The only four-legged friends allowed in Dunedin City Library are guide dogs, but a special exemption was made for Zeta the cat on Saturday.
Zeta was the star attraction at Dunedin author Carol Krueger's launch of her latest book, The Cat that Hid with Anne Frank, in the children's section.
Senior library assistant Zaklina Cvjetan said, while it was not normal for a pet to be allowed into the library, an exemption had been made as Zeta had such a pivotal role in the book.
Krueger said she had worried about how the cat, which belonged to her son, would behave and she had even practised before the launch.
She need not have worried as Zeta was calm throughout, even with the numerous pats from excited children.
"I can't believe she was so well-behaved."
Morgan Alcock (7) said being able to pat a cat in the library was "quite cool".
As the book was launched in conjunction with her new play, Anne Frank's Story, to be performed at the Globe Theatre, excerpts from the play were acted and Krueger also read a few passages from the book.
Another exception was made to allow Krueger to celebrate her 101st published book with chocolate cake.
It had been her goal since she was first published 26 years ago to publish that many books, she said.
