Street Cat Named Bob, whose exploits were turned into a best-selling book that helped turn his heroin-addict owner James Bowen’s life around, dies aged 14
- A famous cat who has starred in books and been portrayed in films has died
- 14-year-old Bob transformed the fortunes of friend and owner James Bowen
- Mr Bowen was a recovering heroin addict when he met Bob in his support house
- Bob followed him everywhere, including to Mr Bowen’s London busking sessions
- Bowen’s book ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ came out in 2012 and has three sequels
A street cat who helped transform a heroin addict into a best-selling author has died.
Bob, the protagonist of James Bowen’s memoirs A Street Cat Named Bob, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 14.
Hodder & Stoughton, who published the bestseller in 2012, confirmed the feline’s death in a heartfelt statement.
Bob the cat (left), a street cat who helped transform the life of recovering heroin addict-turned best-selling author James Bowen (right) has died at the age of 14
Mr Bowen found Bob abandoned and injured his support housing home and when the busker realised he had no home to go back to, the pair began a touching relationship
It read: ‘As James and Bob continued to find fans all over the world, Bob led an incredible life meeting well-wishers at book signings, travelling the world and coping with feline fame.
‘He was an extraordinary cat who will be greatly missed.’
Mr Bowen was a recovering heroin addict when he met Bob in the spring of 2007, with the cat lying abandoned and injured in the hallway of his supported housing building in Tottenham.
After taking him to the vets for treatment of an infected wound on his leg, the busker put him back out on the streets hoping that he would find his home.
Instead, Bob took a liking to his new friend as he followed Mr Bowen around wherever he went – even on the bus he took to go busking in Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus.
Bob followed Mr Bowen around London wherever he went, including to his busking sessions in Covent Garden and Picadilly Circus, as well as for his shifts selling the Big Issue
Mr Bowen took the cat in permanently after assuming he had nowhere else to go and gave him his name due to the busker’s fondness of Killer BOB from American horror drama Twin Peaks.
It was the start of a relationship which turned the recovering addict’s life around. The cat accompanied Mr Bowen at his musical performances on the streets of London and also in his shifts selling the Big Issue in the English capital.
Five years after the pair met, Hodder & Stoughton published Mr Bowen’s novel about his relationship with Bob, the first of four books about his furry friend.
The World According to Bob, A Gift from Bob and The Little Book of Bob have since been published, with the collection selling eight million books worldwide in over 40 languages.
The author’s first memoir was developed into a film in 2016, starring Luke Treadaway as the role of Mr Bowen.
At the London premiere for the film, Bob met Kate Middleton and was even accused of stratching the Duchess of Cambridge after she was spotted the next day with a plaster on her hand.
Mr Bowen published the novel ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ in 2012 and three sequels have since been released
Mr Bowen and Bob’s story was turned into a film in 2016, with award-winning actor Luke Treadaway (pictured) depicting the role of Mr Bowen
Reacting to Bob’s death, Mr Bowen, 41, said: ‘Bob saved my life. It’s as simple as that.
‘He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I’d been missing.
‘The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous. He’s met thousands of people, touched millions of lives.
‘There’s never been a cat like him. And never will again.
Mr Bowen said that his relationship with Bob gave him ‘a direction in life’ and that his death means ‘the light has gone out in my life’
‘I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.’
The sadness surrounding Bob’s death has been felt by social media users across the world.
Lucy Isabel tweeted: ‘I am so gutted Street Cat Bob’s died. Met these guys 8 times both out and about and at cat shows and A Street Cat Named Bob was easily my favourite book. That cat saved a man’s life. He’ll be missed.’
Tom Hayes said: ‘Aww this is a really sad one. James Bowen and Bob have been through so much, it’s sad to see Bob go. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’. Delightful film based on true events.’