Meow Parlour

I don’t really have anything to compare this to — because it is a strange place. I think I had high expectations. I like what they’re doing — people who love cats can come play + potentially adopt. The execution is just ok. Not very many cats + café is not actually inside. This makes sense, due to health codes — but it’s really nothing more than a stylish shelter.
I did get some really cute cat socks, but not a place I would visit again unless I wanted to adopt.

ok, yes, i am a crazy cat lady. i went to the purina pop up in 2014, started a fb page to promote cat cafes, & voila! meow parlour! yay! i’m involved in animal rescue, so they do have some rules which i totally understand, let me get you up to speed. you do need to sign a waiver, cats will be cats and occasionally they might break skin or play with some dangly things you may be wearing, i don’t think that’s happened yet but the café has to cover itself just in case. you have to take off your shoes-​wear nice socks-​in case you accidentally step on a kitty that sneaks under your feet. it happens. you must sterilize your hands before entering, they want to keep the cats healthy, no germs please! first and foremost, the cats well being comes first, so if a cat is snoozing & acts as if they don’t wanna be disturbed-don’t disturb! the staff are there to make sure everything is good for the humans & cats, so if they ask you to do something, do it, you can certainly ask why. finally, their cats come from kittykind, a well-​established cat rescue located at the petco on union square, all the cats are up for adoption!
the patisserie has really good stuff. upscale coffee & tea, hot chocolate, cold drinks, freshly baked macarons in the shape of cats faces-​works for me-​& other nice sweets. they try to get people to go there to wait because they are a business located in a pricey neighborhood in manhattan. more importantly, they are saving lives. even if you can’t adopt or foster. if you are supporting rescue by supporting places like meow parlour-​you are saving lives! thank you! the parlour itself is cozy, has all kinds of cool cat stuff, & if you’re lucky, you’ll come when there are friendly cats in a good mood that aren’t napping
so, if you can handle a few guidelines, aren’t allergic to or dislike kitties, and want to go to a really different kind of place, go check it out. meow.

The Yoga with cats sessions are really fun! Don’t expect a rigorous yoga session as there’s bound to be bursts of laughter as the cats roam around and occasionally get in your way in the cutest of cat ways.
Since the resident cats rotate depending on adoption and capacity, not all the cats are friendly or want to play. Came here in the evening, when most of the cats were up and about. They weren’t interested in playing with us humans though.

I came into the Meow Parlour a cat lover and left feeling more like a dog person.
My sister and I came as walk-​ins and had a very unpleasant interaction with the lady at the front desk. She acted very exasperated that we weren’t familiar with their bizarre system of sending us to wait in their separate café with no estimate for how long we would have to wait! We waited around in the area, 2 hours later we tried again and had luck getting a spot in the café. The people at the café were nice and helpful, but the employees in the Meow Parlour itself were all extremely grumpy.
The most disappointing part of the experience is that we didn’t get to play with any cats. These poor cats must be so over stimulated with tons of people coming in and out every half hour. They were so completely disinterested. I have never seen such a vacant look in a cat’s eyes when you are trying to play with them and waving a toy right in front of them! There were only about 6 cats around, most of them running away from any human contact. It’s not the cats’ fault… this is a faulty operation. Do not recommend, sadly, unless you’re looking for a cat to adopt and want to play with them first.

Need a pick me up? Come to this cat café! This place has a very relaxing atmosphere. The displays look adorable, like a coffee shop. You can play games, and order snacks and food there.
However, there were less cats than then there were people. When I went there, there were around 8 people crowding around 6 cats. And most of the cats were sleeping or did not want to play. So I just sat around taking pictures of the café and talking to my friend. I pet some sleeping cats but it felt more like I was petting a moving stuff animal. When I tried to approach one, they basically bounced off of me towards the other end of the room only to cuddle up with someone else. Maybe I’m just not cat friendly. But I would go there again to chat with friends and stare at cats from a distance.

Register online. $ 5 per person for 30 minutes. 6 minutes grace period and then they will charge you another $ 5 for every additional 30 minutes. You have to sign a waiver before you are permitted in. Would be faster to fill out the waiver at home because they do not accept a printed out version, only online. Simple to make reservation but make sure you reserve for the correct section.
It’s a fun concept. You can come here and play with cats although most of the cats are sleeping majority of the time or chilling with the staffs in the front. Quite relaxing to just sit there, pet cats, and relax.
The bakery is not connected with the petting/​playing area. You have to walk around a block to get to it.
The bakery is decent sized. The sell all types of cat shaped goodies. Macarons from Macaron Parlour is always a plus!
If you get to the petting place early, they will send you over to the bakery to sign the waiver (if you haven’t already did it beforehand) or to sit down and wait with a few goodies.
An experience that one must try at least once in their life!

Reservations are not required to visit the bakery located at 34 Ludlow Street.
There is an assortment of cat-​shaped baked goods to choose from for $ 2.25−3.25 each. They were okay. The only one I would recommend is the Mint Thin Brownie. It was very delicious and refreshing!

