A popular bodega cat named Jabal was stolen from the 8th St. Mini Mart in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on Thursday morning, leading to a community-wide effort to find the missing kitten and a reward offer from his owner.
Jabal, a three-month-old white cat with yellow eyes, slipped out of the store around 7 a.m. while the owner, Imad Innab, was preparing to open. When Innab noticed the kitten was missing, he reviewed security footage, which showed a man and a woman taking Jabal. The thieves were seen placing the cat into a bag and leaving in separate directions.
Witnesses, including regular customers who often interacted with Jabal, mobilized to search for the cat. One customer reportedly spotted the individuals carrying Jabal in Prospect Park and confronted them, identifying the cat as belonging to the store and not a stray. However, the individuals fled with the kitten.
Innab has offered a $500 reward for Jabal's safe return, stating "no questions asked." He expressed concern that the thieves might abandon the cat after a short period. The incident has drawn significant attention from local residents, many of whom considered Jabal a fixture of the neighborhood.
Jabal had recently filled the void left by Innab's previous cat, Victoria, who had lived at the bodega for 17 years and passed away three months prior. Jabal was described as a frequent companion to Innab, often sitting on his lap. His empty perch, a cardboard couch in the deli, now serves as a reminder of his absence.