NEW YORK — When Michelladonna, a Queens-born content creator, was approached to host a video series about New York City’s iconic bodega cats, she didn’t hesitate.
“This is so perfect for me,” Michelladonna told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “I’m a real New Yorker, and my content has always revolved around the city’s culture—especially bodegas.”
The result is @shopcatsshow, a TikTok series produced by Mad Realities that spotlights the feline residents of NYC’s corner stores. Since its launch, the account has amassed nearly 300,000 followers, with most videos surpassing 1 million views. One standout segment, featuring a cat named Kiki, racked up 4.6 million views.
A Purr-fect Partnership
Michelladonna teams up with Drew Rosenthal, Mad Realities’ Head of Production and Creative Producer, to film the segments. Each episode follows her as she visits bodegas, interviews owners, and uncovers the unique personalities of their cats—some of whom she already knows.
“I have a local bodega cat, Lulu, who slithers up my leg like we’re old friends,” Michelladonna said. “Filming her was special—it’s like we have our own little conversations.”
Rosenthal, who lives near Kiki in Crown Heights, added, “After her episode went viral, the bodega owner told me regulars kept coming in to celebrate her. It’s been incredible to see how these cats connect people.”
Community-Powered Content
Initially, the team worried about finding enough cats to feature. But fans quickly flooded their DMs with suggestions—over 1,000 so far, according to Alice Ma, Mad Realities’ co-founder and CEO.
“Every cat has a distinct personality, and we want to meet them all,” Ma said. “The community guides our content.”
Filming is intentionally spontaneous. Michelladonna avoids pre-research to keep reactions genuine. “I’ll walk in saying, ‘I heard there’s a cute bodega cat here,’” she explained. “Sometimes I’m surprised—like when I expected one cat and found two!”
Warm Welcome—With One Rule
Store owners have been overwhelmingly welcoming, with just one request: Don’t block customers. If turned away, the team politely asks, “Is there a better time, or is this a hard no?”
“Most employees don’t even use TikTok, but they light up when they see the final video,” Rosenthal said. “It’s a bright spot in their day.”
For Michelladonna, the most touching moment involved Smokey, a cat from her regular bodega. On filming day, a staff member shared personal struggles, moving her to tears. By the episode’s end, though, the mood had lifted.
“These cats aren’t just mascots—they’re part of the neighborhood’s heartbeat,” she said. “And now, we get to share that with the world.”
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