UPDATE: Two major bills are now moving to protect working cats. At the city level, Int. 1471 was filed in late 2025 to stop city agencies from fining stores for keeping cats. With the original sponsor, Keith Powers, now term-limited, Councilmember Frank Morano is reintroducing the bill in 2026. Simultaneously, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal has introduced A08341 at the state level. This critical legislation would create the first official "responsible care standards" in New York—requiring vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and designated "cat zones"—to finally give these animals a legal path forward. Your signature shows both the City and State that New Yorkers want this passed.

New York City's bodega cats are working animals. They control rodents, greet customers, and anchor their neighborhoods. But under current law, they are treated as violations.

What the Law Says Now
The NYC Department of Health prohibits animals in food establishments, with limited exceptions for service animals. Any bodega cat, even a healthy, vaccinated one, can result in fines for the store owner during inspection. Despite widespread public support, bodega cats exist in a legal gray area where their presence is technically a violation.

What These Bills Would Do
Together, these pieces of legislation would:

• End the fines. City agencies would no longer cite stores simply for having a cat.
• Establish Care Standards. The state would, for the first time, set clear rules for veterinary care, vaccinations, and nutrition.
• Create Support Programs. The city would offer free vaccination and spay/neuter services for working shop cats.
• Recognize Reality. This legislation acknowledges the 30% to 40% of shops already rely on cats, moving them from "tolerated" to "protected." 

Why This Matters

These cats reduce rodent populations without poison or traps. They help small businesses by drawing foot traffic and building customer loyalty. They are part of what makes New York feel like itself.

This movement grew out of years documenting bodega cats across the five boroughs, talking with hundreds of shop owners, and building a community around their stories. Sixty of those cats are featured in Bodega Cats of New York, out October 2026. The law needs to catch up. A legal path forward means vaccinations, vet care, and standards that protect these cats.

Your Signature Shows Support
Every signature tells the City Council and the State Assembly that New Yorkers want these bills to pass. Sign to support legal protection for bodega cats and the small business owners who keep them.