Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash
April 11, 2025
Should Cats Be Patrolling the Big Apple’s Bodegas?
Cats in delis and bodegas, or small grocers, are an iconic part of New York City’s culture, but they’re technically illegal. A petition is seeking to change that.
The online petition from Dan Rimada, who started the Instagram account @bodegacatsofnewyork during the pandemic, calls for the creation of a certification program that would protect bodega cats and their owners without compromising food safety rules.
“Through years of hands-on experience, I’ve witnessed both the charm of well-cared-for bodega cats and the harsh reality of neglect when standards aren’t met,” Rimada wrote in his petition listed in late January. “In conversations with rescue organizations and advocacy groups, we’ve designed a realistic, community-driven solution.”
The voluntary Bodega Cat Certification Program would offer permits to bodega cat owners “who meet clear, humane standards,” including regular veterinary checkups, spaying or neutering, proper feeding, and “safe ‘cat zones.’”
Participating bodegas would also receive a certain amount of money, which would help deli owners with vet fees and other costs associated with having a cat.
The petition has received over 11,000 signatures since being listed in late January and covered in the press.
Often seen lounging around the premises, the cats arguably keep stores clean by deterring rodents. Irene Donnelly, who works at Myers of Keswick in the West Village, called fines from state inspectors “money well spent” in defending her bodega cat.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Donnelly told The New York Times. “The rodent issue is so prevalent. The cat solves that. Why is that a problem?”
The cats also provide companionship for proprietors and attract customers. Several popular Instagram and TikTok accounts are built around bodega cats.
Sydney Miller, whose TikTok video of a cat from a Brooklyn deli has been viewed over 9 million times, told the Associated Press, “Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York.”
Cat cafés have been opening nationwide in recent years with strict health code requirements, including keeping the cats separate from any food preparation areas.
The push for legitimacy for bodega cats comes as dog owners in New York City have been increasingly taking their pets into supermarkets and even some restaurants despite laws mandating that only service animals are allowed. According to the Food and Drug Administration’s food code, animals can transmit “disease-causing organisms” and “pathogens” that can contaminate food, and they “shed hair continuously” and “may deposit liquid or fecal waste.”
Discussion Questions
Do you see more benefits than risks in developing a certification program to allow cats to legally work inside New York City’s bodegas?
What’s your overall view of allowing pets in stores?
Poll
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Since the program is voluntary, I don’t see any issue with it. But it is certainly not something that should be run by government: there are far more important things government should be dealing with. As for cats in bodegas, I think customers can determine whether it’s something they like or not through their decision of where to shop, or not.
They have their own Facebook and BlueSky groups. I love them, but then…I’m the childless cat lady. Recommend everyone watch Kedi, cats of Istanbul.
I LOVE their Facebook posts
Not everything needs to be regulated. Customers who dislike cats will just take their business elsewhere.
NYC has a Rat Czar whose entire job is to decrease the city’s rat problem. If I owned a bodega in a city that needs a Rat Czar, I’d have more than one cat on the pawroll. If you don’t like the bodega cat, shop somewhere else.
Frankly, in a big cities I am less worried about deposits left by species larger than cats, if you catch my drift.
Pawroll! Haha!
Certification programs offer some advantages, such as improved safety standards and improved working conditions, but they also pose some risks. The presence of several substances common to bodegas, such as cleaning chemicals and other potentially harmful substances, may pose a health risk to cats.
Furthermore, a busy environment can lead to stress and injury, which requires careful management to ensure their safety.
An effective certification program would assure that the cats are healthy and well cared for, which would reassure customers and improve the reputation of the store. Additionally, it may help bodega owners avoid fines or legal issues associated with keeping animals in their establishments.
Also, certified cats can be used as an effective means of pest control, reducing the need for chemical interventions and potentially reducing operating costs.
By allowing pets in stores, such as natural pest control, a welcoming environment can be created for customers. The advantages of this practice must, however, be weighed against the potential risks to the health and safety of animals.
There may be a way to mitigate these risks by implementing a certification program, which would ensure not only the well-being of the pets, but the smooth operation of the store as well.
I think this program is PURRRRfect. Cats have long ruled cities in Greece, Iceland, Turkey, japan and others so why not here. Embracing the natural benefits of having felines integrated into the community establish a symbiotic relationship between people and felines. There are way too many abandoned and feral cats in the world, let’s follow the best in class standard of having communities care for them and integrate them into roles that can return the favor. Rodents are much less sanitary, so with proper care and guidance, our furry friends can start to earn their keep.
That’s a big part of the history of cat domestication (if you can call anything about a cat “domesticated )….controlling the rodent population on ships and in ports
Cats or rats? I will sign the petition.
Leave it up to the bodega, or any other store owners. However, stores may want to post something so those allergic can be made aware. Additionally, I know several other retailers that have had cats in their stores for years. When I asked the retailer leadership about the cats they mentioned two primary benefits: 1) effective rodent control, 2) store mascots that are enjoyed by many. Let the cats stay!
Cats are loveable, but they can also be nasty, bite, and are notorious for knocking things over to floors. Some people are suffering allergic near them, and some people hate or fear cats. Same with dogs. They should be kept in a corner, not free to roam around food and things they can maul. No dogs at all. I have seen big dogs blocking shelves and aisles and are intimidating, A warning sign is needed.
I like cats and dogs…but not conspicuously in stores.