Cats across New York City are finding unique roles that blend companionship with commerce, culture, and social media stardom, showcasing the diverse ways felines are integrated into modern urban life.
One notable example is Lucero, affectionately known as Lulu, a 14-year-old cat residing at Flower Daddy Dispensary in Williamsburg. Lulu, adopted 11 years ago by owner Pablo Velez, who is also the dispensary's creative director and cannabis entrepreneur, serves as the shop’s informal greeter and mascot. Velez describes Lulu as a calming presence who transforms customer interactions from routine transactions into more personal encounters. “Lulu changes the energy of the space instantly,” Velez said, noting that the cat behaves in a dog-like manner by helping visitors relax and bringing a sense of neighborhood community to the retail environment.
In Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, Bone Jovi, a 5-year-old mixed breed cat, holds the unofficial title of head of security at the Bone Museum, an osteology-focused institution. Bone Jovi, a former shelter cat, was relocated from Georgia to New York through Best Friends Animal Society’s Pet Adoption Center. Museum Managing Director Jon Pichaya Ferry highlighted the cat’s role in infusing warmth and lightheartedness into a subject generally perceived as somber. “They come for the cat and stay for the bones,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Marlan Roberts, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society, emphasized Bone Jovi’s story as a testament to the different kinds of homes that shelter cats can find, ranging from apartments to storefronts and even museums.
Social media adds another dimension to feline prominence. In Williamsburg, Caelin Smith manages the Instagram account @cleothecitykitty, which has amassed roughly 500,000 followers. Smith’s cats, Cleo, a 6-year-old Persian, and Clementine, a 1-year-old British Longhair, are central to her growing presence as a full-time influencer on TikTok and Instagram. Cleo first gained viral attention in 2022 for her notable fixation on a window washer, while Clementine, affectionately called Clemmie, joined the family in 2025. Smith offers a lighthearted account of their sibling dynamic, with Clementine attempting to win over Cleo’s affections often without success.
Further adding to New York’s cat royalty are Sponge Cake, Donut, and Buttercream, who belong to Dan Nguyen, a corporate attorney, and Olivia Nguyen, a financial analyst. The trio maintains a large audience, with nearly 3.4 million followers on Instagram and TikTok through accounts @spongecake_thescottishfold and @spongecake_cats. The couple regularly takes the cats to explore the city and beyond, including a recent snow sledding outing in Central Park. Olivia Nguyen highlighted the cats’ extensive wardrobe, noting custom-made outfits crafted by a personal tailor, including Parisian-themed attire for their international trips to cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Venice. The cats’ public appearances consistently draw attention and joy from onlookers.
From retail dispensaries and museums to digital stardom and international travel, these New York cats illustrate the varied and evolving roles pets play in urban life, combining companionship, promotion, and entertainment in equal measure.