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NYC’s bodega cats become internet stars when a familiar neighborhood encounter reaches a much wider audience, as happened with a customer video of Mimi that the Associated Press reported had more than 9 million TikTok views. They remain local legends because their stories are tied to particular stores, workers, regular customers, and neighborhoods—not just to a viral clip.
Bodega Cats of New York documents cats’ names and stories alongside the stores and neighborhoods where they live. The project’s founder says meeting Luna in a Fort Greene bodega in 2020 led to the Instagram account; by 2022, he was deliberately visiting stores to ask about their cats. That is the history of the project, not a verified origin date for bodega cats themselves.
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The cats’ popularity does not mean they are legally authorized to live in food stores. As of the latest source checks in September 2026, the city and state bills discussed here remained in committee. The city bill would not, on its own, permit store owners to keep cats because state action would also be required.
Key takeaways
- Bodega Cats of New York records cats’ names and stories alongside the stores and neighborhoods where they live.
- The Associated Press reported that a customer video of Mimi, a Greenpoint bodega cat, had received more than 9 million TikTok views as of its April 2025 report. That is one video, not a measure of citywide popularity.
- Bodega cats can feel like local legends because their stories involve stores, workers, regulars, and neighborhood routines.
- The cats’ cultural popularity does not establish permission under food-store rules or prove that every cat is well cared for.
- As of the latest source checks in September 2026, the city and state bills discussed here had not passed.
- The announced book Bodega Cats of New York is described by the project as a 240-page account of 60 cats, due from Epic Ink in November 2026. Check its release and retail availability before presenting it as published.
Why did social media make bodega cats famous?
Social media can turn a highly local routine into a character-driven story for a much wider audience. A cat by a bodega counter is part of a real setting, and the store, workers, customers, and neighborhood give the encounter context beyond a cute image.
The Associated Press’s April 2025 reporting offers a concrete example: a customer-posted TikTok video of Mimi, a Greenpoint bodega cat, had received more than 9 million views. The scale of that one video shows how far a neighborhood encounter can travel; it does not establish that all bodega cats are famous.
The same AP report quoted Sydney Miller, a poet and digital content producer, describing the cats as “a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York.” That is Miller’s view, not a measured finding about all New Yorkers.
Bodega Cats of New York adds another dimension by documenting each cat’s name and history alongside its store and neighborhood. The project’s founder says meeting Luna in a Fort Greene bodega in 2020 led to an Instagram account, and that by 2022 he was visiting stores intentionally to ask about their cats.
The appeal is therefore not simply cute cat. It is a cat with a place and a story, shared by the people who encounter it locally. A post may take that familiar character far beyond the block, while the meaning remains rooted in the store and neighborhood.
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| Dimension | Internet star | Local legend |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | A post or video can reach viewers far beyond the store. | The cat is familiar to people who shop or work at a particular store or nearby. |
| Main appeal | A distinctive cat and a shareable moment. | A familiar animal connected to a place and its daily life. |
| What gives the story context | Viewers encounter the cat through a post or video. | Workers, regular customers, and neighbors know the cat’s routines and history. |
| What the evidence shows | One reported video of Mimi had more than 9 million TikTok views by the AP’s April 2025 report. | The Bodega Cats of New York project records cats alongside their stores and neighborhoods. |
Why do bodega cats feel like local legends?
Bodega cats can feel like local legends because they are tied to everyday neighborhood places and the people who spend time there. The project’s archive records cats’ names and stories alongside the stores and neighborhoods where they live, preserving more than a passing image.
Rank #2
The project’s founder says meeting Luna in a Fort Greene bodega in 2020 led to the account, and that in 2022 he began visiting stores deliberately to ask about their cats. This is the project’s origin story, not proof of when the broader bodega-cat tradition began.
A photo becomes a small record of a particular place when it is connected to a named cat, its store, and the people who know it. That local relationship is what gives the online image a story beyond its immediate entertainment value.
Where did bodega cats come from?
The available research does not establish a single origin story for NYC’s bodega cats. The project documents cats associated with particular stores and neighborhoods, but its own history should not be confused with the origin of the broader practice.
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Some owners and supporters describe cats as working animals that help with rodents. The available research does not establish how many New York bodegas have cats or measure whether cats reduce rodent populations. Do not treat anecdotes or advocacy claims as citywide results.
Do bodega cats really keep mice away?
Owners and supporters may value a cat as part of a store’s rodent-control tradition, but the available research does not provide a reliable citywide measurement of how many rodents bodega cats eliminate or how much they reduce pests.
Rank #3
Anecdotes and viral videos do not measure pest control or prove a reduction in infestation. Cats should not be treated as a substitute for sanitation, sealed food storage, building maintenance, or professional pest management where needed.
Are bodega cats safe and legal around food?
The cats’ popularity does not mean they are legally authorized to live in food stores. The NYC Health Code provision surfaced in the research says that certain animals, including cats, may not be harbored in a facility when their possession is prohibited under the cited provision. That provision should be read narrowly; it is not a complete account of every state and local food-establishment rule.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe important distinction is between affection for the cats and permission under food-store regulations. Do not assume that a cat’s presence, a store’s tradition, or an online following creates a food-safety exemption.
