Rob Hitt is the man behind the widely popular Twitter account Bodega Cats, which currently has 468.9K followers. But it’s more than that. Bodega Cats is now a multi-social media project that also has its own merch collection featuring shirts, tote bags, hoodies, and socks, all engraved with a fan-fave staple—a pure-bred bodega feline.
According to Rob, there’s no such a thing as a universal kind of bodega cat. Just like at home, so in the bodegas, every feline is different. “Cats will just be cats in terms of Bodega Cats vs. House Cats. They all have their own personalities. Feral cats, on the other hand, aren’t conditioned to seek out human interaction, so they act more secluded," the creator told us previously.
This time, Bored Panda has reached out to Rob to find out where he’s at with the Bodega Cats project, and it seems like it’s been growing ever since. During the times of pandemic, when most animal welfare organizations are facing a shortage of donations, Rob has decided to give Bodega Cats a philanthropic twist.
“We decided to make a shirt for one of our favorite videos of all time and it's been incredibly fun to see the responses and happiness it's been able to bring to the supporters.” Profits from the shirt go to organizations like Flatbush Cats, Greenpoint Cats, Trap King, and Trap Queen.
Rob explained that Greenpoint Cats “have helped find feral / community cats in the North Brooklyn area to help get them TNR’d (Trap, Neuter, Return) and also help find the 'friendly' cats new homes.” The organization now takes volunteers and is looking for temporary foster adoption applicants, so if you’re interested, check them out right here.
Meanwhile, when it comes to Rob himself, he said that he’s been “inside mostly, trying to stay safe and appreciating the Brooklyn parks for some fresh air.”
