Govind Tekale
There’s something quintessentially New York about turning a corner and finding a cat sprawled across a stack of paper towels in the local bodega. These feline fixtures—lounging near the coffee, perching by the register, or slinking between cereal boxes—have become beloved neighborhood characters. But these cats exist in a legal gray area that’s sparking a growing community movement for their protection.
The Legal Challenge
New York State law prohibits animals in food-selling establishments, putting thousands of bodega cats on the wrong side of regulations. Store owners can face fines ranging from $200 to $350 if health inspectors spot their feline friends near the food shelves.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, responsible for these inspections, states their primary goal is ensuring compliance with food safety laws. According to their policy, inspectors typically offer “educational resources and corrective action timelines” before imposing penalties.
For bodega owners, this creates a practical dilemma. Many keep cats precisely because they help control rodent populations—which can also trigger health violations. As Greenpoint bodega owner Salim Yafai put it, the cats serve a dual purpose: controlling pests while drawing in customers.
A Community Rallies
A petition started by Dan Rimada on Change.org has gathered over 11,000 signatures (as of January 2025), approaching its goal of 15,000. The petition doesn’t call for overturning health regulations entirely but proposes a community-led solution: a collaborative initiative providing accessible veterinary care, resources for bodega owners, and celebration of these cats as cultural icons.
“By signing this petition, you’re joining a community of New Yorkers committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our city’s iconic bodega cats,” Rimada writes in the petition.
The initiative, launching in April 2025, aims to partner with major NYC bodega cat social media accounts to provide voluntary health services including vaccinations, wellness checks, and emergency assistance.
More Than Pest Control
While the practical benefit of rodent control is significant, most bodega owners value their cats for entirely different reasons.
In Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a fluffy gray and white cat named Mimi has become a social media star after customer Sydney Miller posted a TikTok video that gained over nine million views. For her caretaker Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has been in the United States for only a few years, Mimi has become a connection point with the community.
Miller, who captured the viral video, noted: “Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York.”
Mohammad proudly mentions that one of Mimi’s offspring, a white kitten named Lily, has also become popular with customers. “He’ll play with anybody,” Mohammad says. “Before, it’s Mimi, but now all of them are famous.”
The emotional connection goes deeper than customer attraction. At a nearby bodega owned by the same family, another of Mimi’s kittens, Lionel, provided comfort to Mohammad’s cousin Ala Najl during Ramadan. Feeling restless while fasting, Najl found distraction by playing with Lionel on his prayer rug.
“Yes, he helps me for that,” Najl acknowledged.
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Public Support
The community’s affection for these cats is evident in comments on the petition. Martin, a supporter who signed two days ago, wrote: “Not only do our feline furry friends bring a bit of joy and comfort, even for only a minute, in these hard times, Bodega Cats are our front line against the booming rodent issue in the city.”
Another supporter, Humza, compared them to “the majestic cats of Turkey,” adding: “We should always judge a place based on how they treat their cats.”
Michelle echoed this sentiment: “Nothing makes me happier than seeing a bodega cat, they are essential to our communities and the owners that care for them are doing wonderful things.”
Some supporters point to practical benefits. Stephanie noted: “Bodega cat’s deserve health care services, just like we do. This is important, not just to the cat, but to the Bodega owner and customers as well.”
Audrey was more blunt about the benefits of cats over other animals: “Classic idiot bureaucracy! Cats are not dirty. Unlike dogs, they poop/pee only in their litter boxes… Unlike dogs they know their jobs innately and do not have to be trained by paid professional trainers to get them to do it!”
The Path Forward
The petition doesn’t just seek signatures—it’s gathering momentum for a specific initiative launching in April 2025. Rather than simply opposing regulations, the movement is taking direct action through a partnership between major NYC bodega cat social media accounts.
This collaborative approach aims to provide accessible veterinary care, resources for bodega owners, and broader recognition of these cats as cultural icons. By addressing both animal welfare and business concerns, the initiative offers a practical middle path between strict enforcement and unregulated practices.
For many New Yorkers, the bodega cat represents something essential about their city—resilience, practicality, and unexpected charm in unlikely places. As petition supporter Dan summed it up: “Bodega cats keep the rats out and bring good vibes to the neighborhood—plus, they’re basically NYC icons. Protecting them means keeping our corner stores cozy, pest-free, and full of personality!”
Whether the April 2025 initiative succeeds in bringing meaningful change remains to be seen. But with thousands of supporters and growing social media attention, these feline fixtures of New York convenience stores have proven they have more than nine lives in the public imagination.