Since there’s no cat café where I live and because I adore felines, I knew I most definitely had to stop by Meow Parlour during my time in NYC. Apparently cat cafes are super hot in New York now since a few more are in the works. Oh, what an age we live in!
It was easy to make a reservation online and pay the day before. I digitally signed the waver prior to showing up but it didn’t register in Meow Parlour’s system and therefore had to sign it again. So I’d recommend just signing there since it only takes a second.
I came at mid-​afternoon on a weekday so it wasn’t too crowded. However, all of the cats were snoozing which made things a little boring. Once the clock started ticking, I thought to myself, «Man, the time is gonna drag,» but to my surprise, I found myself astonished later that nearly 30 minutes had passed already. This had a lot to do with two cats waking up during my visit, and one put on quite a show for us, going nuts after a little toy.
It did smell a tad like litterboxes in the café but nothing too terrible. There’s also a restroom for humans to use. I didn’t try any of the treats for people so I can’t comment on those but you could have items delivered if you were so inclined. Also, there was a binder full of the Meow Parlour alums who had been adopted; this warmed my heart!
I liked sitting at the front window to watch the world walk by. A handsome grey and white cat partook in this activity with me. Children were especially thrilled to spot kitties in the window.
Meow Parlour’s website mentions that yoga and toymaking classes are available. So if you want to downward dog around cats, you can.
Suggestions: More cats as there were not enough. And add kittens!

MEOW! Cuteness overload of kitty-​cats! Here, we can observe or have playtime with them. When I was there for my time slot, most cats were taking their afternoon nap and slowly waking up to us. We got to pet them lightly while they nap and follow them around when they woke up. All cats have names and have certain characteristics about them. Majority of the cats are friendly and likes to be pet. There will be a cat or two who are new to the facility so they may be a little standoffish. Get your cameras out to capture the action but remember, no flash!
Due to NYC’s strict health laws, you may purchase a drink or a snack from just around their corner café and then come over or order straight from the staff at the counter. And there you go, you’re at a cat café! I helped myself to a Crème Brûlée Macaron while I was there. It is quite tasty!
Overall, as a cat lover and hopeful of having a kitty-​cat one day, I truly enjoy my experiences here!

Feeling down and gloomy? Fatigue, tense, and heavy like there is a 50 lbs. sandbag on your shoulders? Cannot live another day with the overbearing stress? Lacking fulfillment even with the stable job, prestigious title, and baller income? Feeling something missing in life when you have it all? You are! God-​sent feline creatures aka cats that make this world a safer and loving place. Forget therapy, meditation, and self-​help books. Meow Parlour is THE SOLUTION to stress management and the missing puzzle in your life — $ 4 for 30 mins.
Checking instagram I discovered ID: ‘meowparlour’ promoting open slots for 7pm — 8pm. I rsvp’d on the spot which took 3 mins. on the website and given rules to follow (no feeding cats, pulling on tails, flash photos, testing to see if cats really do have 7 lives, etc) and a waiver form.
You can either
1) Print and complete the waiver form by pen and take it with you.
2) Complete the waiver on the iPad at Meow Parlour.
3) Bring your state id and scan.
Option 3 is best and takes 2 seconds.
I was quite intrigued by the entrance. There was a sliding window for the attendant to welcome you which reminded me of a liquor store setup in the Bronx, but no protection is needed here. There are cats. The attendant will explain the rules once more and all you need to know to have an enjoyable experience. Once you are in, take your shoes off, hang your jacket, grab a cat toy stick and start shaking.
Each one of the cats have a distinct personally. Some are active and enjoy the attention, some like being petted, some do not (scaredy cats), and some do not want to be disturbed (nap time). Let the cats roam free and stretch out your hand to graze them as they glide by. You will hear meowing occasionally. If you stay a while you may even see a cat fight which will be ceased immediately by the staff. Keep calm and start petting.
The sand in the hourglass over your head will drop into the de-​stress zone and without realizing you will notice your mood enhancing, blood pressure decreasing, boulders lifting from your shoulders, scars (emotional) vanishing, cancer cells perishing, life resurrecting, world peace ensuing, and the inner sun shining. Cats will cure your pain.
The 30 mins. spent here is more so a fruitful therapy session than entertainment and fun. You can extend your stay for an additional 30 mins. if the space is available. Also adoptions are encouraged!

Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty. Little Balls of Fur. Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty. Pur Pur Pur.
If you like cats, but don’t feel like owning one then Meow Parlour is your best bet. It’s a neat concept. Play with cats as much as you want. They have toys for you to play with cats or just pet as much as you want.
Some are cute. Some are sleepy. Some like to play. Others or one like to stare at the window and scratch you if you attempt to interrupt.
They charge by the ½ hours. They have slippers and socks for you, so you don’t need to get your socks and feet dirty.
Don’t come here if you are allergic to cats. Otherwise Meow away!