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Protect Bodega Cats With Humane Standards

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Bodega cats are already living in stores. The law should protect their health, safety, and care instead of leaving them in legal limbo.

Close-up of a tabby-and-white bodega cat sitting alert on a shop counter near jars and bottles.

Bodega cats are part of daily life in New York City. They lounge near counters, keep watch over corner stores, and help deter pests. But under current rules, cats in retail food stores can still be treated as violations, even when they are fed, loved, vaccinated, and cared for.

New York State Assembly bill A08341 would require the Department of Agriculture and Markets to establish health and safety guidelines for cats living in retail food stores. The bill would authorize cats in those stores only when responsible care standards are met.1

That is the right approach. Bodega cats should not be ignored, hidden, or treated as a loophole. They should be protected openly under rules that safeguard the cats, customers, and small business owners.

The Bills Would Require Real Care

A08341 would require standards for regular veterinary checkups and preventive care, including vaccinations; mandatory spaying or neutering; proper nutrition; adequate food and water; sanitary conditions; and a “cat zone” separate from food preparation and storage areas where a cat can rest and retreat.1

New York City Council Int. 0830-2026 would remove the city-level prohibition on cats in retail food stores. It would also require the Office of Animal Welfare, working with the Department of Small Business Services, to establish voluntary free vaccination and spay/neuter programs for cats living in retail food stores and to conduct outreach to store owners.2

ABC7 New York reported that the state proposal would establish official health and safety guidelines for bodega cats, including veterinary checkups, vaccines, and designated cat zones away from food preparation areas.3 NBC New York reported that city legislation would lift the municipal ban and create voluntary free vaccination and spay/neuter services.4

Clear Rules Would Protect Cats And Small Businesses

City & State New York published an opinion piece by bill sponsors Frank Morano and Keith Powers explaining that current city and state laws prohibit live animals in retail food stores, leaving store owners in a confusing position and cats without an open system of care.5

Bodega Cats of New York says the campaign is active and that both the city and state bills need public support.6

New York should pass both measures and make them work together. Legal protection should come with care standards, funding, outreach, and enforcement that targets neglect, not responsible shop owners.

Bodega cats are already here. The question is whether the law will leave them unprotected or finally give them a humane framework.

Sign now to urge New York leaders to protect bodega cats with clear legal status, veterinary care, spay/neuter support, and humane standards.

More on this issue:

  1. New York State Assembly, New York State Assembly (13 May 2025), "A08341 Summary: Requires the establishment of health and safety guidelines for cats living in retail food stores."
  2. New York City Council, New York City Council (16 April 2026), "Int 0830-2026: Cats in retail food stores."
  3. Lindsay Tuchman, ABC7 New York (20 January 2026), "New legislation would protect New York City's beloved bodega cats."
  4. Cristina Navarrete and NBC New York Staff, NBC New York (16 April 2026), "The cat's meow: New NYC bill would protect bodega cats."
  5. Frank Morano and Keith Powers, City & State New York (3 May 2026), "Opinion: Legalize bodega cats."
  6. Bodega Cats of New York, Bodega Cats of New York (Accessed 17 June 2026), "Advocacy."

The Petition

Dear New York State and New York City leaders,

I urge you to pass coordinated legislation that protects bodega cats with clear legal status, humane care standards, veterinary support, and food-safety safeguards.

Bodega cats are already part of New York life. They live in corner stores, delis, and small retail food shops across the city. Many are cared for by store owners and loved by customers. But under current rules, their presence can still be treated as a violation, leaving cats in legal limbo and store owners exposed to fines.

That system does not protect animals. It discourages transparency and makes it harder to ensure that cats receive consistent veterinary care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, clean water, nutritious food, sanitary litter care, and safe resting areas.

New York State Assembly bill A08341 and New York City Council Int. 0830-2026 offer a better path. State law should direct the Department of Agriculture and Markets to establish humane and sanitary care standards for cats living in retail food stores. City law should remove the local prohibition and create free or low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter programs, with outreach to small business owners.

Please pass and implement these measures together. The final framework should require regular veterinary checkups, preventive care, vaccinations, spay/neuter, proper food and water, sanitary conditions, and designated “cat zones” away from food preparation and storage areas. It should also provide accessible veterinary support so small businesses are not forced to carry the burden alone.

Enforcement should focus on welfare and sanitation, not punishment for responsible care. Stores that neglect cats or fail to meet care standards should face consequences. Stores that meet clear rules should not be fined simply because a cat is present.

Bodega cats are not going away. The question is whether they will remain unregulated and vulnerable, or whether New York will create a humane system that protects cats, customers, and small businesses.

Please protect bodega cats with legal recognition and strong care standards.

Sincerely,

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