Since NYC health regulations don't allow food preparation and sales in a place with animals, this cat cafe is divided into two locations: the Meow Parlour Patisserie where you can pick up coffee, tea and pastries, and the actual Meow Parlour around the corner where the cats romp. Macaron Parlour pastry chef, Christina Ha, co-founded Meow Parlour so there are adorable, cat-shaped treats and traditional baked goods. The owners hope to add delivery service from the cafe to the parlour soon but for now you have to tote your own treats.

The cat club is a fantastic experience for kids and the kitties. The parlour is clean, bright and relaxing, with a dozen or so cats roaming, sleeping and playing throughout the space. The cats have lots of toys, places to climb, scratching posts, sunny snoozing spots and ways to escape overzealous visitors. Since children under age 11 can't visit during general hours, my son and I went during one of the special kids' sessions when friendly adult helpers share tips on how to interact with the cats, and explain all the important rules. When our hour was up, my son didn't want to leave without Liza, the cat he befriended.

All the furry felines at Meow Parlour are available for adoption through KittyKind, a nonprofit, no-kill cat rescue group based in NYC. However, as my son found out, the adoption process isn't instantaneous. KittyKind requires an application, fees, reference letters and a home visit before you can adopt one of its cats, even the ones at Meow Parlour. So before you visit, make sure your kids understand that they won't be walking out with any of the kitties.

Meow Parlour's kids' sessions for children under age 11 take place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 3 to 5pm, and the third Sunday of the month between 11am-noon. The cost is $12 per child-adult pair for one hour. If you're visiting with children ages 11 and up, the cost is $4 per person for 30 minutes.

Sessions must be reserved online in advance, you can't just show up. Reservations can be booked up to 60 days in advance and fill up fast, especially the kids-only sessions. Follow Meow Parlour on Facebook for updates on any of these policies.

Meow Parlour is located at 46 Hester Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets. Meow Parlour Patisserie is located at 34 Ludlow Street between Hester and Grand Streets.

Ready to adopt a cat? Check out our post about the best NYC animal shelters.