The truth about bodega cats

(Had to re-upload to add captions) - We all love bodega cats - they bring us so much joy! But many bodega cats do not receive the basic veterinary care they need. The best way to show your love for bodega cats is to help us make basic veterinary care more affordable for more New Yorkers.

Help us build a new affordable spay neuter clinic in Brooklyn:

Huge thanks to Bodega Cats of Instagram (and everyone who shared videos with them) for supporting this important effort.

Featured music:
Flughand - Yirga:
Ström - Kvikkjokk:
d3tails - Warm:

Learn more and donate today:

something i really, *really* appreciate about your videos is that you take extreme care to make sure your audience remembers not to pass judgement on pet owners and community members who cannot afford to go to the vet or access spay/neuter clinics.

is online pet spaces, there's a common narrative of, "if you can't afford ___, then you don't deserve to have a pet", but one of the many things this fails to take into account is how companion animal bonds are often a necessity for survival, both for struggling humans and for rescued street animals. those bonds form in non-ideal environments, but they're better than the alternative: the human suffering from loneliness, and the animal dying in the street.

there are all kinds of very good reasons someone might have a pet who doesn't receive ideal veterinary healthcare: disabled people who are socially isolated from being housebound. housing insecure people who need loyal companionship. people who had financial stability until suddenly they didn't. struggling people who rescued animals from certain death into loving, homes, even if their healthcare is less than ideal. poor people not having access to transportation or not having time due to being overworked. people who don't have access to education about the importance of spaying and neutering and regular health checkups.

no reason justifies shaming the person for not magicking up accessible veterinary healthcare out of thin air. shame is not productive to getting the result we all want here; it just pushes the person further away and makes them less likely to engage with resources that might otherwise be helful. compassion and humility is a necessity.

[CoLiCoVis]

My apartment complex has a bodega just to the side, over covid, the previous owners (who weren’t the best) abandoned the shop with their cat in it, locked it up and everything.

When the place was bought by new people, that cat was found, in a bad way but still somehow miraculous alive. The complex took up a collection to raise the near 5, 000 in medical bills for her and her 2 surviving kittens.

Mama Charlie, and kittens Little Bear and Soldier go home with the owner every night, receive excellent and an ungodly amount of attention by everyone in the complex.

And my heart breaks for every single cat that didn’t get that happy ending. Thank you for doing the work you do.

[coffeecupnmint]

My corner store (bodega for all my us friends) has a wonderful kitty named MingMing. However the owner takes every good are of him. I will never forget how he grabbed up my leg when he was taken for his vet visit. The look he gave me after I dropped him in this carrier will stay in my memories for years to come.

[hauntedshadowslegacy]

Maybe bodegas could start putting out tip jars specifically for their cats? It could allow them to afford little cat houses for 'em. Maybe even some toys, too.

[rayreineu]

We rescued an NYC bodega cat in 2020, she was barely surviving in appalling conditions. She’s such a sweetie now but she was very shy in the beginning because she was only used to people abusing her. Thanks for keeping an eye on the remaining bodega kitties of NYC

[pnunezaguila]

I have my work-cat right here, lying on his bed, he's neutered and well fed, we've spent a bunch of money on vet bills, but he totally deserves it, no pests in the office and warehouse thanks to him. He is also always up for a head bump an a good de-stress petting session. Everybody loves him and I secretly think that he brings a spark of luck and fun to our business.

[ashleycook]

Remember, if a cat isn't using a litter or sandbox, (they actually prefer to go in a sandy area and are naturally inclined to use one if it's available.) They are probably stressed. This can include having to share their space with animals or people that make them feel unsafe, being stressed about their family's behavior and marking their territory, as well as being ill or injured. It isn't always just bad behavior.

[Yapity]

Cats with jobs isn't a problem imo. My problem is cats with jobs not being taken care of. I mean that's the whole problem with street cats anyways, cats not getting the care they need. Thank you so much for all you do

[lindanorris]

I shop in an antique with a Bodega cat. His name is MAC. He is a Maine Coon Cat with a big warm, glass counter top to lie on all day. He does NOT got out, at all. HE lies on the counter, helps the customers to find antiques they are shopping for and just being a general all around great guy! HIs customers come and go, but MAC is always there on the glass counter top!

[Kitkat-]

Not a bodega, a machine shop, but I have a "shop cat" at my workplace. We take good care of her, make sure she gets food and water, and take her to the vet once per year. It's a huge building with lots of little places to explore and the occasional rodent (and plenty of bugs) to catch. She loves it here, and all the customers coming to drop off jobs and pick them up love her.

[rachelgilbert]

I'm so proud of the work you all are doing. These cats didn't ask to be born in these situations, and now mama cat will be able to just worry about herself without constantly feeling the urge to mate

[IlikeFelinesaloootttt]

its hard to believe there are hundreds of thousands of stray cats just in NYC
no cat deserves it and they all deserve a loving family!

[sossma]

Thank you so much for the work you do! This is why I donate to your cause and will continue to donate.

[michaelf]

I'm reminded of my time in Istanbul, and the many cats there. The city organizes care for all the cats, and many people put out food and water for them. There's nothing wrong with a cat earning its keep. The problem is when it doesn't get what it needs to survive when doing so.

[KC-jrzs]

Whenever I disappeared as a child in a bodega my parents would find me with the official bodega cat.💕

[samanthasolis]

Bless your hearts. The way a person treats animals says a lot about them.

[luckyowl]

It breaks my heart that those two kittens died because they had to wait to get access to them. These people are amazing for the work they do 🙏

[didibopi]

I love the way you've used content creation as a key driving force in engagement for your fundraising initiatives. I'm currently getting my masters in arts non-profit administration and I've shown this channel to countless colleagues as a sort of what-to-aspire-to example. Also, the work that you do is amazing. Thank you so much for dedicating yourself to it. <3

[pyjamabottoms]

I live in the UK - and this channel inspired me to become a volunteer for a cat protection charity. I didn't know we had a problem here like in the US, and whilst it's not as prominent - we do. Thank you for you work and I'm excited to get started x

[Didgeridoovibes]

This hurts me so bad, especially since i had to say goodbye to my faithful companion of 18 1/2 Years, Milo, to the day two weeks ago... I just can't fathom how people can treat cats so poorly, let alone abandon them. Thank you so much for being the people you are and helping the furry fellows who can't help themselves and have noone else that does!