Creators of Viral ‘Shop Cats’ TikTok Series Reveal How They Discover N.Y.C Bodega Cats — and Their Favorites So Far (Exclusive)

Michelladonna has always been in tune with the New York City lifestyle. So when Drew Rosenthal, Head of Production and Creative Producer at Mad Realities, asked her to host a new video series about bodega cats, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I was like, this is so perfect for me. I’m a real New Yorker, born and raised in Queens. This aligns perfectly with my content, which often revolves around New York lifestyle and bodegas,” Michelladonna tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Thus, the TikTok series @shopcatsshow, hosted by @Michelladonna, was born. Since its launch, the account has garnered nearly 300,000 followers, with almost all their videos receiving more than 1 million views. Their most popular video has amassed an impressive 4.6 million views.

In the videos, Michelladonna visits bodega cats around N.Y.C., interviewing the store owners and learning the stories behind each cat, some of which she has personal experiences with.

“I have a local bodega cat who has been through some tough moments,” Michelladonna says. “She always slithers up my leg, and I’m like, ‘Okay!’ We actually filmed a segment with her, and I’m so excited — Lulu will be featured soon. I’ve had many experiences just pulling up to Lulu and whispering to her; it feels like we’re having a little conversation.”

“Kiki, for instance, went massively viral,” Rosenthal adds. “She’s my local bodega cat; she lives on my corner in Crown Heights, and I see her every night.”

Initially, Michelladonna and Rosenthal were concerned about finding enough cats to feature. Now, they receive hundreds of suggestions via DMs, with fans urging them to visit various stores, even internationally.

Since starting the account, Alice Ma, the co-founder and CEO of Mad Realities, notes they’ve received upwards of 1,000 suggestions for cats to feature through comments and DMs.

“We want to meet every cat because each one has such a unique personality,” Ma says. “No two are alike, and that’s how we’ve been gathering our content — based on community suggestions.”

When Michelladonna and Rosenthal film, they meet on a corner near the location. Michelladonna gets mic’d up and then heads in to talk to the owners or whoever’s taking care of the store. Sometimes, she speaks to them in Spanish, saying things like, ” ‘Papi, I’m going to tell you this. It’s just about the cat; I promise we’re not trying to do anything else,’ ” she says. Most then let her go right ahead.

Once she gets the green light, she calls Rosenthal, and then they set out to find the shop’s cat.

Michelladonna prefers not to do advanced research on her feline subjects.

“I don’t want to know anything beforehand because I want that discovery to be as authentic as possible,” she says. “Sometimes I’m told there’s one cat, but then I find out there are two — that’s the biggest surprise for me!”

She starts every video by saying, “I heard there was a cute bodega cat in here.”

So far, the group has been fortunate, with no one outright refusing them. Most simply remind them not to block customers, a rule they’re careful to respect. If a store owner does say no, they always ask, “Is there a better day we could come, or is this a no forever?”

“We’ve been pretty lucky. People are generally relaxed about it,” Rosenthal says. “In fact, I think many store employees feel we brighten their day. Most of the people who work at these shops don’t even have TikTok. But once they see the final product, they’re so happy.”

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“I used to see the owner of the bodega where Kiki lives every night. After Kiki went viral, I asked him if he liked the video, and he was amazed,” he continues. “We chatted for two hours, and he told me how all the regulars had come in, saying they saw the video. Everyone’s celebrating Kiki in Crown Heights, and it feels amazing that this platform can genuinely bring a community together. I’ve gotten to know my neighborhood so much better because of this, and that’s pretty cool.”

One moment that stands out for Michelladonna since beginning this series is her experience with Smokey, her old bodega cat. Prior to the account, she used to go into his home shop all the time to give Smokey some love and enjoy a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.

She remembers that on the day they filmed there, the folks behind the counter were having a rough time — especially one person, who shared some personal struggles with her, moving the host to tears. Despite the tough day, the mood shifted by the end of the episode.

“They started giving us free food and drinks,” Michelladonna recalls. “Someone even commented about the incense being good, and the woman pulled out some and gifted it to us. It was such a beautiful moment. Even though she was going through a tough time, the love and generosity they offered were incredible. It really took me by surprise.”

As the trio looks ahead, they’re excited to continue making videos, and finding new ways to grow their platform. They know this is just the beginning.

“There are so many cats that want to be seen,” Ma says. “We’ve even had requests from Brazil! For us, it’s really about expanding the brand. We have a ton of ideas for bringing the community together, including the possibility of hosting a live comedy show in a bodega — something we’ve seen happening in New York.”

“I’m really hoping that people are enjoying the content and seeing how, when I ask a grown man about his kitty cat, he melts over how much he loves her. It shows that New Yorkers are softer than we seem,” Michelladonna says. “I hope this gives viewers a chance to connect with the people they encounter every day but might not normally stop to talk to.”

She adds, “We’re all human, and we all enjoy sharing a bit about ourselves. Plus, when there’s a cat involved, it’s even easier to gush about!”