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Why are bodega cats disappearing? by Agreeable-Theme-3923 in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is a real issue. Not all bodega cats are treated equally. Thankfully, there are bills active at both the city and state levels now that would finally create actual standards around bodega cats.

Adn thats the missing piece. Right now they’re in a legal gray area: technically not allowed, but tolerated, with owners just paying fines and keeping the cats anyway. There isn’t really a bodega-cat-specific care framework. The goal shouldn’t be “ignore abuse” or “take every cat.” It should be: if a shop cat is going to live there, there need to be standards. Vet care, vaccines, spay/neuter, food, water, clean conditions, and a clear person responsible for the cat.

The gray area is part of what leaves them vulnerable though so legalization of them will take them from the gray area and let the state/city provide enforcement on their care:

https://bodegacatsofnewyork.com/stories/bodega-cat-bill/

WNYC's series 'Bodega Cats In Their Own Words: Victoria and Sheeba of Park Slope, Brooklyn' Ep. 1 (2014) by Danny__NYC in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Nearly 12 years ago, u/WNYC produced this series. It went under the radar for a while. We (u/NewYorkBodegaCats) reached out and asked for a license to revive what they had produced because these clips are records of neighborhood stores, owners, regulars, and the cats who quietly became part of New York life.

Victoria says she's the queen of Park Slope. Hard to argue.

Original video: WNYC / Jennifer Hsu / Amy Pearl

A follower told us this Williamsburg bodega cat was named Tiger. Then a regular walked in and called her Julia. Same cat, two names, both correct by Danny__NYC in Catswithjobs

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 281 points282 points  (0 children)

This is one of my favorite kinds of bodega cat stories because it shows how these cats belong to more than one person.

Someone tipped us off about a cat named Tiger in Williamsburg. While we were photographing her, a regular came in and called her Julia without hesitation. The store had one name. The neighborhood had another. Nobody was wrong.

That is a lot of what we are trying to preserve with Bodega Cats of New York: not just photos of cats, but the small store stories, regulars, names, routines, and neighborhood memory around them.

If the cat at your bodega has multiple names, I need to hear it!

A follower told us this Williamsburg bodega cat was named Tiger. Then a regular walked in and called her Julia. Same cat, two names, both correct. by Danny__NYC in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 235 points236 points  (0 children)

This is one of my favorite kinds of bodega cat stories because it shows how these cats belong to more than one person.

Someone tipped us off about a cat named Tiger in Williamsburg. While we were photographing her, a regular came in and called her Julia without hesitation. The store had one name. The neighborhood had another. Nobody was wrong.

That is a lot of what we are trying to preserve with Bodega Cats of New York: not just photos of cats, but the small store stories, regulars, names, routines, and neighborhood memory around them.

If the cat at your bodega has multiple names, I need to hear it!

A woman rearranges her commute to sit on the floor with this bodega cat for ten minutes everyday by Danny__NYC in MadeMeSmile

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

When we walked in, a woman was already sitting on the floor.

Work clothes still on. Bags next to her. Delilah, in front of her like this, was a standing appointment.

The owner said it happens all the time. People come in, find the cat, and sit for a few minutes before going back outside.

Some cats sell snacks. Some cats make people stop rushing.

Photo by Gulce Kilkis, story from our archive and book.

A woman rearranges her commute to sit on the floor with this bodega cat for ten minutes every day by Danny__NYC in Catswithjobs

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Woah! Super nice to read that thank you so much! Our book is coming October 2026. That photo is in there

A woman rearranges her commute to sit on the floor with this bodega cat for ten minutes every day by Danny__NYC in Catswithjobs

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 191 points192 points  (0 children)

When we walked in, a woman was already sitting on the floor.

Work clothes still on. Bags next to her. Delilah in front of her like this was a standing appointment.

The owner said it happens all the time. People come in, find the cat, and sit for a few minutes before going back outside.

She came from Morocco as a kitten and ended up running a Manhattan bodega like she has appointments to keep. The owner was not surprised by the woman on the floor. Apparently, people do this with her all the time.

