Cat Museum Budapest — Attraction in Budapest

2 stars for the well-kept cats, but this so-called museum was a disapointment.

A few antique cat figurines and a replica of a cat mummy (I assume a replica, as I doubt a real mummy could be displayed in such settings) and that's pretty much the closest thing to a museum exhibition you can get in this place.

We went at 2PM, as our registration indicated, arrived early and were told to wait outside without much explaination as the employees don't really speak much English. Learning a few phrases like "sorry there are too many people at the moment, please wait" would be suffcient to avoid awkward situations and create a friendlier atmosfere.

The cats were mostly sleeping and annoyed at times, which is understandble and beyond human influence but should be taken into account if you're marketing the cat interaction in the forefront.

Based on what I read when making reservations, I was under the impression that this was a proper museum with a tour guide with an adjecent cat café and not a small two story space filled with mostly cat trees, cat toys and random cat fun facts. The interactive activities were geared towards younger children and were not mentioned on the third-part websites where I made the reservation.

For two tickets, we paid 21€, in-person it says the price is 9€ per person. The free hot drink is from a vending machine, and there is a slightly nicer vending machine with hot drinks that you can pay for. The trash can wasn't working so we brought it back to the front desk because it was not really explained what to do with the cups after drinking them, besides not leaving them out on the open so the cats don't get to them.

The general atmosfere was that people wanted to pet the cats, but were hesistant and unsure how to spend their time there. A bit depressing considering that people who would visit such an establishment are cat lovers and cats bring us joy. It's a cramped and dark place for both visitors and the resident cats.

The cats are all special breeds, expect one rescue, apparently well-cared for but not very interested in interacting with people. They might have been fed up with human interaction consdering the time in the day.

If you're expecting a museum, you have been mislead. It's not even a cat café. You can pet cats, learn a few fun facts and kill extra time, so don't plan you day around the visit. Owners should improve the exhibition or at least the name to reflect what the establishment actually offers.

TLDR Not worth the price. Not a museum, not a cat cafe. Everything except the cats is...

I have volunteered at a cat café before and have experienced several other cat cafés and I have to say that this was disappointing. I'm not going to complain about how the cats were sleeping and all that, as that's normal cat behaviour, but other things bothered me. First of all, so many kids were touching and annoying cats that were clearly sleeping or did not want to be disturbed. This was also the case for some adults who were visiting, which shocked me. I don't think this many people should be allowed at once in such a small space as it's hard to control how they treat the cats who just want to rest and be left alone, not treated like zoo animals. They should understand that they are not entitled to the cat's love, as cats are animals with their own personalities and boundaries. Secondly, it would've been nice to learn more about the cats who live in this place and see how they are like, since they all felt a bit reserved and shy, as if they were depressed (even though they're known to be social breeds, but maybe we just went on a bad day).There was also quite a bit of tension with one bangle cat towards the rest of them, which made the cats quite nervous and ran to hide. It also felt like this place was more geared towards the customer rather than the wellbeing of the cats. I understand that having business and customers is important to pay the bills but there has to be a balance. Some people have complained about the price and honestly, I understand the pricing to a certain degree with the complimentary drinks and gift you can receive. Also, cat supplies and taking care of them is not a cheap job. But since it's a cat museum/café, this cost is elevated, and I understand if people are taken aback because of it. I must admit that even though my experience was not the best, I must give compliments to the clean setting and the countless toys and cat towers they had available, and the many high spots built for the cats. It smelt very clean which is very hard to do with how many cats they have. The atmosphere and decoration was well thought out and relaxing, but the amount of customers and their behaviour made...

I absolutely recommend visiting this hidden gem of Budapest if you're a cat lover!

We had a free morning/early afternoon before our train departed and happened to find this amazing place on Google Maps by accident. My husband mentioned "Cat Museum" and I immediately shouted YES.

We booked the 11:30-13:00 time slot on a Saturday. The space is not huge, but there are two levels, and sufficient space for the cats and guests. The entrance opens into the foyer and coffee area, with a Kassa and cafe tables, along with cat trees aplenty. Then an open hallway leads towards an open area for a children's area to take photos, color, etc. There are cat paintings hanging on the walls (which are amazing btw!), and are for sale for reasonable prices. There is additional seating upstairs. They also display cat posters and paraphernalia around with information about cats of the past, cats of ancient Egypt, etc.

With the low-cost admission price, there is 1 free espresso, latte or cappuccino per person. There is a guest toilet available.

The cats range in age from 1 year to 3 years and are extremely energetic! My son played with the cats non-stop for over an hour and had the time of his life (he's 9) - this place may not be suitable for smaller children, as the cats may scare easily from loud noises and children may try to pick up the cats or tug on them. I recommend from age 6+ to be safe unless the child has previous experience with cats.

We would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who loves cats! To spend a morning or afternoon in the company of cats, relaxing and having a coffee is absolutely pure joy. A great way for us to unwind...