The city’s famous bodega cats just got a whisker closer to being legal — and protected — under state law.
A bill in the New York legislature allowing the kitties to legally live in retail stores — while ensuring such things as comfortable quarters, nutritious food and medical care for the hard-working felines — has now made it into committee, a necessary step on its way to potential passage.
“Bodega cats have been doing the work for decades,” said Bodega Cats of NY founder Dan Rimada, who created the petition. “Albany is finally catching up.”
Cats in retail shops are currently not permitted under both city and state health codes and therefore entirely unregulated – leaving the door open for abuse and neglect.
But the bill calls for them to legally permitted and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets to create health and safety “care standards” for them.
Those proposed standards would mandate regular veterinary check-ups and preventative care for the kitties, including vaccinations and mandatory spaying or neutering, proper nutrition and cleaning and comfortable and safe “cat zones” for them to sleep and relax in.
“There are a lot of things that come to mind when you think of New York City, but bodegas – and the cats that live in them – are one of the iconic parts of our city,” state assembly Democratic candidate Keith Powers said before he introduced a city version of the bill as a member of the council in November.
“Bodega cats embody the New York spirit: friendly, welcoming and anti-rat,” said Powers, who is running in a special election this year to help represent the East Village and other parts of Manhattan.
The state bill would override the current city ban on the cats.
The proposed legislation, introduced by state Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal in May, made it to the assembly’s Agriculture Committee on Jan. 7.
It was inspired by a grassroots online petition to provide bodega owners with medical resources and support programs for their useful pets.