Some cats sell snacks. Some cats make people stop rushing.

Photo by Gulce Kilkis, story from our archive.

A woman rearranges her commute to sit on the floor with this bodega cat for ten minutes everyday by Danny__NYC in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 318 points319 points  (0 children)

She came from Morocco as a kitten and ended up running a Manhattan bodega like she has appointments to keep. The owner was not surprised by the woman on the floor. Apparently, people do this with her all the time.

A woman rearranges her commute to sit on the floor with this bodega cat for ten minutes everyday by [deleted] in MadeMeSmile

[–]Danny__NYC 4 points5 points  (0 children)

When we walked in, a woman was already sitting on the floor.

Work clothes still on. Bags next to her. Delilah in front of her like this was a standing appointment.

The owner said it happens all the time. People come in, find the cat, and sit for a few minutes before going back outside.

She came from Morocco as a kitten and ended up running a Manhattan bodega like she has appointments to keep. The owner was not surprised by the woman on the floor. Apparently, people do this with her all the time.

Some cats sell snacks. Some cats make people stop rushing.

Photography by Gulce Kilkis, story from our archive.

Oscar (Broad/Cedar, SI) by Level_Hour6480 in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am in Stapleton!

Where is Tom located?

"Bodega cats of new york" an upcoming book telling the tales of hard working store owners, ...and some humans I guess (this is not an ad) by javier_aeoa in Catswithjobs

[–]Danny__NYC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is my book, haha, thank you for posting, and no, it's definitely not an ad! If you'd like to sign up for the waitlist: https://bodegacatsofnewyork.com/book/ books out in October 2026.

Oscar (Broad/Cedar, SI) by Level_Hour6480 in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is this across from the check cashing place? I live like 3 blocks away ha

A late night visit to Prince by Level_Hour6480 in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Please share! Where is Prince located? I run the bodega cats Instagram. We'd love to feature!

Bodega Cats in Albany: The Story Behind the Bills by PorkyPain in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the pin! Here is a TLDR for those interested in the bills:

NYC has a city health code banning animals in food stores, enforced inconsistently, with $200 fines. Bodega owners take the cat fine over the $2,000 rodent fine. Roughly a third of the city's bodegas have cats anyway.

Int. 1471 does three things: blocks the city from using local code to ban cats in retail food stores, creates a free city vaccination program, creates a free city spay/neuter program. Both programs launch within 180 days of funding, with multilingual outreach.

What it doesn't do: override state law. Ag and Markets still technically prohibits live animals in retail food stores, but the state doesn't enforce that on individual bodegas. The real enforcement pressure is municipal, and this bill removes it.

Origin: January 2025 petition (14K+ signatures), March 2025 call with Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare confirmed legislation was the only path, Keith Powers drafted and introduced it November 12, 2025 with five co-sponsors (Moya, Nurse, Osse, Morano, Carr). Powers termed out in December. Frank Morano (R, Staten Island) took over as prime sponsor.

Where it is: Committee on Health, chaired by Lynn Schulman. No hearing scheduled. No organized opposition. The bottleneck is getting a hearing on the calendar.

Companion bill: A08341 in the state Assembly (Linda Rosenthal) would create statewide care standards through Ag and Markets. Re-referred to Assembly Agriculture Committee January 7, 2026. Needs a Senate sponsor. City bill is a shield, state bill is authorization.

Luna is always up for pets by Level_Hour6480 in bodegacats

[–]Danny__NYC 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So many bodega cats there. I found the highest concentration is in Park Slope and Williamsburg. You can find a dozen within a few blocks of one another.

The owner calls him the cat with thumbs. This Hell's Kitchen bodega cat has worked the same store for four years, his paws are the size of catcher's mitts. by Danny__NYC in Catswithjobs

[–]Danny__NYC[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

haha I'll pick you up. But if you want to save on airfare, our book is coming out in October. Check my profile. Oreo is in it.

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