BETA
Chapter 1
The origin of the corner store companion
Chapter 2
The legal battle of the bodega cat
Chapter 3
A day in the life of a working feline
YOUR GOAL
Master of New York's bodega cats
Ch 1 · The origin of the corner store companion
hank New York Bodega Cat
Through New York City streets, past every corner door, a friendly feline greets ya, they're part of the store. Technically a no-go, but New York loves its bodega cat show!
hank Waves of diverse immigrants brought both their culinary traditions and their love for community cats to New York.
hank Shop owners brought cats into bodegas as an ancient, natural solution to control urban rodent populations.
Fun Fact
Bodega cat origins: The word bodega comes from the Spanish word for 'storeroom,' which traces back to the ancient Greek word 'apotheke,' meaning a storehouse.
Glossary
bodega cat (noun)
A domestic cat kept in a convenience store or deli to deter rodents. Puerto Rican immigrants popularized New York's bodegas after World War II, introducing these helpful shop cats.
A domestic cat kept in a convenience store or deli to deter rodents. Puerto Rican immigrants popularized New York's bodegas after World War II, introducing these helpful shop cats.
Quiz
Which immigrant group first popularized the term 'bodega' in New York City during the mid-20th century?
Quiz
Which New York City borough was home to some of the earliest Puerto Rican bodegas in neighborhoods like East Harlem?
Quiz
In which decade did bodega cats transition significantly from hidden night hunters to celebrated neighborhood mascots?
Quiz
What is the primary ecological reason cats are so successful at keeping New York bodegas rodent-free?