Pretty the Coney Island Cat © Stanley Fox. December 3, 2014
Pretty the Cat is frequently mistaken for a stray by tourists but this Coney Island cat has long made her home on the Bowery where she is fed year-round by concessionaires. This morning, Coney raconteur and retired arcade owner Stanley Fox photographed Pretty when she jumped on the hood of his car, which he’d parked on the Bowery. Just after he snapped this photo, Pretty ran off to eat breakfast. Ray, who runs the basketball game on the Bowery, had come to feed her, as he does every day. “He stands guard while she eats,” Stan told ATZ, as Ray chased away a big seagull trying to snatch the can of food.
The feline queen of the Bowery is at least 10 or 11 years old by our estimation and is spayed. As we reported last year, after Manny of Coney Island Arcade and Target the Cat left the Bowery for Las Vegas, Pretty came into her own. This feral cat whom only a handful of people could pet in the past became the mascot of the independent game operators. In the summer, you’ll find her grooming herself in the middle of the Bowery unperturbed by passersby and taking a nap in Jimmy Balloons game under the Wonder Wheel sign.
Related Posts on ATZ…
February 12, 2013: Coney Island Cat & Arcade Business Moving to Las Vegas
January 14, 2013: Landlord Evicting Famous Coney Island Cat and His Humans
February 21, 2011: Target the Coney Island Arcade Cat & His Friend Pretty
January 26, 2011: Photo of the Day: Henderson Music Hall Cats Now Homeless
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