Visiting the Cat Park in Lima: A Cat Lover’s DREAM

Do you love cats? If the answer is no, there’s probably no point in reading this post. But for my fellow cat lovers heading to Lima… this article is for YOU.

Cats are probably not the first thing that come to mind when building your perfect itinerary for Peru. I’m sure Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest and Rainbow Mountain take that spot. However, if you plan to visit Lima and love our feline friends, visiting the famous cat park in Lima is a must.

I got very sick in Peru and ultimately had to come home early, so I only spent a few days in Lima. On the one day I was feeling semi-okay, I was determined to make the most of it, so I chose to spend it with the cats of Kennedy Park (I’m aware this would not be everyone’s first choice).

As an avid cat and animal lover, I’m always conscious of anything that involves animals. However, Parque Kennedy is basically a haven for stray and unwanted cats, many of which appreciate some fuss and love.

In this post, I’ve shared all you need to know about visiting the cat park in Lima (or El Parque de Los Gatos as it’s better known in Lima).

The park is well worth visiting, even if you don’t like the cats. It’s a great place to sit down and watch the world go by, and there are some beautiful flower beds and garden arrangements to enjoy. When I was there, there were also some street vendors and live music performances. It gave New York’s Central Park vibes, but on a much smaller scale.

The cats themselves can be found all over the park. I saw several cats before I had even arrived. It quickly became clear that the cats were cared for and looked after. I saw local volunteers feeding them, and there are also small cat houses around the park which provide shelter from bad weather.

I don’t know the exact number of cats in the park, but it’s estimated to be about 100. Some stay out of your way and don’t enjoy human attention. However, a few are happy to be fussed and even jump on your lap and follow you around.

Despite the number of cats in the park, it didn’t seem overpopulated by any means. There is plenty of space and many trees where they can hide and get out of the way. There are also fenced-off areas that allow the cats to escape any unwanted human attention.

The cats are looked after by a local volunteer group known as Grupo Voluntario de Defensa Felina (Feline Protection Volunteer Group in English). The volunteers feed the cats and get them any necessary urgent medical care. You can donate to the organisation here (and if you live in Lima, it’s possible to adopt a cat).

Of course, living in a park in the middle of a city surrounded by humans and traffic all day will never be the best. I also saw underweight cats who looked a bit unwell, but all in all, it’s very well set up, and local residents do their best to keep the cats healthy.

I was staying in the Miraflores area of Lima so I could walk to the park. However, if you’re staying in the historic area of Lima, the easiest way to get to the park is by Taxi or Uber. Lima also has an excellent local bus network, and you can use Google Maps to work out if it’s doable from where you’re staying. The park is on quite a busy street, so there are several bus stops around.

The park is big and covers several city blocks, meaning it’s hard to miss. Once you enter the park, the cats are everywhere. I saw dozens of cats the moment I arrived. I recommend spending an hour strolling around the park and playing with the cats. I sat on one of the park benches, and a cat quickly joined me. I then got stuck for over an hour while it slept on me. Heaven!

There’s also a beautiful church in the centre of the park called the Virgen Milagrosa Church. It was closed when I was there, but it’s often open to look around.

Aside from Parque Kennedy, Miraflores is well worth a visit. It’s one of Lima’s wealthiest districts and boasts great coastal views. I spent the rest of my day wandering around the district and visiting several markets, including the Miraflores Indian Market, the Inca Market and some smaller flea markets.

If you do spend time in the district of Miraflores, be sure to check out the coastal area. For those who prefer to have a guide, there are several walking tours in the area. I recommend using Lima Walking Tours, which operates on a tip-based system.

I ended up spending almost three hours with the cats of Kennedy Parque. Mainly because one decided to call my lap its bed for over an hour. I also met a Peruvian man who wanted to practice English, so we spent some time having a chat.

All in all, Parque Kennedy is a charming place in Lima. It felt clean, social, and safe. A few street vendors approached me, trying to sell me things, but this is just how it is in Peru, and these locals need to make money.

If you love cats, visiting the Lima cat park is a must while you’re in the city. You can also donate to the volunteer group that protects the cats here.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy was watching a few people harass the cats. They weren’t being cruel as such, but parents allowed their children to chase them and try to pick them up. I also witnessed a tourist climb into a fenced-off area to stroke a cat who clearly wanted to be left alone.

If you decide to visit the park, don’t be put off if the cats don’t seem initially interested in being fussed over. As I walked further into the park, there were plenty of cats following people, playing with them, and asking for attention.

Overall, I loved visiting the cat park in Lima. Peru’s capital is somewhere I could see myself spending a significant amount of time in the future, and here would, without a doubt, be one of my favourite spots.