was going towards a very good cause.
“Izzy.” shared her thoughts on Google Reviews:
“This cat café is awesome! You can really tell the cats are well-looked after here and it’s such a haven for them. I highly recommend coming in and doing an experience with them…”
Booking information
The café allows a maximum of 6 people per booking including children under 3 yo. All ages are welcome. Children under 3 years old are free of charge. However, children under 12 years old must be supervised by those over 18 years old. Each child requires a supervisor to enter. The entry fee is also a requirement for supervisors. Entry is $15 per person for 20 minutes and an additional $8 for every 10 minutes after. Booking is strongly recommended.
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 9am-5pm
161B Eastern Valley Way, Middle Cove NSW 2068
https://www.jijirescuecatcafe.com/
🖋 Author Bio:
Carla Francis is a long-time pet lover, lifestyle writer, and travel enthusiast who has visited pet-friendly cafés in Australia, Japan, Portugal, England, Thailand and Spain. With a background in journalism and a soft spot for rescue animals, she enjoys uncovering hidden gems where animals and people connect in meaningful ways. Carla shares first-hand experiences to help fellow animal lovers plan their next adventure — whether it’s a cosy café with cats or a scenic stay that welcomes four-legged friends.