Let’s start with a bold truth: Brooklyn wouldn’t be Brooklyn without bodega cats.
Forget the skyline, the brownstones, or the artisanal doughnuts. The real guardians of this borough are the whiskered, wide-eyed kings and queens lounging on chip bags, snoozing on ATM machines, and giving you that “What do you want, human?” stare when you reach for your Gatorade.
A Tale as Old as Bodegas (Well, Almost)
Bodega cats didn’t just wander in for the air conditioning. Their story goes back decades — to when mom-and-pop shops needed a natural pest control solution. Enter the cat: part exterminator, part mascot, full-time attitude.
Over time, they became more than rodent patrol. They became symbols of neighborhood life. Everyone has “their” bodega cat — the one they greet by name on a coffee run. Some have Instagram pages. Others have murals. And a few even have merch lines (because of course they do — this is Brooklyn).
A Story from the Block 🐾
Last week, I walked into a Flatbush bodega to grab a bacon, egg, and cheese. Sitting on the lotto machine was a chunky tabby named Carmelo. The cashier laughed when I asked if he bites.
“Only if you touch his Doritos,” she said.
Sure enough, Carmelo had claimed a full rack of Cool Ranch as his throne. Shoppers bent down to scratch his chin before swiping their MetroCards at the in-store kiosk. And for a moment, the whole store felt like a family living room.
That’s the thing about bodega cats: they don’t just keep out the rats. They pull us in — grounding Brooklyn in a sense of warmth, grit, and neighborhood connection.
Your Week with the Cats 🗓️
Want to weave a little of that magic into your week? Here’s your Bodega Cat-inspired lineup for the next few days:
🖼️ Tuesday – Murals of the Borough: Head to Bushwick Collective to spot the massive street art tributes — including one of the borough’s favorite bodega felines.
🎤 Wednesday – Open Mic Night in Bed-Stuy: There’s one at Sincerely, Tommy Café. The vibe? Pure neighborhood soul — the kind Lena craves.
🍺 Thursday – Cat-Themed Trivia Night at a Williamsburg bar (yes, it exists — Google “Catland trivia night” if you don’t believe me).
🎶 Friday – After Dark in Bushwick: Catch a DJ set at Mood Ring, where half the crowd ends up swapping their best bodega cat stories by the bar.
🍳 Weekend – Do the “Bodega Tour Challenge.” Hit three bodegas across different neighborhoods. Grab a coffee, a snack, and of course — a selfie with the resident cat. Post it with #BodegaBeat.
The Big Lesson 🐾
Brooklyn changes fast. Skyscrapers rise. Coffee shops turn into condos. Rent makes you cry into your bagel.
But bodega cats? They stay. They’re our furry constant. A reminder that community doesn’t come from shiny storefronts — it comes from shared, quirky traditions that feel like home.
A Proverb to Keep
“When the cat guards the store, the heart guards the community.”