Bob: No Ordinary Cat

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Following the announcement of Bob's death, The Big Issue magazine was inundated with tributes, messages and memories of Bob from all over the world. [9] Books and films [ edit ] Who else could play him? He's such a character. Plus, it's not like you can train them; cats do what they want to do. You can't make them do anything. My Name is Bob is a picture book for young children, written by Bowen with Garry Jenkins and illustrated by Gerald Kelley, published by Random House in the UK in April 2014. It imagines Bob's life prior to him meeting Bowen. As Bob constantly followed Bowen when he was going to work, Bowen bought Bob a harness for safety and allowed him to come along to his regular spots in Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus, travelling in the window seat of the number 73 bus. The public reaction was positive and the pair became locally well known, their visibility increasing still further when Bowen began selling The Big Issue. The public began uploading videos of Bowen and Bob to YouTube and tourists would visit Covent Garden to see them. During this time, Bowen decided to conclude his methadone treatment. He credits this development to Bob, saying "I believe it came down to this little man. He came and asked me for help and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body. He is what I wake up for every day now. He’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life". [5] Bob's later life and death [ edit ] Kanczula, Antonia (15 March 2012). "Bob the cat's star turn". Islington Now.co.uk . Retrieved 2 November 2015.

Bob soon became James’s companion whenever he busked in the streets of London. Whenever Bob yawned along with the guitar, coins would tinkle into James’s guitar case. Bob’s big, innocent eyes could bewitch anyone into donating a bit of their shares. Exactly – cats are basically land sharks, always thinking about food. If he was big enough, Bob would probably eat you… When I first got him he hadn't been neutered. One minute, he was all sweet, the next he would go for me. I was watching the box set of Twin Peaks at the time, so he's named after Killer Bob/Leland Palmer. It suits him.Lobb, Adrian. "Support Street Cat Bob and James Bowen's bid for Christmas number one". Yours Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021 . Retrieved 7 March 2020. In a way. But it traps you. Heroin is a great excuse to stay on the streets and do nothing about your life. It's definitely glamorised in films, but it's an easy option – although you do have to go shoplifting four times a day to fund your habit. Bob The Streetcat Is in the Studio". London Live. London Live. 7 December 2018 . Retrieved 7 March 2020. [ permanent dead link]

He's already a little bit of a diva. He's definitely demanding more treats and he likes to work fewer hours – he's very vocal about it. But he's the boss, so if he says it's time to go home, then it's time to go home. He won't be running off with Jennifer Aniston, will you, Bob? In spring 2007, Bowen realised he wanted to better himself for the sake of Bob and he decided to quit the heroin he was on and go onto a methadone programme. He continued busking in Covent Garden and living in a supported housing programme in Tottenham, London.

McCahill, Mike. "A Street Cat Named Bob review – so much kitty litter". The Guardian . Retrieved 3 March 2017. Bob to the Rescue is a second children's picture book, written again with Garry Jenkins and illustrated by Gerald Kelley. It was published by Random House in September 2014. Allen-Mills, Tony. "Ninth life over for James Bowen's Bob the cat, star of street and screen". The Times . Retrieved 21 June 2020. Even though I did think that it's a little cheesy to say a cat changed his life, in this case it's the truth. Personally I think that it shows how everyone can change something if he/she finds the motivation to do so and in this case the motivation for James to change his life once and for all was Bob. You've just adapted the book for children. Some children's books – The Hunger Games , Philip Pullman's titles – are pretty dark, but not many deal with heroin addiction. How have you made it child-friendly?