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This Twitter Account Collects Photos Of Cats In Small Shops Looking Like They Own The Place (50 New Pics)
Every now and then, you gotta pass by a bodega to get bread, toilet paper, or a late-night bag of candy. Since most people hop in and out without caring too much, they are at risk of missing out on that one little purrfect reason that makes any bodega journey worthwhile. Yes, even when you are blurry-eyed on the early morning run for milk to brighten up your coffee (And yourself!).
That reason is a bodega cat, better known as the furry master of the shop, who meets and greets unsuspecting shoppers from far up the cookie aisle or an unidentified box in the corner. Sometimes, they hide in plain sight right next to the doors, but almost every time, they manage to blend in with the surroundings.
The Bodega Cats social media project is dedicated to this unique corner store feline breed (okay, it’s not quite a breed but we like to think of it that way) and it collects all the furry sightings spotted in bodegas around NYC, but also other places in the US and the rest of the world. With a whopping 1M followers on Twitter and 421k people following the project on Instagram, it has gained an almost cult following and how could it not!
Scroll down for the newest batch of bodega cats and be sure to check Bored Panda’s previous features here, here and here.
More info: Bodegacats.nyc | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
begging for ham 3 years ago
maybe if I don't have to go to work, no bills to pay, get food on demand, I will enjoy life like that cat too
RELATED:
#2
Hill Branda 3 years ago
After a hard night of hitting the Nip, Buster had a bad case of The Munchies.
#3
Gretchen Barone 3 years ago
That carpet under the cat makes it look like he's laying directly on top of fresh hamburger :D
A revealing sign that a meowzer is hiding in plain sight is in its name. Most cats are notorious for their purrfect vocals, and if you’re a cat owner, you need no reminding of that. So if you ever step foot in a bodega and hear a little “meow” coming from one of the million corners in there, you can be sure it’s directed at you. Because, according to Trudi Atkinson, clinical animal behaviorist and book author, the meows are directed at humans and are not coincidental.
We spoke to Atkinson to find out more about the complex mechanism of why and how cats meow, and we found out some very interesting things. First, “a meow is a vocalization that appears to be used primarily in human-directed communication and far less in communications between cats (although they do use lots of other vocalizations such as friendly chirrups and not so friendly growls when communicating with each other),” Atkinson explained.
She added that “the meow is therefore thought to be a product of domestication and socialization with people.”
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Monique Maître 3 years ago
Definitely. If you don't want a "cat bracelet", don't steal.
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Trisha Howson 3 years ago
An out of darkness there where shiny green eyes looking at you. Such beautiful eyes.
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Scotira 3 years ago
Yup. I'd buy that and at home wonder since when my husband was allergic to broccoli.
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GlassHalfWay 3 years ago
My Maine C**n Maxie loves broccoli. And lettuce. And green olives. And Buffalo Cheeze-Its. (I don't actually feed him this, just give a lil nibble)
GlassHalfWay 3 years ago
Thanks BP, I can't even write out the breed of cat?! Fine Maine C♡♡N!
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Just testing the produce for freshness. Num num num. It’s fresh!
Moreover, Atkinson explained that “when directed towards people, it is most often used as a greeting or as a form of attention and food soliciting, but it can also have other meanings, for example as an indication that the cat is not feeling well.”
“But a ‘meow’ is not a single distinct vocalization. The sounds made and the ‘meaning’ of each sound will be different for each cat, and it will also vary depending on the context and the ‘message’ that the cat is intending to convey,” she said. Incredibly, “it is thought that cats actually learn what sounds are most effective in getting what it wants, or the reaction it wants from its human caregivers,” Atkinson added.
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Pterodactyl in Disguise 3 years ago
I’d come right away, that is top notch quality and beauty there, to have a quarter of it would make me exquisite
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#8
Gaya Knust 3 years ago
So, if I buy a bed, is the cat included in the purchase or sold separately?
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
He stepped outside the social distancing circle. What did he expect would happen?
Dog owners may find this interesting: Atkinson claims that this is very different from canine vocalizations. “Research carried out in 2005 found that most people can identify the meaning or intention of a dog’s bark ( i.e. a warning bark, a fear bark or a play bark, etc) even when they don’t know the dog and even when they can’t even see the dog.”
Meanwhile, “other research has found that this is not the case with a cat’s meow. The cat’s owner may be able to interpret their own cat’s meows, but other people will be far less able to. The same owners will also be far less able to interpret the meows of other cats.”
