Bob, A Street Cat

If you come across a man with a cat on his shoulder while walking around London, don’t be surprised. Surely it is James Bowen and his “partner” Bob. The peculiar story of how a person with addictions and a street cat saved each other has become a best-seller and even has a movie version. Here we tell you some really interesting details.

The story of the young drug addict saved by a street cat and vice versa

It all started in 2007 when Bowen, a 30-year-old drug addict who survived playing guitar on the street, found a red-haired cat at his apartment door. It was a cold day and the pet gladly accepted the invitation to enter. In fact, it was what he was looking for.

It was then that the young man noticed that the cat was injured. He took it without hesitation to the animal welfare agency and spent the little money he had on antibiotics to cure the stray cat.

A short time later, the recovered feline began to follow the musician when he left the house. Until, one day, he got on the bus that the young man took to go to the Covent Garden area, where he worked.

Bob and James, a real show

Thus it was that the cat, who had been named Bob, began to accompany his human friend in his musical performances. The mere presence of the pet attracted the attention of passers-by. But since, as you may have noticed, this is not a “common and ordinary” cat, Bowen usually ended each song by hitting “high five” with the cat.

What is certain is that the boy began to collect in a few hours the money he had previously earned in a week. Soon the images of the cat wearing the headscarf on the musician’s shoulder, or keeping him company while playing the guitar, began to go viral on the internet.

Later, the two appeared in an article in the local Islington Tribune magazine . And it was not long before a literary agent appeared in their lives who proposed to tell their story.

From the streets to bookstores and cinemas

And so Bowen, who had managed to detox from drugs, wrote the novel A Walk with Bob , where he accurately recounts how meeting the cat changed – saved – his life.

The book quickly became a best-seller – it has sold over a million copies – and has crossed the borders of the United Kingdom. In fact, it has been translated into thirty languages. And it also had a version adapted for children.

At this point, it made sense that such a particular real-life tale would come to the cinema. In 2016, the film directed by Roger Spottiswoode was released, starring Luke Treadaway in the role of Bowen. And who do you think played Bob? Himself, of course. The cat has also become a movie star.

Here is a link to see some images from the film.

It’s always nice for cats to choose us

With the economic problems solved, man and cat have not lost their habits. Often still seen on the streets of London. Bowen began collaborating with several NGOs and until recently sold The Big Issue , a newspaper to help the homeless. Under these circumstances Bob always accompanied him, sitting on his shoulder. And if it was cold, the cat showed one of the many scarves that are given to him every day.

The truth is that this story, if it weren’t real, would have to be invented. Life always offers a new opportunity, if you know how to seize it.

So, if one of these days you discover that a cat has chosen you, don’t ignore it. We cannot even imagine how much good destiny can reserve for us if we decide to accept his proposal. Dare to find out.

Source: James Bowen’s Facebook page and a street cat named Bob