Bodegas are New York City institutions. They are the friendly neighborhood corner stores where the owners know their regulars by name. It’s also where you can buy some of the best chopped cheese sandwiches outside of the crowded, touristy areas.
Over the years, bodegas have also become a haven for stray felines. And as you will see in the following photos, they have grown quite comfortable in their new homes, even becoming an attraction for customers.
We’ve collected these photos from the Bodega Cats of Instagram page. If you live in the city, you might recognize one of these little fellas.
Bodega cats have become such NYC institutions that they have earned mainstream local recognition. Apart from the Instagram page where these photos came from, there is also a dedicated website that features stories about these furry felines.
The bodega cat phenomenon even reached across the globe in Japan, where they were featured in a segment on the national evening news.
Since bodega cats have been an integral part of many NYC neighborhoods, the local government has taken action. In November, the New York City Council proposed a bill that would permit shop owners to keep these felines in their stores.
This means that bodega cats will receive free vaccinations and undergo spaying and neutering. Currently, the New York City health code prohibits keeping live animals inside the stores.
