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Bodega Cats of New York
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New post: Bodega Cats Go to Japan

medium.comBodega Cats Go to Japan<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*3pZu9_DUN15ZnqqJ" /></figure><p>The Japanese term for bodega cat is 看板ネコ, pronounced <em>kan-ban ne-ko</em>. It translates to “signboard cat” or “mascot cat.” I learned this last week from Diego Velasco, a TV news producer for Fuji TV, after their segment on Int. 1471 aired on national evening news in Japan.</p><p>Diego reached out in November. Fuji TV was planning a segment on the bodega cat legislation pending before the NYC Council. They wanted an on-site interview, footage of a working cat, and an explanation of why this matters to New Yorkers.</p><p>We met in Williamsburg on a Monday evening. I walked Diego and his crew through a few locations, introduced them to some owners I have good rapport with, and answered questions about the legal gray area these cats occupy. They also interviewed Councilmember Keith Powers, who introduced the bill.</p><p>The segment aired December 14 on FNN Prime Online, Fuji TV’s nationally broadcast evening news program. It explains the situation clearly: approximately 14,000 bodegas in New York City, many with cats. Originally kept for rodent control, now cultural fixtures that connect stores to their neighborhoods. Technically illegal under city health code. Fines up to $300. No active enforcement, but owners still face risk.</p><p>Diego included a detail I had not considered. Store owners sometimes avoid taking their cats to the vet because they fear it will draw attention to the violation. That is exactly why Int. 1471 matters. The bill would not just decriminalize bodega cats. It would give them access to free vaccinations and spay/neuter programs through the city. Legal recognition means better care.</p><p>Japan has its own shop cat tradition. Station cats, store cats, shrine cats. There is cultural resonance there that made the story land differently than it might in other countries. The segment treated bodega cats as working animals with a purpose, not as a quirky novelty.</p><p>International coverage like this validates something I have believed since I started documenting bodega cats in 2020: this story is not just local. Eighty-four percent of my Etsy customers are from outside New York City. People in Tokyo, London, and Los Angeles buy bodega cat prints because the idea resonates. A cat in a corner store, doing a job, anchoring a neighborhood. That is not exclusively a New York thing. It is a human thing.</p><p>Diego mentioned he will be tracking the bill as it moves through the legislative process for future segments. Int. 1471 is currently with the Committee on Health, awaiting a public hearing. If it passes, the cats get to stay, the owners get peace of mind, and everyone is happier. That is the goal.</p><p>You can watch the full segment on <a href="https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/809789">Fuji TV’s website</a>. It is in Japanese, but the footage speaks for itself.</p><p><a href="https://bodegacatsofnewyork.com/book"><em>Bodega Cats of New York</em></a> comes out October 2026.</p><img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=83dea7aca02f" width="1" height="1" alt="">

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