Bodega Cats of New York

A new book project documenting the iconic bodega cats of New York City highlights their cultural significance and the ongoing legislative efforts to legalize their presence in food establishments.
Nancy: Named for Someone's Grandmother
April 19, 2026Cat Stories#### Klara: She Reports on Everyone
April 18, 2026Cat Stories#### Leena: She Escorts Certain Customers to the Door
April 17, 2026Cat Stories#### Famous Bodega Cats of New York With Their Own Instagram Accounts
April 2, 2026Cat Stories#### Delilah: People Need This
March 30, 2026Cat Stories#### Luna: The Reason This Project Exists
March 30, 2026Full cover reveal: June 2026. Book release: October 2026
Bodega Cats of New York
This book documents them. The cats that bring in revenue, like Jimmy of Second Avenue, who runs his block like a seasoned manager. The territorial ones who clear basements in three days flat. The quiet constants who outlast owners, workers, and neighborhood turnover.
120 photographs. 60+ stories. Coming October 2026 from Quarto Publishing.
For brands and agencies
Put Your Product in a Real NYC Bodega
We place products in real stores, coordinate shoots with owners, and produce original content. Featured in The New York Times, NPR, and 100+ outlets.
Partner With Us## Legalizing Bodega Cats in NYC
Bodega cats exist in a legal gray zone. State sanitary code bans animals in food establishments, which means owners can be fined for a cat that's been living in the store for a decade. Two bills in committee would fix that. Int. 1471 at City Council. A08341 at State Assembly. 14,000 people signed the petition that got them there.
Read the Full Story## Cats About Town Tours
A walking tour through the history of New York's working cats. The strays who ran the docks. The post office cats who earned federal salaries. The brewery cats who never missed a shift.
Book a Tour
Source: Hacker News










