Simba, a large cat with thick ginger and white fur, is one of thousands of felines that live in New York’s corner shops known as “bodegas” — even if their presence is illegal. Praised for warding off pests, so-called bodega cats are also a cultural fixture for New Yorkers, some of whom are now pushing to obtain legal rights for the little store helpers. “Simba is very important to us because he keeps the shop clean of mice,” said Austin Moreno, a bodega owner in Manhattan. The fluffy inhabitant also helps draw customers. Moreno pointed out that people often come in to visit Simba, which means they’re also likely to buy something while there. Around a third of the city’s 10,000 bodegas are thought to have a resident cat, despite putting them in danger of incurring fines of $200 to $350 for keeping animals in a store that sells food. Dan Rimba, founder of Bodega Cats of New York, launched a petition to legalize bodega cats, which has garnered nearly 14,000 signatures so far. “These cats are woven into the fabric of New York City, and that’s an important story to tell,” he said. Inspired by Rimba’s petition, New York City Council member Keith Powers has proposed a measure to shield the owners of bodega cats from penalties. His legislation would also provide free vaccinations and spay/neuter services for the felines.
