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Halloween Twilight TourBrooklyn Heights · Oct. 24, 25 & 31 at dusk. Dates are limited.See the tour
2 hours
1.5 miles of walking
12 guests max
4.9 Google · 5.0 TripAdvisor

Discover the Lower East Side's Cat History

The Lower East Side route is the scrappier one: saloons, tenements, alleyways, theater blocks, rescue stories, and cats who lived close to the street.

You will hear about feline bar flies in dive joints like Suicide Hall and The Flea Bag, heroic cats who saved people from burning buildings, a feline house of detention, a cowboy who lassoed a cat to safety, and the neighborhood's long history of people and animals improvising together.

Reserve Your Spot

$45 per person

$40 for seniors (65+)

Google and TripAdvisor reviews

Every ticket feeds a rescue cat. We partner with Weruva to donate meals to Bronx Community Cats with every booking.

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4.9 Google5.0 TripAdvisor

What You'll Discover

McSorley's Old Ale House

The tavern cats of McSorley's have been part of the bar since the 1800s. They're as much a fixture as the sawdust floors.

The Bowery

Feline bar flies ruled dive joints like Suicide Hall and The Flea Bag. These cats saw things.

CBGB's Historic Site

Before it was a punk landmark, this block had its own cast of four-legged characters. The Ramones weren't the only ones with attitude.

Eldridge Street

Police cats once worked this beat. And a cowboy once lassoed a cat to safety here. Yes, really.

Tenement Alley

Heroic cats saved lives from burning tenement buildings. Others ended up in a "feline house of detention."

The Crazy Cat Lady

Rosalie Goodman was the Lower East Side's most beloved eccentric. Her story is wilder than you'd guess.

Tour Gallery

See the blocks, alleys, and old neighborhood stops behind the Lower East Side route.

Lower East Side cat history tour guide sharing archival photos with guests on a sunny sidewalk
Lower East Side tour guests exploring Freeman Alley graffiti with Cats About Town Tours
Cats About Town Tours group listening to Lower East Side cat history near Orchard Street
Tour guide showing historic cat photo to guests on Bowery Street
Tour group exploring Freeman Alley graffiti art on Lower East Side
Tour guide speaking with guests outside pink Chinatown storefront
Tour group at Freeman Alley street sign in Lower East Side
Happy tour guests posing with guide on the Lower East Side
Tour group entering Albert's Garden community space
Tour assistant showing Cats About Town sign near NYU
Historic Lower East Side street corner featured on cat history tour
Lower East Side cat tour guests at historic neighborhood location

See the blocks, alleys, and old neighborhood stops behind the Lower East Side route.

What People Are Saying

What people say about our tours

Bowery history through a cat's eye view... We were given 'cat ears' to wear which prompted several 'welcome to new york!' greetings.
Sandi R.

TripAdvisor

Frequently Asked Questions

Comfortable walking shoes, water, and an umbrella if rain is expected. You are welcome to bring a camera. If you want to bring your cat, please use a secure carrier or backpack and email us before booking.
Yes, especially for pre-teens and teenagers who like stranger city stories. The tour lasts about 2 hours, so make sure everyone is comfortable walking.
The tour runs in light rain. In severe weather, we will reschedule or refund your booking.
You'll hear about bar cats, tenement cats, theater cats, police cats, rescue cats, and neighborhood characters from the Lower East Side.
Yes, we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot, as tours can fill up quickly. You can easily book your tour through our website.
Photos are encouraged. Please skip video during the tour so everyone can enjoy the stories without a camera between them and the guide.
Yes, we have a few designated spots where you can sit and rest while enjoying the stories.
Have another question? Contact us

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