Did you know that cats living in New York wineries are technically illegal?
Although it seems incredible, those cats that rest on cardboard boxes, monitor from the shelves or walk among the halls of the wineries are prohibited by law.
The City Health Code and the State Department of Agriculture prohibit the presence of animals in places where food is sold or manipulated, including wineries: those stores so characteristic of New York city that they sell from milk to lottery tickets.
“Sometimes the inspectors come and one has to hide them, but they know they are, they smell them,” said Carly Peralta, CP Mini Market manager in Alto Manhattan, who has had Maria, her cat, as a companion for years.
Despite the regulations, these cats are still present in the wineries. But having them can involve fines, although not having them also has their costs. “Right now we don’t have mice because the cat drives them,” Peralta added.
For Sangel Solano, winemaker at Villa Fundación Grocery and Deli, the cat of his winery, Pepita, is much more than a pet: he has become a beloved member of the community. «Many people come and ask for her, give her food, and that unites the community. They come only to see the cat, ”said Solano.
But this situation could change soon.
Councilor Keith Powers presented a bill that officially seeks to legalize the “Bodega Cats” or “Bodega cats.” “Bodegas cats represent the spirit of New York: friendly, welcoming and always willing to keep rats away,” said Powers.
The project would update the city’s health code to allow the presence of these animals in wineries and similar shops, in addition to creating a free vaccination program. However, it will also be necessary for the State to approve a law that supports this measure, said the councilor.
Rocke, a NY1 Deli Corp worker, where Egypt, the cat, is already vaccinated, said the measure would guarantee the well -being of cats. «For me, it is better to legalize it. There are people who get angry because the cat is close to food, ”he said.
For many, these cats are not only part of the environment, but also perform a crucial role as unofficial “employees” against rats and, even more, are part of the city’s urban DNA. It is not uncommon to find accounts in social networks dedicated to them.
The campaign to legalize these cats began with a citizen initiative led by Dan Rimada, who collected more than 13 thousand signatures with the aim of recognizing and protecting these felines that have become an integral part of the New York daily life.
So, if you ever saw a cat sleeping on milk boxes or watching from the cash register, you could be facing a future cat legally recognized by the city.