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Uber Mensch 3 years ago
I'm amused to realize that the cat being there is a common enough occurrence that someone put a little bed on the shelf.
#11
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
He´s watching the automat if nobody´s cheating. LOL
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Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Yup, but do not water them too much/too often LOL.
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HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
That is a new type of bread. You've heard of monkey bread? Now we have cat loaf.
Illustrious G 3 years ago
It took me a minute to see the cat because I did think it was bread!!
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Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
liquids take on the shape of the container
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So to put it simply, most commonly, cats meow to communicate a greeting or to solicit food or attention from their human caregivers. However, it’s not entirely clear from whether a cat is meowing/yelling too much or too loud, that it may indicate something is wrong. “It can depend a lot on the individual cat and the cat/human relationship,” Atkinson said.
#14
Babsevs 3 years ago
May parle over the price of goods if he likes the cut of your jib!
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Isn’t this the cat from the market that the woman who’s petting him adopted? The one who had her follow him to the treats?
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Don´t worry, I may be one-eyed, but I have the whole purr-spective, er perspective of this store. (Cute pirate kitty, by the way)
#15
AmmoniteCat 3 years ago
What, hooman? What am I supposed to do? First, you feed me, then, I'll catch your mouse.
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Rannveig Ess 3 years ago
"May I see some I.D. please? Yes, M'am, I can tell you don't look a day over 50 but we have to check anyway."
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If you’re wondering if some cats are better ‘singers’ than others, Atkinson said that some cats are definitely more vocal than others. “Some breeds can be far more vocal than others, especially Siamese, Burmese and some of the other Oriental cats. But there can also be a lot of individual variation.” And yes, each cat has its own meowing voice, so we may as well sign up our furballs for the Cat XFactor!
#19
K- THULU 3 years ago
I know that trick...go on, stroke my cute belly....then closes like a bear trap....
Susanne B 3 years ago
This is no trick, it is a greeting, not an invitation to touch
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#20
Kevin Garren 3 years ago
This is the boss who has worked there for 20 years and is done with your excuses, in cat form.
#21
Ryner 3 years ago
Next up there going to rappel from ropes and take the bacon from passersby.
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Whenever I see this, I think they're being caged Hannibal Lector-style.
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Thee8thsense 3 years ago
If I drinks all this Vitamin water, I grows up to be a big, strong kitty.
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karen snyder 3 years ago
This cat has a religious exemption. According to the First Cat Commandment: "If I fitz, I sitz."
#25
Babsevs 3 years ago
Charges interest on your withdrawals....if you want to use his atm....pay the tax!
Illustrious G 3 years ago
But it’s ok: His tax is pettings so it’s really a win-win, all around!
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#26
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Morwyn insists on checking out fresh laundry. She snuggles into every basket.
Shyla Clay 3 years ago
Bouche has started sleeping in the laundry basket. It's adorable.
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VeryDarkMatter 3 years ago (edited)
Sir, do you know our new "Snuggle" ? Nothing will make you more fluffy and sparkling.. 99 of 100 cats recommend "Snuggle".
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Enlee Jones 3 years ago
This cat is about to tell me I’m the Chosen One and send me on a quest.
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Mokayokok 3 years ago
I'd be scooping that lil' nut up and would immediately take him home - my other cats would be butthurt, but ....
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Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Ein "Ladenhüter", WER will schon in diesen Zeiten #Corona Bier kaufen/trinken??? Sorry but I had to comment this in German, I can´t find the right words in English.
#34
Rhonda Allen 3 years ago
😂😅😂 I’ll never open a bag of chips with a lot of crumbles again without thinking of this!
Load More Replies... Katy McMouse 3 years ago
I'm starting to think bodega cats have a higher risk of developing a nip problem.
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HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Looks like a cat I had as a child. Her name was Fishbone. I also rescued a void from a gas station as a teenager. Her name was Aqualung. 1971. Need I say more?
Lisa H 3 years ago
"Fishbone"!!! I love it! I had a rescue named Tuna when I was a kid. High five for awesome cat names!
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#36
Tassenküchlein168 3 years ago (edited)
I love to see how a country can exist where cats in a grocery store, as well as duck eggs, are legal. In Germany inconceivably.
