You've likely encountered a friendly bodega cat, but the question remains whether they're actually legally allowed in shops, delis, and other retail spaces.
Rats and and pigeons may reign supreme in New York City, but cats — both resident and stray ones — have found their home amidst our urban sprawl.
Going far beyond the bodega cat the book The Shop Cats of New York by Tamar Arslanian and Andrew Marttila document the stories behind 36 of NYC's feline friends