At first glance, a museum filled with human bones might not seem like the ideal home for a cat. But for Bone Jovi, the resident feline of the Bone Museum in Brooklyn, it’s a perfect match.
Originally from a shelter in Georgia, Bone Jovi made a 900-mile journey to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York. The tuxedo-wearing cat immediately stood out.
Calm, confident, and unbothered by new environments. That unique temperament landed him an unexpected opportunity, a chance to become the next face of one of New York’s quirkiest museums.
Before Bone Jovi came along, a cat named Chonky Boy had been the beloved mascot of the Bone Museum for five years. Chonky Boy, now partially blind and mostly deaf, was ready for retirement. The museum team went in search of a worthy successor, and they found it in Bone Jovi.
The team gave him a trial run, letting him roam the museum freely. He passed with flying colors. According to the museum, “he quickly proved himself as the perfect fit.” Soon after, Bone Jovi was adopted and officially joined the museum staff as their new mascot and professional mouser.
Visitors can often find Bone Jovi curled up in a chair at the front desk or exploring exhibits like Phantom and Odd Fellow. Though surrounded by bones, he moves with ease and charm. He’s become more than just a museum cat. He’s a cultural ambassador, a social media darling, and a fan favorite.
“Thank you for adopting him and clearly giving him endless love,” one fan commented on Instagram. “He is so very handsome, classic tuxedo attire," another persona added. “Bone Jovi in the second pic. Morherrr I’m trying to look professional!!”
Bone Jovi's journey is more than a wholesome story. It highlights the impact of partnerships that save lives. Best Friends Animal Society, which helped facilitate his adoption, works with over 5,500 shelters and rescue groups across the U.S.
Their mission is to make every shelter a no-kill shelter. One of the main strategies for reaching that goal is collaboration. That’s how Bone Jovi ended up in New York, through coordinated efforts to move adoptable animals from crowded shelters to areas where they have a better chance of finding homes.