Dell 3 years ago
Looks like it's an english speaking country. My local farm sells duck eggs and has a store dog. 🤷♀️
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Leisel Masson 3 years ago
I will hatch them and they will be mine! *evil laugh* My own duck-minion army!
#37
Gaya Knust 3 years ago
Oh, my cat would "curl" his toes of his hind legs when he sat, just this cutie!
Illustrious G 3 years ago
That’s so cute! I’m happy you pointed that out because I didn’t see that! I had a cat that curled his toes when he was laying belly-up or even sitting on window ledge, but not like that on the floor!
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#38
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
At least he´s doing his gyms, like the vet eventually told him and his human LOL.
Load More Replies... Catherine Brady 3 years ago
I wondered if anyone else noticed the face in black. Well done!
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Bet you anything there's a tuna fish display right outside the frame.
#39
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
The cat read "beef flavor" and thought maybe there´s really beef in the noodle cups.
#40
Will sell corn chip for a soul 3 years ago
Oh no whoever steps on them will go to heck
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Peter Trudell Jr 3 years ago
didn't scroll down far enough... was looking for the cat in the fridges...
#41
Shelley DuVal 3 years ago
Puts cat in empty box, gets to register, just paying for a carton of beer thnx, byeeeee.
#42
Rhonda Allen 3 years ago
Step away from the beer Jr. Your mom sent me to spy on you, and I WILL be reporting back. Why? BECAUSE SHE FEEDS ME WHEN YOU FORGET, YOU LOSER!!!!
#43
Babysoup 3 years ago
Cats sleep, anywhere, Any table, any chair Top of piano, window-ledge, In the middle, on the edge, Open drawer, empty shoe, Anybody's lap will do, Fitted in a cardboard box, In the cupboard, with your frocks- Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere. -Eleanor Farjeon-
#44
Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Wanna use the garbage can, do ya? Circle back and buy something, buddy - then we'll talk.
#46
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
New sales kitty for Tidy Cat. Wants to demonstrate how it is to be used.
Emily 3 years ago
Use Worlds Best Cat Litter instead of Tidy Cat. Tidy Cat litter is dusty (not great if the owners have asthma or the cats - yes, cats can get asthma too) and doesn't clump properly (it congeals instead so you have to work harder to get all the pee clumps out of the litter box if you want to make sure kitty or kitties don't pee or poop outside the litter box in frustration at it not being as clean as they would like) and, IMHO, has an unpleasant chemical smell. Worlds Best Cat Litter is expensive, but if you already spoil your cat in other ways, (hopefully with love, not overfeeding) you would probably find it worth it. Also, get a Litter Genie so the whole litter scooping process is a lot easier. Finally, invest in a metal litter scoop, they last longer than the flimsy plastic ones. I'm a pet sitter (for the last 11 years) so I speak from experience.
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#47
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Surely a purebread kitten. And better than cats with a slice of toast or sandwich bread in their faces because that´s not funny and none of those cats looks happy, which this kitten does.
#48
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
Lulling you into scritching his belly and then he'll pounce
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Cats love to be trip hazards. They need a yellow warning sign.
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Forget the cat - what in the bloody helll is going on with those two middle rows? I can't blow the image up enough to figure it out.
I’m here for the comments 3 years ago
Cigarettes packages with images of diseases caused by smoking. Quite disturbing. Glad I don't smoke.
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Again with the nip binges. Absolutely brazen with no shame whatsoever.
#59
Pterodactyl in Disguise 3 years ago
Get cats here, if you dare risk all your cash
Load More Replies... Katy McMouse 3 years ago
I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to say it. Damnit. I'm going to say it. Kitler. Please don't down vote- this was too obvious.
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Close, but no cigar. That kitty has a heart on it's nose.
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Should be “Get Catsh Here!”. Or maybe “Free Cat with First Withdrawal!” (I’d be there in half a heartbeat!)
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
I had a friend who lived at the beach and adopted a stray she found under the boardwalk. She called him Salty Dog. I think the time is ripe for there to be a Salty Cat too.
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
And biiiiiggggg flexxxxxxx of the murder mittens too!
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HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Hazy is a great name for the kitty, especially if you drink too much IPA!
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Vasana Phong 3 years ago
I feel sad for this one, look at the lil face, I hope his mom is still close by
Illustrious G 3 years ago (edited)
I know, it has the saddest-looking eyes!! 🥺
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That_Sexy_Dinosaur 3 years ago
What my phone sees at 3AM when I use facial recognition XDXDXDX
#74
Yvette Desmarais 3 years ago
You can tell they are all well cared for and loved. She must be groomed often.
