During my trip to New York a few weeks ago, I ended up going to the new cat café, Meow Parlor. I guess cat cafés have been a thing for a while now--I know my host dad in France really wanted to go to the one in Paris back when it opened in 2013.
As a Buzzfeed proven dog person, I never really had any interest in going to a cat café, but I tagged along to the New York one to see what all the fuss was about. And, well, I didn't do my research. The idea of "cat café" in my head was very different from what it actually was. Here's what I found out:
Myth:
They serve food there! You just eat in a café and cats will wander around and maybe hop on your table and stuff!
Fact:
They do not serve food in the same space as they keep the cats. Honestly I don't know why I thought that would be a good idea. The idea of a cute kitten shedding onto my cookie or coughing a hairball into my cappuccino isn't very appealing in retrospect. Also, having worked at a barn for many years and having taken lunch breaks with a number of barn cats eying me, I get the feeling that in this café scenario I would have to unwillingly share my food.
There is a café, but it's actually down the street and around the corner. They sell coffee and lemonade and cat-themed snacks. You can enjoy the food and drink in there, and that's also the only kind of food and drink you're allowed to bring it into the space where the cats are.
Myth:
All of the cats are owned by the cafe! It will always be the same group of cats whenever you visit!
Fact:
Actually, all of the cats can be adopted! Meow Parlour has partnered with KittyKind, an NYC-based no-kill rescue group. They have binders in the café with profiles on the cats who have already been adopted and cats who are still looking for a forever home. If the profile sounds like a cat you'd want in your life, you can ask about adopting!
This also means that no visit to Meow Parlour will be quite like the last one. Some cats from before will have found families, and new cats rescued by KittyKind will have moved in.
This also means that no visit to Meow Parlour will be quite like the last one. Some cats from before will have found families, and new cats rescued by KittyKind will have moved in.
Myth:
The cats will always want to play!
Fact:
Cats do not know or care that you paid four dollars and you have a half hour's worth of time with them. They care about sleeping. This can be a bit of a problem when you have ten or fifteen people in there and only one or two cats who feel up for interacting with visitors.
It's really just luck of the draw at a place like this. Some days, all the cats might want to play. Some days, they might all be asleep. Just be patient and don't force the cats to do something they don't want to do. Maybe you won't be able to hug every cat, but you'll at least be able to stroke a few as they relax by the front window and contemplate how cute they are.
Myth:
The place will be super relaxed! It's all about fun here!Fact:
They can't really be too relaxed here, because they need to protect the cats. There's a list of rules that you can read online before you go and on paper before you enter. You have to sign a detailed waver before walking in, and show ID. You have to take off your shoes upon entering. Time limits are pretty strongly enforced so as to not overcrowd the space. And it's small enough so that someone on staff is always keeping track of the guests and how they are treating the cats. It may feel like a lot, but it's all for the benefit of the cats.
Also, some of the rules are just common sense. Like, don't pick the cats up without permission. Don't try to wake up a sleeping cat so you can play with it. Don't stick your head into a small nook and try to coax the cat out. Things like that.
Myth:
Dog people won't have fun here! This is only for people who are cat-crazy!
Fact:
Am I still a dog person? Yes. But was this also one of the cutest places I'd ever been to? Yes. So no matter where you stand in the great dog person/cat person debate, this place is definitely worth visiting!
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