These gorgeous photos of New York City’s famous neighborhood store cats are helping to change the law!
New York’s working cats are documented in this new book celebrating these amazing felines The post These gorgeous photos of New York City’s famous neighborhood store cats are helping to change the law! appeared first on Amateur Photographer .
In 2022, Dan Rimada began documenting the New York City's "bodega cats," those felines found lounging in neighbourhood convenience stores. These cats, spread across all five boroughs, are a whimsical and heartfelt part of the city's working cats' lives. Photo: Gulce Kilkis / Bodega Cats of New York
Four years later, the cats have been featured in a book with over 150 photographs taken by Turkish photographer Gulce Kilkis. Kilkis, who grew up in Istanbul, was the perfect person to lead this project. To capture the cats, Rimada would consult store owners, customers, and word of mouth to learn about the cats' histories and routines. Gulcis would photograph them, creating a candid street cat photography style she is accustomed to from her time in Istanbul. Photo: Gulce Kilkis / Bodega Cats of New York
The book not only showcases these cats' lives but also touches on small business life, animal welfare, public health rules, and the decline in neighbourhood stores. Two measures regarding cats in food stores are currently in committee in New York, making this book a timely addition. The cats are not merely mascots but an integral part of the routines of their surrounding people.
The legal uncertainty these cats face adds a poignant touch to this time-capsule of a specific moment in history. Photo: Gulce Kilkis / Bodega Cats of New York
This project has helped turn the legal grey area surrounding cats' rights in bodega stores into a public campaign and legislation in New York City. Dan Rimada regularly shares stories about the project and its impact through cultural venues, exhibitions, and public programs. The book documents 150 cats, but there are many more out there.
To submit a bodega cat for consideration, visit the BCNY website. The book, published by Epic Ink, will be available in November, with pre-orders now available. ISBN: 9798317901585. For more information about events and the project, visit the BCNY website.
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