Jorg Lewis 3 years ago
'Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created by the first master of spinjitzu'...
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
I'm off to mine soon. I'll take that up with management.
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Justin Smith 3 years ago
And my response to seeing this shy little one would to be laying on the ground for him to come snuggle.
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That_Sexy_Dinosaur 3 years ago
Hey empty those hands- No I don't care if it is a baby just pet me
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Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Oooh! I've always wanted a goat but township laws plague me.
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Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
Is this like the "restroom for customers only" signs? Must make purchase to pet cat.
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Sleepy_Child 3 years ago
"hello! Do you need a bottle of water?" *Knocks bottle on the ground* "there u go! I helped."
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Jay Son 3 years ago
I can only imagine how it must be at night, when you wake up in the dark and see something white float by 😂
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That_Sexy_Dinosaur 3 years ago
HE sits up there all mighty judging you and every human being that walks past them
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Evan Sloane 3 years ago
It I fit, I sit. (Yes, I know it's overused, but someone had to do it.)
BananaNutBread 3 years ago
Just following directions...the box above it says lays...I lays here
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Don’t you put that finger in my face. My butt has touched every inch of this place. This. Is. MY. Kingdom!
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
The cat will be checking your ID from now on. You may think she’s asleep, but don’t let her fool you. She doesn’t miss a thing.
#130
WordWeaver 3 years ago
I can't believe they expect to catch mice too! I'm already flat out watching for shop theft.
#131
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Funhog 3 years ago
Can you make a global upvote button that upvotes all the pictures on this page, please?
Tiny Dancer 3 years ago
No, no, no. We're Bored Pandas around here, not Lazy Pandas. So many unworthy pics would be upvoted as a result, chaos would ensue!
Load More Replies... Babsevs 3 years ago
Had a dreadful pain filled, no sleep night, these pics passed a delightful 10 mins for me
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
There's a bookstore in my town where a cat lives in the front display enclosure, and instead of displaying books in the windows, they installed a big cat tree in there for her. They let her out into the main part of the shop when the store isn't too busy. I feel like a sleeping kitty probably draws people in off the sidewalk better than seeing books would. I already know what books look like. Just tell me it's a book store and show me a kitty.
Eooj 3 years ago
'Bodega Cats social media project is dedicated to this unique corner store feline breed (okay, it’s not quite a breed but we like to think of it that way) and it collects all the furry sightings spotted in bodegas around NYC, but also other places in the US and the rest of the world.' Er, no. Bodega is a term unknown in the overwhelming majority of the World. From a Google search it appears to be specific to a single city in a single country (New York in the USA) So much for the WORLD Wide Web.
Scotira 3 years ago
Don't know about the "unknown in the overwhelming majority of the world" bodega is a widely known word of spanish oringin. My google search of 5 seconds got me sites in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.
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Funhog 3 years ago
Can you make a global upvote button that upvotes all the pictures on this page, please?
Tiny Dancer 3 years ago
No, no, no. We're Bored Pandas around here, not Lazy Pandas. So many unworthy pics would be upvoted as a result, chaos would ensue!
Load More Replies... Babsevs 3 years ago
Had a dreadful pain filled, no sleep night, these pics passed a delightful 10 mins for me
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
There's a bookstore in my town where a cat lives in the front display enclosure, and instead of displaying books in the windows, they installed a big cat tree in there for her. They let her out into the main part of the shop when the store isn't too busy. I feel like a sleeping kitty probably draws people in off the sidewalk better than seeing books would. I already know what books look like. Just tell me it's a book store and show me a kitty.
Eooj 3 years ago
'Bodega Cats social media project is dedicated to this unique corner store feline breed (okay, it’s not quite a breed but we like to think of it that way) and it collects all the furry sightings spotted in bodegas around NYC, but also other places in the US and the rest of the world.' Er, no. Bodega is a term unknown in the overwhelming majority of the World. From a Google search it appears to be specific to a single city in a single country (New York in the USA) So much for the WORLD Wide Web.
Scotira 3 years ago
Don't know about the "unknown in the overwhelming majority of the world" bodega is a widely known word of spanish oringin. My google search of 5 seconds got me sites in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.
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