One man and his cat

Name: A Street Cat Named Bob
Author: James Bowen
First published: 2012
Published by: Hodder and Stoughton

I first came across James Bowen and his remarkable street cat the same way many others did – I saw them. Admittedly I didn’t see them busking in Covent Garden, I saw a picture in the back of Bookseller magazine, but there is definitely something about Bob that makes you look twice.

This is the true story of a man who lived hand-to-mouth in London and the injured cat he nursed back to health. James and Bob made a name for themselves on the streets, first busking and then selling Big Issue, and before they knew it (literally), they had an online following.

A Street Cat Named Bob is definitely one for cat lovers. Not only will you be able to recognise Bob’s feline idiosyncrasies, you will also pick up some handy cat-care tips along the way. Did you know that cats can develop an addiction to catnip? Nor did I.

Bob promoting his new book.

I also learnt a thing or two about heroin addiction, as author James tells the story of how he turned his life around and kicked his drug habit – and he has no qualms attributing this largely to his new friend Bob.

The well-intentioned characters make this a very loveable book, and their story is all the more engaging for being true. It hasn’t been a bed of roses for James and Bob, but the way they deal with their problems – by simply caring for each other – warms the heart.

A Street Cat Named Bob will leave you with a fuzzy feeling inside and you’ll probably reach over to give your own moggy a cuddle – and then knit him a scarf.

You can see more of Bob on youtube, and his tale will be published in paperback on 13 September.