About a dozen kittens, a puppy and a couple of rabbits were let loose in Purple Rain Retro Cafe - some creating mayhem with their boisterous play, others happy to curl up on a knee for some attention.
The initiative was organised by SuchCrowd events adviser Vee Rani, with the aim of providing a bit of stress release for Dunedin residents.
"We felt that Dunedin needed something like a cat cafe because the Otago University Students' Association have their Cuddle Fix for the stress relief of students, but there's nothing similar that's open to the public.''
Entry to the cafe was by ticket only, and all 130 tickets for the event were sold.
Miss Rani said the kittens came from the Animal Rescue Network New Zealand (ARNNZ) shelter in Dunedin, and the event was a fundraiser for the ARNNZ charitable trust which aims to reduce the stray cat population.
About $700 was raised for the charity, which would help it trap, neuter and rehome kittens and educate the community about the consequences of not desexing their pets.
She said if any coffee drinkers had a serious case of love at first sight, and really wanted one of the kittens, they were given information about how they could adopt it.
It was hoped more Pop-up Kitten Cafes would be held at different venues around the city each month, she said.
