120 photographs. 60 cats. All five boroughs.
Bodega Cats of New York is a 240-page hardcover drawn from the archive. It pairs photographs with the cats' names, routines, stores, and neighborhood stories.
See the BookAbout
Bodega Cats of New York.
A record of New York City’s bodega cats, the stores they live in, and the people who know their routines.
The archive began in Fort Greene.
In 2022, the process was simple: ask permission, learn the cat's name, and talk with the people who see the cat every day.
Each entry includes the details that give the photographs context: where the cat sleeps, who feeds them, what regulars call them, and how they move through the store. The shelves, counters, owners, workers, and customers are part of the story too.
Dan Rimada
Dan Rimada founded New York City's first citywide bodega cat archive. He is the author of Bodega Cats of New York, the first full-length nonfiction book about the city's bodega cats. The 240-page hardcover will be published November 3, 2026 by Epic Ink, an imprint of Quarto.
Dan writes and edits the stories, runs the archive, and organizes the advocacy work. The photographs come from credited contributors, including Gulce Kilkis, the book's photographer.
He also co-founded Cats About Town Tours, which leads walking tours about the history of cats in New York City.
The book and the campaign.
14,000+ signatures and direct support for four rescue groups.
More than 14,000 people have signed the petition. In 2025, BCNY distributed $7,435.24 equally to Bronx Community Cats, Sassee Cats, Catstoria Rescue, and Bronx Tails Cat Rescue.
See the CampaignWhat each bodega cat bill would do.
Neither bill has passed. The city bill would change local enforcement and require free, voluntary vaccination and spay/neuter programs. The state bill would create a legal path for cats in retail food stores that meet health and welfare standards. Both remain in committee.
Int. 0830-2026
In the City Council Committee on Health. No hearing is scheduled.
Addresses city enforcement.
Would stop New York City agencies from treating a cat in a retail food store as an automatic New York City Health Code violation. It would also require voluntary, free vaccination and spay/neuter programs, subject to funding. City law cannot override state rules on its own.
Read Int. 0830-2026 on the NYC Council website (opens in a new tab)A. 8341
In the Assembly Agriculture Committee. No Senate companion bill has been filed.
Creates a legal path with care standards.
Would allow cats in retail food stores that meet rules for veterinary care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, food, water, clean conditions, and a designated cat zone away from food preparation and storage.
Read A. 8341 on the New York State Assembly website (opens in a new tab)How BCNY documents a cat.
Ask first.
Get permission from the owner or worker before making a record.
Learn the cat's routine.
Record the cat's name, habits, hiding spots, store, neighborhood, and the people who know them.
Credit the photographer.
Every published photo is credited to its confirmed photographer. A filename or a cat's name is not enough to identify who took it.
What people ask us about bodega cats.
Care varies from store to store. These answers cover what BCNY sees, what we do, and when outside help may be needed.
Are all bodega cats well cared for?
No. Some have regular veterinary care, clean food and water, a safe place to sleep, and people looking out for them. Others are unfixed, untreated, underfed, kept in unsafe spaces, or abandoned when a store closes. That is why BCNY supports basic care standards.
Does BCNY think every bodega cat belongs in a store?
No. A store is not automatically the right home for every cat. If a cat is sick, injured, unsafe, or not getting basic care, rescue or rehoming may be necessary. Any legal path for bodega cats should include care standards and a clear way to intervene when a cat is being neglected.
Is BCNY a rescue organization?
No. BCNY documents bodega cats and organizes advocacy. Rescue groups handle trapping, transport, veterinary care, fostering, and rehoming. BCNY has raised money for four New York rescue groups. Those groups are equipped to do the direct rescue work.
See the campaign and rescue partnersWhat should I do if a bodega cat looks sick or unsafe?
Start by calmly asking the owner or worker whether the cat is receiving care and whether they are open to help. Do not take the cat without permission or confront staff. If help is welcome, contact a local rescue with the store's location, what you observed, and a clear photo.
Does BCNY only show the good side of bodega cats?
No. A good photograph can hide poor conditions, which is why the stories matter too. BCNY documents cats who are well cared for and cats who are not. The goal is to show each situation honestly.
Can I submit a bodega cat to the archive?
Yes. Ask the owner or worker before photographing the cat, then send the cat's name, store, neighborhood, what the people there know about them, and a photo you have permission to share.
Submit a Cat