Meet NYC’s Legendary Bodega Cats—They’re Getting a Book! (41 Pics of Furry Store Bosses)

So here’s how this all happened. Dan just wanted to say hello to Luna, a stylish tuxedo cat chilling at a Brooklyn bodega in 2020. He snapped some pics and posted them on Instagram. People loved it and started sharing their own bodega cat pics. Suddenly, Dan had a whole cat posse.

Fast forward to 2022: Dan and photographer Gulce Kilkis hit the streets to meet cats and their stores. Some owners were all in from the start, while others needed a few visits before letting the cat craziness in.

After checking out 250+ bodegas and meeting 150 cats (that’s a lot of catnip), they picked 60 of the coolest to star in the book. Each cat gets a full backstage pass with their routines and heroic tales of how they landed their spot ruling the store.

Dan made this book to give these cats more space than a quick scroll on Instagram. It’s all about letting you really get to know these counter kings and queens.

Oh, and here’s the serious bit: bodega cats aren’t actually allowed in food stores by NYC rules. These cats are renegades, but people are working on changing that. They’re fighting for laws that’ll protect these store cats with vet care and vaccines. Go team kitty!