They came, they purred, they conquered. Yes, given the huge success of Manhattan’s first cat pop-up cafe, where people lined up for hours to snag some kitty cuddles, it was only a matter of time before someone made a purr. (Warning: this story was impossible to report without some necessary cat puns.) As part of the biggest cat cafe craze that has been sweeping the nation (and an import from the trendsetting Japanese), the Meow Parlor debuted in December 2014 on the Lower East Side, where all the cool cats of this city they like to roam.
Why a Cat coffee?
The concept is simple: match cat lovers with cats in need of love, and hope to make a few pairs to find permanent homes for the kittens. However, all cats can be adopted, it is perfectly acceptable to come snuggle up untethered (however, being cats, they will likely prefer your company if there really is any rope involved in their playtime together). In this city of small spaces, where owners often disapprove of pets, and the demands of work and busy social life can keep you away from home for long hours, this could be the feline solution you are looking for.
To visit, customers must register in advance, online – Cuddling and kitty play sessions at Hester Street Cafe start at $ 6 for 30 minutes. When you enter the cafe, you will be asked to sign a waiver, remove your shoes, grab a cat toy, and jump into action – up to a dozen rescue cats roam the space freely, lounging on the pillows and cat shelves lined on the bed (you can also read in posted photos and bios that offer more details on the kitten backgrounds).
The entrance fee also includes free Wi-Fi access, in case you want to show your new feline friends the latest trending cat videos on YouTube.
The café accommodates a limited number of customers at a time (so as not to overwhelm the cats), so reservations are essential. See their website for information on hours and how to make a reservation.
Food and drink
If you want to combine your cat time with a coffee and a pastry, no problem. The café is the brainchild of cat lovers and pastry chefs Christina Ha (co-owner of Macaron Parlor bakeries) and Emilie Legrand (one of the first patisseries in the same bakery). They run the Meow Parlor patisserie around the corner (which is how they were able to comply with city health regulations to offer food among felines), and they encourage customers to bring snacks and drinks. You can even buy cat-face macaroons and jelly cookies.
Bring home a friend
Meow Parlor has partnered with the local cat rescue and adoption group KittyKind, which keeps the cafe stocked with cats. All kittens are over four months old, have been neutered, and are up-to-date on their vaccinations. If you find the perfect match, you will run a quick background check with KittyKind and be asked to pay an adoption fee to help offset agency costs.
