Hi everyone,

I wanted to share an important update: thanks to your support, our petition to protect New York City’s bodega cats has helped open a real door at City Hall.

Council Member Keith Powers is now planning to introduce legislation that could officially support the presence of cats in bodegas. His office reached out directly, and while the bill is still being finalized, this is the first formal step toward creating city policy that recognizes what we’ve always known—bodega cats belong here.

None of this progress would’ve happened without you. Over 12,500 of you signed the petition. You shared it, talked about it, and turned it into something lawmakers had to pay attention to. That worked—and Keith Powers listened.

What’s next
“Bodega cats are a staple of any good bodega—they keep the rodents away and play a significant role in building community,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “I’m proud to be introducing a bill in the City Council to change the city health code to allow these cats to live in bodegas, get registered, and get vaccinated for free.”

Once the bill is introduced, I’ll share all the details and let you know how to support it.

Keith’s team put together a short video, which we just shared on our Instagram, about why this matters—for the cats, the shops, and the communities that love them. 

We’ll also share how to contact your local council member, speak at hearings, or stay involved as the bill moves forward.

This campaign started as a petition. Now we’re standing at the edge of real policy change. I’m proud of what we’ve built together.

And if you live in Manhattan, remember this: Keith Powers heard us. He took action. When someone in office actually listens and acts on behalf of the community, we should keep them there.

We’re backing him for Manhattan Borough President. To learn more about his campaign, visit: keithpowers.nyc

Follow @bodegacatsofnewyork for updates as soon as the bill drops.

More soon,
Bodega Cats of New York