Everything you’ve always wanted to know about NEKO Cat Cafe in Seattle and Bellingham, WA (2023)
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Heading to Washington anytime soon?

If you’re a cat lover with a penchant for unique experiences, make sure to add NEKO Cat Cafe to your must-visit list. With locations in Seattle and Bellingham, NEKO offers more than just a cup of coffee—it’s a haven where cat cuddles and Japanese vibes come together. It’s a purr-fect destination for those seeking a one-of-a-kind cafe experience in the Pacific Northwest.

NEKO Cat Cafe

Neko Cafe Seattle

How did NEKO Cat Cafe come about?

Having spent three years abroad in Japan and Vietnam, NEKO’s co-founder, Caitlin developed a deep appreciation for the cat cafe culture.

During her time teaching kindergarten in Japan, Caitlin and her partner Cory explored numerous cat cafes, fostering a dream to establish their own upon returning to the US—a time when cat cafes were still a rarity in the country. Drawing on her decade-long experience in the restaurant service industry and her profound love for cats, NEKO Seattle naturally evolved.

Seattle Neko Cafe

Despite many initial challenges, Caitlin and Cory created a place where you can bring your friends for happy hour and your little niece on Saturday morning. The goal has always been to give cats the sanctuary they deserve and humans the kind of retreat they didn’t even know existed.

NEKO stands as a haven for cat lovers, cultivating a diverse and wonderful community bonded by their shared love for feline companionship.

Neko Cat Cafe

NEKO Seattle later evolved into a second feline haven: Neko Cafe Bellingham.

Caitlin and Cory fell in love in Bellingham, and they had always wanted a reason to return and contribute to the community that had enriched their lives in so many ways. That’s why NEKO Cat Cafe Bellingham came about.

cat cafe Bellingham

Choosing between NEKO Seattle or NEKO Bellingham

Both cat cafes are located in the state of Washington, with NEKO Seattle located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle and NEKO Bellingham in downtown Bellingham. They are approximately 88 miles apart or about a 1.5-hour drive.

The biggest difference lies in their size and setup.

Neko Bellingham

In NEKO Cat Cafe Seattle, the cat room is separate from the bar, allowing everyone to enjoy a drink and a snack at the bar independently of a cat room reservation.

“We’re biased, but we think our little furiends are the best view in the city,” says Rae Caerns.

NEKO Seattle is a more intimate space with approximately 15 cats. It accommodates eight people in a typical 45-minute cat room session, and everyone can bring drinks and snacks from the bar into feline heaven.

Vanessa Neko

On the other hand, NEKO Bellingham integrates the bar within the cat room.

“Drinks and snacks can be purrchased in the cat room (or just outside) and enjoyed with the cats,” says Rae Caerns.

“Because the space is much larger, NEKO Bellingham usually hosts between 25 to 30 cats. Sessions with the cats can be 45-minute cat-room visits, longer ‘Work/Study/Purr’ sessions of two hours and 45 minutes, or adorable purrivate parties that accommodate closer to 25 people at a time. If you’re looking for a uniquely adorable session, cat yoga classes at NEKO Bellingham are the sweetest.”

cat cafe yoga

The cats

NEKO Seattle offers a temporary residence for around 15 cats, while NEKO Bellingham accommodates approximately 20 cats.

All the cats at Neko Cat Cafe come from RASKC. According to Rae Caerns, “RASKC has always understood our mission and trusts us to take great care of our kitties and find the right adopters for them.”

black cat at Neko Cat Cafe

Regarding special needs, Caerns notes, “We try to focus on whatever our shelter partner needs from us. For two years in Seattle, we exclusively took in FeLV+ cats. When that need became less urgent, we successfully adopted all our FeLV+ cats to their forever homes and transitioned to accommodating general population kitties.”

black kitten in cat cafe

“Similarly, when RASKC faced a surplus of kittens with limited fosters available, we moved our cat room residents to NEKO Bellingham and welcomed 27 kittens in Seattle,” says Rae Cairns.

