Bodega Bosses & Bookstore Cats: Inside Shop Cats of New York
On this episode of Cattitude, Michelle Fern welcomes author Tamar Arslanian and award-winning pet photographer Andrew Marttila to explore the revised and expanded edition of Shop Cats of New York. These beloved feline residents may not appear on leases or in travel guides, but they are just as essential to New York City as yellow taxis and corner delis. Nestled inside bookstores, record shops, breweries, hotels, and neighborhood businesses, shop cats bring warmth, personality, and magic to the city streets. Tamar and Andrew share heartfelt stories and vivid photography featuring unforgettable cats like Ratty of the East Village stamp shop, bonded duo Patience and Fortitude, and the legendary Jack Daniels Bagley. Beyond celebrating these pampered shop mascots, the book highlights the positive role shop cats play in communities, encourages businesses to embrace feline companions, and inspires rescuers to consider non-traditional, loving homes for cats in need. Equal parts travel guide, tribute, and photo essay, Shop Cats of New York is a love letter to the city—and the cats who make it purr.
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BIO:
TAMAR ARSLANIAN built her career at several high-profile New York City advertising agencies. Her journey into “cat writing” began as a hobby with her blog, I Have Cat, “Single in the City with Cat(s).” She has been published in The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, and The Wildest, as well as featured as an expert in Good Housekeeping, People StyleWatch, and New York Magazine. Second to her love of cats is her appreciation of great cuisines, which has led to hosting culinary tours and events in NYC as well as creating content for her brand, Flirting With Vegan. Tamar is a board member of the non-profit Mission Meow and shares her home in NYC with three rescue cats and a varying number of foster cats.
ANDREW MARTTILA is a professional animal photographer specializing in photographing cats. Over the years, he has taken millions of photos of felines, which have been used in worldwide media in both digital and print, from the cover of National Geographic to Good Morning America. He is the creator of several books, including Cats of the World, Cats on Catnip, and How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats. He is also a board member of Orphan Kitten Club and has hand-raised hundreds of rescue kittens along with his wife, Hannah Shaw. He lives in San Diego, CA.
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