Biscuit, an orange tabby of imprecise age and unshakable confidence, has been declared Brooklyn's Best Bodega Cat, winning a 64-cat Instagram bracket that drew more than 12,000 votes over three weeks and, in its final round, allegations of ballot irregularities from partisans of a Bay Ridge rival.

The tournament, run by the account Bodega Cats of BK, seeded cats by neighborhood and settled matchups by 24-hour story polls. Biscuit, who resides at Golden Deli on Nostrand Avenue, cruised through the early rounds on the strength of his signature pose: fully asleep on the lottery machine, one paw covering the scratch-off dispenser like a tiny security guard.

"He does nothing all day and now he's famous for it," said Hassan Aldabbagh, who has owned Golden Deli for 16 years and Biscuit for six of them, or possibly the reverse. "Customers come in, no sandwich, no coffee. Just photos. He doesn't even look at the camera. That's his whole brand."

The final, against Princess Meatball of Bay Ridge, ended 54 to 46 percent. Her camp requested a recount; the account declined, citing "the integrity of the bracket."

Aldabbagh has hung a printed certificate above the deli slicer. Biscuit's schedule is unchanged.