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A purr-posal to protect New York's 'bodega cats'

Hannah Hummel
February 10, 2026

Cats are a fixture in New York City's 24-hour corner stores, known as bodegas. Not only do they keep mice away, they are also treasured by customers. But there's one catch: Cats are illegal in stores that sell food.

https://p.dw.com/p/58TMb

New York's iconic "bodega cats," long beloved for keeping corner stores pest‑free, are technically illegal. Now city lawmakers want to change that, proposing legislation to legalize the cats and offer free vaccinations and spay‑neuter services. Supporters say these felines are part of the city's culture, as New York contends with a large stray population.