“Due to our unique space, we often have more time and resources to dedicate to cats that may require a little extra effort to open up to people. Our staff consistently votes to prioritize cats that need additional time and love.”

Neko Seattle

Neko Cat Cafe menu

Both the Seattle and Bellingham establishments provide a varied menu catering to different tastes.

The beverage selection includes freshly brewed coffee, along with hot chocolate and a diverse tea collection. There are also more refreshing options like kombucha, lemonade, and strawberry milk. The alcoholic beverage offerings include wine, sake, beer, cider, and seltzer.

Complementing the drinks are Japan-inspired snacks that add a distinctive flair to the NEKO experience: mochi, rice crackers, Pocky sticks, cat cookies, Okazu Pan, etc.

Neko cat cookies

Practical information

Address

NEKO Cat Cafe Seattle

519 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122, United States.

NEKO Cat Cafe Bellingham

1130 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States.

half cat head

Opening hours

NEKO Cat Cafe Seattle

  • Monday: 10:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Tuesday: 10:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Wednesday: 10:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Thursday: 10:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Friday: 09:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Saturday: 09:00 am to 09:45 pm
  • Sunday: 09:00 am to 09:45 pm

cat cafe Neko

NEKO Cat Cafe Bellingham

  • Monday: noon tot 06:00 pm
  • Tuesday: noon tot 06:00 pm
  • Wednesday: noon tot 06:00 pm
  • Thursday: noon tot 06:00 pm
  • Friday: 11:00 am to 08:00 pm
  • Saturday: 10:00 am to 08:00 pm
  • Sunday: 10:00 am to 08:00 pm

cat with pink bandana

Reservations

“We definitely recommend that visitors make a reservation beforehand,” says Rae Caerns. “We take walk-ins when there’s space in the cat room, but sometimes that’s hard to come by. Our reservation system updates in real-time, and it costs the same as a walk-in, so we always recommend a reservation to ensure you get time with the kitties.”

cat moves

Entrance fee

Both locations have an entrance fee. All contributions made in the cat room directly support the well-being of the cats and the individuals caring for them.

white and ginger cat with green eyes

Entrance fee NEKO Seattle

In Seattle, a 45 minutes cat-room session is $22 per person. You will be joined in the cat room by a maximum of eight people and 12-15 cats.

If you want to have the entire room to yourself (with or without friends), you can also book a private 45-minute session for $176 on weekdays and $295 on weekends.

cat sleeping with head in cushion

Entrance fee NEKO Bellingham

At NEKO Bellingham, a 45-minutes cat-room session is $15 per person. You will be joined in the cat room by a maximum of 16 people and 20-30 cats.

Just like in NEKO Seattle, you can also book a private 45-minute session for $240 (and you can invite up to 20 of your favorite people).

At NEKO Bellingham only, you can also book an extended ‘Work/Study/Purr’ experience. This session lasts two hours and 45 minutes and costs $33 per person.

adorable ginger cat

Are children allowed?

Yes. All-ages are welcome in the cat room. NEKO just asks that everyone under 13 has a grown-up with them and that there’s at least one adult for every two kids.

cats that love each other

Conclusion

“The amazing communities—encompassing our staff, our visitors, our online furiends, and the kitties in the cat room—are beyond our wildest dreams,” says Rae Caerns.

By the time a cat goes home with their human, it means they’ve grown into their best selves. Both the staff and visitors play a significant role in helping these kitties get comfortable, confident, socialized, and undeniably loved. “Witnessing these cats find their forever homes is exactly why this job is so incredible,” says Rae Caerns.

Do you want to see even more cats find loving families? Consider sharing this post with your friends and on social media. Together, we can secure more forever homes for these purr-fect companions.

Neko Christmas cat

Have a look at all the other cat cafés around the world that we’ve visited and reviewed!

And if you are dreaming about opening your own cat café, the book Drinks & Whiskers: How You Can Open a Successful Cat Café by Angeli Rodriguez is a must-read!

book with cat name

English version / version française

 

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