Exclusive | Bodega cat certification plan seeks vet care for four-legged deli workers: Most of them are abused

The creator of an Instagram account dedicated to profiling the Big Apple’s deli cats is now championing a measure to protect them – as advocates say a concerning lack of regulations lead to many of the city’s feline workers not being properly taken care of.Dan Rimada, founder of @BodegaCatsofNewYork, launched an online petition last month to create a “certification program” to eliminate health department fines on “responsible” bodega cat owners and establish a city-backed $30,000 Bodega Cats Support Fund for medical and other resources.“Bodega cats have long been an iconic part of New York City’s soul—they keep shops pest-free, brighten our streets, and offer comfort to communities,” Rimada said in the petition, which has amassed nearly 5,000 signatures to date.“Yet outdated health codes and inconsistent care practices leave many of these cats at risk and burden small business owners with unfair fines.”“Through years of hands-on experience, I’ve witnessed both the charm of well-cared-for bodega cats and the harsh reality of neglect when standards aren’t met,” Rimada added.The city’s Department of Health directed The Post for comment to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets, which said it “has not been approached about this effort” yet.Live animals are not allowed in food service establishments, according to New York City health code.“The majority of bodega cats that I’ve seen were not properly taken care of,” said independent animal rescuer Tiff Winton, who helped save a cat left behind in a shuttered deli last summer and has since aided several dumped deli cats in the Bronx.“As much as bodega cats are beloved in New York, most of them are abused and neglected,” she told The Post, adding that she’s seen malnourished, medically neglected and even abandoned deli pets.Winton attributes the alleged neglect largely to a lack of responsibility and knowledge, and argues the cost-prohibitive nature of veteri...