The New York City bodega cat. They're there on every block reminding you of what city you're in. And that even though the city is in many ways the antithesis of the natural world (and often a crime against Nature), life still teems amid the cracks like weeds sprouting out of the concrete. When I first encountered the phenomenon of the ubiquitous bodega cat I thought it was evidence of the city's sentimental streak. That amid the dog-eat-dogness there was a weakness for furry little retail companions. Well, not quite. It turned  it was based on need. The cats were there to keep the rats away. So it seems even  they  had to have a side hustle to survive here. One of my favorite stories I  ever read in the NY Times was a profile on bodega cats and their exploits in keeping stores rodent free. One particular cat who had a tremendous record as a mouser was nicknamed "the assassin" (I think) and was loaned out to different shops like an exterminator. It made for a great article but would probably read like a horror story from the rat's perspective.  As for the cats, who patrol doorways like tiny bouncers, stealthily nap on shelves amid the bags of Doritos and slither up against customers, it keeps them off the streets and out of trouble. Like all of us they have to earn their keep here.