Jabal, a popular bodega cat in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has been reunited with his owner, Imad "Jimmy" Innab, after being snatched from the street earlier in the week. The 3-month-old feline was returned Tuesday morning by police after one of the individuals accused of taking him surrendered the cat to authorities.
"They put the bag there and opened the zipper," Innab told The Post, referring to the officers who brought Jabal back. "He saw me and just jumped! He knows that I am the owner of him. I am his dad."
Innab expressed his gratitude to the NYPD and the community for their efforts in locating Jabal. "I thank [the NYPD] and thank the community of neighbors and the 8th Street neighbors of Park Slope. I thank them from my heart. This is too much for me," he said.
The cat's return was facilitated by concerned neighbors who intervened after the pair who took Jabal refused to return him when initially confronted. Security footage showed a man snatching Jabal from the pavement on Thursday as he walked down 8th Avenue. The cat appeared to struggle before the man secured his grip.
The incident caused significant upset in the neighborhood, leading to a community-led search and the distribution of missing posters. "Jimmy and his family are such a huge part of our neighborhood and our community, and he’s always been there for us through thick and thin. We all just support each other," said Danielle Barnett, who helped create the missing posters.
Barnett described Jabal as a neighborhood celebrity since joining Innab's family a month prior, adding, "Jimmy just loved that cat, so when he disappeared, it was just a horrible thing for everybody. And it was, everyone was, it was crazy outrage across the board in our neighborhood and everyone just pitched in to help."
Despite the distress, Innab stated he would not press charges against those who took Jabal. This was particularly poignant as Jabal was a recent addition to the family, following the loss of their 17-year-old cat, Victoria, just three months earlier.
It remains unclear if the individuals involved will face any consequences from the NYPD. Innab, while relieved, cautioned others against the impulse to pick up animals from the street. "People make mistakes, but mistakes like that — you can’t mess with anybody, especially with the bodega cats, because they’re going to catch you," he said. "You can’t just take anything that doesn’t belong to you. Just leave it. Leave it for their home."