Meow! A Visit to NYC's First Cat Café

The other day my friend and I went to the Meow Parlour, New York City's first cat café, which just opened on Monday. A cat café is a place where people can interact with adoptable cats in a kind of commercial living room; you pay for time and can pet and play with the cats there. The idea started in Asia and allows people who live in the city- who may have small apartments, or who may not be allowed to have pets, as well as those who are looking for a new best friend- to spend time with cats.

The Meow Parlour is located on 46 Hester Street, and they have an associated coffee shop and bakery nearby. Customers can bring coffee and sweets from the bakery to the Meow Parlour but not other outside food, and the cats don't roam the bakery itself. So you can enjoy a cat themed snack without the cats if you wish!

Both adults and children can use the Meow Parlour but they have separate hours for young kids with adult supervision. I went on a Tuesday at lunchtime, when there were about half a dozen humans competing for the attention of about an equal number of cats.

You have to reserve slots in advance on their website and pay in half-hour increments. Even though they just opened up this week and they're already booked to the gills, it's sometimes possible to to book time on short notice, especially during daytime hours. If you're in the area and love cats, I recommend it!