Bodega Cats of New York: Meet the City’s Hardest-Working Shopkeepers

A new book by Dan Rimada and Gulce Kilkis portrays 60 working cats from corner stores across all five boroughs.

New York, November 9, 2026. Walk into almost any corner store in the city, and a pair of green eyes may follow you from the bread shelf. Bodega cats in New York sleep on newspapers, guard the register and greet regulars at the door. Now these quiet workers have their own book. Bodega Cats of New York arrives in stores on November 24, and its author is touring the city this month.

A Very New York Tradition

Cats on the Job

Working cats are nothing new here. Long before the first bodega opened, strays patrolled the docks and warehouses along the rivers. In fact, cats also kept mice away from post offices and breweries for generations. The corner store simply carried on that old deal: food and shelter in exchange for pest control.

A Cat in Every Third Store

Today, New York has roughly 10,000 bodegas. About one in three keeps a resident cat, according to estimates reported by AFP. Owners say the cats keep mice off the shelves. Just as important, they bring in customers who stop to say hello.

Sixty Cats, Five Boroughs

Dan Rimada started visiting bodegas in 2022 and soon turned his hobby into a project. Over four years, he and photographer Gulce Kilkis documented 60 cats from the Bronx to Staten Island. Their 240-page hardcover holds about 150 photographs. Beyond the portraits, it tells the stories of the store owners, many of them immigrant families, and of the neighbors who help feed the cats.

The book also looks at the hard side of the job. Some cats live in cramped spaces, and few get regular vet care. For this reason, Rimada presents the project as a call for better welfare, not just a love letter to the city.

A Word from the Author

A bodega cat is a neighbor with fur. It knows your order, your schedule and, some days, your mood.

Geneva Russell, NY Art Life

Russell added that the book works like a map of the city. Every portrait points to a block, a family and a daily routine. After reading it, you may start looking for whiskers behind your own corner-store counter.

The Fight to Make Them Legal

There is a catch, however. Current health rules ban animals in stores that sell food. Owners can face fines of $200 to $350, according to Rimada.

Change may be on the way. At City Hall, a bill from Council Member Keith Powers would protect owners from penalties and offer free vaccines and spay or neuter care. Meanwhile, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal has a state bill that would allow cats with proper vet care. Both measures still sit in committee. Rimada’s petition to legalize bodega cats has gathered nearly 14,000 signatures.

Meet the Author This Month

Rimada is bringing the book to bookstores and libraries across the city. Most events include a slideshow, a talk and a signing. Seats are limited, so reserve early where tickets are required.