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The Bodega Cat Archive · No. 001

Mimi

A calico who works the floor of a Carroll Gardens bodega.

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Photographs by Gulce Kilkis

Mimi, a calico bodega cat, standing in the aisle of a Carroll Gardens bodega and looking at the camera
Mimi on her loop through the aisles. Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Photo: Bodega Cats of New York / Gulce Kilkis

The set

Mimi at the store
Up on her back legs for a toy dangled over the candy rack.
Mimi at the store
The owner stops to say hello.
Mimi at the store
Carried around the store by her owner.

Field notes

Mimi works the floor. She has a loop: past the snack rack, around the coolers, back to the front, a few times a day.

Mimi belongs to the woman who owns the bodega. The regulars know her by name too. The owner crouched down with food and Mimi came right over for the scratch, then let herself be picked up and carried around the store.

She still hunts. A toy dangled over the candy shelf gets her up on her back legs, both paws going.