As of the latest source checks in September 2026, proposed city and state bills had not passed. The New York City Council’s bill summary says the city bill standing alone would not permit store owners to keep cats because state action would also be needed.
What is the bodega cat bill, and did NYC legalize bodega cats?
NYC had not completed a bodega-cat legalization regime as of the latest source checks in September 2026. Int. 0830-2026 had been introduced and referred to the Committee on Health on April 16, 2026, and the project’s September 2026 status summary said the city bill and state bill A. 8341 remained in committee and neither had passed.
Rank #4
| Measure | Scope described in the research | Status in the latest source checks | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC Int. 0830-2026 | Would override local provisions relating to cats in retail food stores and propose voluntary no-cost vaccination and spay/neuter programs, subject to appropriation. | Introduced and referred to the Committee on Health on April 16, 2026; still in committee per the project’s September 2026 status summary. | It is a proposal, not completed legalization. |
| New York State A. 8341 | The project’s advocacy description outlines proposed care expectations, including veterinary care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, food, water, clean conditions, and safe zones away from food preparation and storage. | Still in committee according to the project’s September 2026 status summary. | State action would also be needed; the city bill alone would not permit stores to keep cats. |
The New York City Council’s Int. 0830-2026 summary says: “Importantly, however, this bill standing alone would not permit store owners to keep cats in their stores.” Do not describe the bill as having legalized bodega cats. Its status and any proposed requirements should be checked against official legislative records before publication because legislation can change.
What would legal recognition require?
The proposals distinguish local rule changes from state action and proposed care expectations. The city bill would affect local provisions and propose voluntary programs; the project’s advocacy description of the state bill outlines a broader set of care and sanitation expectations. These are proposals, not settled legal requirements.
| Topic | City bill: Int. 0830-2026 | State bill: A. 8341, as described by the project |
|---|---|---|
| Legal scope | Would override local provisions relating to cats in retail food stores. | State action is needed; the city bill alone would not permit stores to keep cats. |
| Veterinary care | Proposes voluntary no-cost vaccination and spay/neuter programs, subject to appropriation. | The project’s description includes veterinary care, vaccinations, and spay/neuter. |
| Basic care and sanitation | Voluntary programs are proposed; final enacted requirements are not established. | The project’s description includes food, water, and clean conditions. |
| Separation from food | The city bill summary does not itself establish a completed separation rule. | The project’s description includes safe cat zones away from food preparation and storage. |
These proposed protections matter for animal welfare and food safety. The project advises that some cats are social and others prefer to be left alone. Any future legal framework should not be mistaken for evidence that every cat is well cared for or that every store has the same conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can I visit a bodega cat in New York?
You may encounter a bodega cat as a customer, but a store is a working business, not a guaranteed petting attraction. Bodega Cats of New York advises visitors to ask the owner first and follow the store’s direction.
- Ask the store owner before interacting with or photographing the cat.
- Do not feed or pick up the cat, chase it, or use flash.
- Respect the cat’s signals and the store’s routine; some cats are social and others prefer to be left alone.
- Do not enter restricted areas, block aisles, or disrupt workers and customers.
- Do not assume a cat will appear just because it was featured online.
How are bodega cats being documented and supported?
Bodega Cats of New York documents cats’ names and stories alongside their stores and neighborhoods. Its approach treats the cats as part of local history rather than as disposable viral content.
Best Value
The project describes its announced book, Bodega Cats of New York, as a 240-page account of 60 cats with photographs by Gulce Kilkis, due from Epic Ink in November 2026. Because the book is forthcoming according to the project description, verify its publication and retail availability before presenting it as released or linking to a retailer.
The project’s advocacy page reports more than 14,000 petition signers. Treat that as the project’s reported petition count, not an independently verified public-opinion measure, and date it to the page’s latest stated update if you use the figure.
What should readers remember about NYC’s bodega cats?
Bodega cats become internet stars when a local encounter reaches a much wider audience, as the AP-reported video of Mimi illustrates. They can become local legends because their names and stories are connected to stores, workers, regular customers, and neighborhoods.
Popularity does not settle questions of legality, food safety, or animal care. As of the latest source checks in September 2026, the city and state bills remained in committee, and the city bill alone would not permit store owners to keep cats. The most accurate account keeps the cultural appeal and the practical responsibilities in view.
FAQ
What is a bodega cat?
A bodega cat is a cat associated with a neighborhood food store. The available research does not establish a formal citywide category or a single origin story for the practice.
Are bodega cats legal in New York City?
The available research does not support saying that NYC has legalized bodega cats. As of the latest source checks in September 2026, the city and state bills remained in committee, and the city bill alone would not permit store owners to keep cats.
Why are there cats in NYC bodegas?
Some owners and supporters value cats as part of a store’s rodent-control tradition, but the available research does not measure their effect on rodent populations. Cats are also familiar presences tied to particular stores and neighborhoods.
Can I pet a bodega cat?
Ask the store owner first and follow their direction. The project advises visitors not to feed or pick up cats, chase them, or use flash; some cats prefer to be left alone.
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