Cats About Town: NYC’s Secret Feline History
In Part 2 of Cattitude’s special two-part series on the Cats of New York City, host Michelle Fern welcomes Peggy Gavan and Daniel Rimada, co-founders of Cats About Town Tours—the city’s first walking tours dedicated to feline history, lore, and legendary local kitties. Discover how their tours weave “mini history lessons” with unforgettable cat stories across Brooklyn Heights, the Lower East Side, and the Financial District—featuring iconic felines like Jerry Fox (the blind cat who helped save Brooklyn Borough Hall), Nicodemus (a star of the first national cat show at Madison Square Garden), and Mutilator (the famous newspaper cat of The New York Sun). Then the conversation turns to the beloved—and sometimes controversial—bodega cats: what they are, why they matter, the myths people get wrong, and how a community-driven movement may help improve standards of care (and even influence legislation). If you love cats, city history, or both, this episode is a purr-fect NYC adventure—no subway fare required.
Listen to Episode #290 Now:
BIO:
Peggy Gavan is a licensed New York City tour guide, historian, and author of The Cat Men of Gotham and The Bravest Pets of Gotham, both published by Rutgers University Press. She has spent years uncovering the forgotten stories of cats that shaped New York's history.
She holds a journalism degree from Syracuse University and spent 15 years in children's book publishing at Troll Books and Scholastic. She later earned a Master of Science in Health Communications from Boston University. Outside of her work as a tour guide, Peggy has volunteered with the Warwick Fire Department for over 30 years.
Her research method involves deep dives into historical newspaper archives, where she discovers remarkable stories of cats that were once front-page news but have since been forgotten. These discoveries form the foundation of every tour.
Peggy serves on the steering committee for the future Cat Museum of New York City.
Dan Rimada is the founder of Bodega Cats of New York and the co-founder of Cats About Town Tours. He leads operations and marketing for the company, working behind the scenes to build partnerships, craft the brand voice, and make sure everything runs smoothly. His love for NYC and its cat-filled history drives the creative direction and growth of the tours.
Transcript: