A revised edition of Shop Cats of New York, a portrait anthology of feline employees and mascots across the city, will hit shelves Sept. 9, the author and photographer behind the project said. The expanded volume includes 20 newly photographed shop cats and more than two dozen profiles carried over from the book's first edition, which was published in 2016 and went out of print after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the cats featured is Georgie, an 11-year-old orange-and-white tabby who has lived in and helped represent vegan shoe store MooShoes on Manhattan’s Lower East Side for nearly a decade. Store owner Erika Kubersky said she rescued Georgie from the streets and that the cat spends her days greeting customers, curling into laps and sitting on a pink "throne" by the register surrounded by plush toys. Kubersky said Georgie has a large social following online and draws neighbors into the store; the owner added that the cat’s nighttime routine of being alone in the shop is not cause for concern because Georgie receives constant daytime attention.
Tamar Arslanian, a cat blogger who compiled the book, said the project grew out of an interest in capturing an often-overlooked part of city life: animals who have been adopted into storefronts and public-facing businesses as mascots, mousers, companions and informal therapists. Arslanian said some animal rescues are reluctant to place cats in commercial settings, but that shop cat arrangements can provide the animals with social stimulation that suits their temperament.
Photographer Andrew Marttila, whose images appeared in the first edition, said he and Arslanian initially considered reprinting the original book but decided instead to produce a revised, expanded edition that reflects changes in the city’s shop-cat population. Several cats from the first edition have since died, Marttila said, prompting the duo to document new and surviving feline workers. He said much of last year’s shoot was completed during a weeklong period and that his approach emphasizes patience and letting the animals relax in their surroundings to capture natural behavior.
Some shops take additional measures to ensure cats’ welfare. The Compleat Sculptor, a large Chelsea warehouse that sells materials to artists, arranges regular veterinary visits for its cross-eyed, bow-tied resident Ralphie, owner Marc Fields said. Fields said the warehouse environment — which includes heavy equipment and materials — requires a cat with the right temperament; Ralphie, now 9, is accustomed to workaday bustle and serves mainly as a welcoming presence for visitors.
Other shop cats have developed their own followings and commercial tie-ins. Grace, a 4-year-old at Myers of Keswick, a West Village British goods store, has merchandise displayed in the shop and is credited by owner Jennifer Pulidori with helping the store maintain a high health rating by deterring rodents. John Casey, owner of Casey Rubber Stamps in the East Village, named his calico Ratty after deciding a floral name would not suit her. Casey said Ratty, who greets passersby from a window perch, was originally adopted to catch mice but has a more complicated relationship with work and affection. Marttila called Ratty one of his favorite subjects to photograph because she alternated between rubbing on him and swatting, a behavior he said can make for striking portraits.
Arslanian said the project revealed unexpected truths about shop cats, including that some appear to fare better in busy, socially engaging retail environments than in quiet apartments. "For me, the most eye-opening part of the project was going into it feeling a little bad for them, but then learning they have it better than my own home cats," she said. Marttila echoed the point, noting that many New York animals are accustomed to living around people and that a calm, patient approach helps him capture their personalities.
The revised edition aims to document a cross-section of New York life through the small, informal communities that form around shop cats, from bookstores and record shops to studios, pharmacies and even fire stations. Arslanian said some of the animals have become local celebrities with their own merchandise, and that the book offers a way for city residents and visitors to connect with animals when apartment space or other constraints make pet ownership difficult.
Shop Cats of New York will be published in its revised form on Sept. 9. The new edition includes portrait and candid photographs accompanied by profiles that trace each cat’s role in its workplace and the routines shop owners maintain to balance public interaction with animal care.