• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Temptations is celebrating the shop cats who have become beloved fixtures of neighborhood bodegas, corner stores and businesses across the country.

The hardworking felines greet customers, keep stores rodent-free and "supervise" from their favorite perch behind the counter.

The cat treat brand is hosting a free, interactive pop-up in New York City, plus a Virtual Cat Bodega bringing treats and prizes to cat lovers nationwide.

From Sept. 17-19, visitors can stop by 213 Bowery in New York City from 12-6 p.m. ET to explore the cat-inspired bodega experience, take home free Temptations treats and win merchandise.

Cat lovers who aren’t able to make it NYC can visit the virtual Temptations Cat Bodega at TemptationsTreats.com/CatBodega from Sept. 17-26 to play a digital scratch-off game for a chance to win treats and exclusive merchandise and gift treats to working cats in neighborhoods across the country.

Neighborhood cats from across the nation are highlghted on the site such as Pinecone, a gray Persian mix who "works" at a middle school in Rhode Island or Franklin and Nigel, one long-haired and one short-haired tabby who are vintage mall store managers in Burbank, California. 

The activation is being held in partnership with comedian and actress Heidi Gardner, a proud cat mom to John Ross Jr., Lil Romeo and Wish Bear, and a fixture of New York's iconic late-night comedy scene.

"The magic of a true NYC bodega is that it's the only place on earth where you can buy an iced coffee, long-stem roses, and cat treats all in one stop," Gardner says in a release. "And if you're really lucky, the 22-year-old cat who actually owns the store might acknowledge your existence."

The Temptations Cat Bodega is an homage to these hard-working cats and a way for fans to celebrate them for the stars they are, says Lukasz Wysoczanski, vice president, care and treats, Mars Pet Nutrition North America.

"Bodega cats are the best part of the bodega or corner store experience and they're deserving of far more than just internet fandom," Wysoczanski says in a release.