Bodega cats purring the hearts of New Yorkers, even if they violate state regulations

By Cedar Attanasio and Julie Walker

New York (AP) – The “Bodega Cats” in New York are beloved lights in the Big Apple – but they are on the wrong side of the law.

Cat convenience stores that live in many Bodegas and Coldears in the city look quite innocent, spending their days lounging in windows soaked in sun or slipping between snack shelves while collecting sympathetic animals with customers.

Officially, however, state law prohibits most animals from stores that sell food, with bodega owners potentially confronted with fines if their tabby is surprised to curl up near the tuna and toilet paper boxes.

The precarious legal position of pets has recently returned under the spotlight when a petition circulated online which pleaded for the city to protect the owners of Bodega fines, accumulating more than 10,000 signatures.

But inspecting the Bodegas is a responsibility of the state. The New York State Agriculture and Agricultural and Markets Department said in a statement that its objective was to guarantee compliance with food security laws and regulations, although it noted that inspectors aimed to offer “educational resources and delays and options for corrective action” before looking at the fines.

Many fans argue that cats really help keep stores clean by dissuading other omnipresent creatures from New York, such as rodents and cockroaches.

However, some traders say that the most important work of the felines is to bring customers.

At a Bodega in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a soft gray and white cat named Mimi has become even more a star attraction after a customer published a video of her in Tiktok which has been seen more than 9 million times.

Sydney Miller, the customer who shared the video, said that experience had helped her establish a lasting relationship with Mimi goalkeeper Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has only been in the United States for a few years.

“In the end, cats are a symbol of community construction and the type of special and unique connection that occurs in a city like New York,” said Miller, poet and producer of digital content.

Mohammad said that one of Mimi’s descendants, a white Furole ball named Lily, is also a great success with customers.

“He will play with anyone,” said Mohammad. “Before, it’s Mimi, but now all are famous.”

Another Mimi cat, Lionel, has taken up residence in a nearby Bodega belonging to the same family, where he is more than a seller or an antiparasitic technician.

A recent evening, the cousin of Mohammad, Ala Najl, Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan for 5 am and had another hour and 17 minutes. Feeling a little agitated, Najl decided to play with Lionel. He unrolled his red prayer carpet, approaching muscular cat in a friendly game to fight war.

The playful struggle helped distract Najl while he was hungry.

“Yes, he helps me for that,” said Najl.

In another Bodega in Greenpoint, the merchant Salim Yafai said that his cat, Reilly, is so popular that a long -standing customer has even tried to buy it, asking for a price in Yafai.

“I said $ 10,000. He said $ 1,000. I said,” No. “” Said Yafai.

Originally published: April 3, 2025 at 4:50 p.m.