Kitty Time at Mac Tabby Cat Café

As soon as I learned Charlotte was getting a cat café, I knew I had to go, but I also knew I’d never hear the end of it from my daughter if I went without her.  She’s only six years old and Mac Tabby Cat Café  typically only allows kids seven years old and older.  But, twice a month, they open their doors to Charlotte’s younger cat enthusiasts.

My daughter just wrapped up her first year of elementary school and I wanted to spend a day with my almost-first-grader doing some fun things that we can’t do during the school year.  First on the list was Mac Tabby in NoDa.

When we arrived, we checked in, signed the waiver (which more or less just confirms that you understand that cats have claws and teeth), and this mama got a Pure Intentions Cold Brew.  The café also offers locally-sourced Lenny Boy Kombucha, Black Cat Teas, A Smart Cookie baked goods, and Raw Crunch Bars.  The menu is sweet and simple but perfectly adequate since, let’s face it, we’re all there for the cats anyway.

Next, we got a quick run down of the rules and we were released into the café area with the kitties.  The café is closed on Mondays, except for Yoga (Yoga: 7:30-8:30pm, Cat Cuddling: 8:30-9pm), so the cats are very eager for some love and play when the kids come in on Tuesday morning.  As soon as we walked in, the cats trotted up to us and were ready for some affection.

The café offers a plethora of cat toys to help get the interactions going, including a cat-sized hamster wheel, those feathery-bits-on-string type things, balls, springs, etc.  There is a staff member in the room at all times to show you the toys the cats like best, show you their tricks (yes, they have a few tricks) and to make sure everyone, human and feline, is getting along alright.  All of the cats at Mac Tabby are available for adoption through Catering to Cats and Dogs, so the staff is ready to answer any questions you have about their names, some history, and personality traits.

As you may expect, 30 minutes flies by and before we knew it, it was time to go.  We took our photos in front of the kitty photo wall and bid adieu to our new feline friends.  Don’t worry, there’s no hard sell at the end to try to get you to take a cat home.  Well, at least not from the staff; I got a pretty convincing sales pitch from my six-year-old.

We didn’t come home with a cat this time, but we’ve already booked our next session, and we’re hoping to convince my husband that we need to bring home a sweet little face like this between now and then.

These sessions, called Kitty Time, are offered for 30 minutes starting at 10:30 a.m., twice per month, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  There is a $12 for each child attending (regardless of age).  One or two parents can accompany each child without an additional charge.

We planned ahead and snagged reservations for the first session of the summer.  You’ll need to be patient if you want to go; based on the availability on their website, it looks these spots can fill up pretty quick.  At publishing of this post, the next available Kitty Time session is two months out.

Check out and book Mac Tabby’s other regular events, including Yoga, Live Music, and Art Nights, here.