Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)
Touching story of a Street Cat Named Bob
Aug 27, 2015 20:38:01   #
Jackel Loc: California
 
This is a heartwarming story of the incredible synergy twixt two disparate species, resulting in love, affection and responsibility.

Englishman, James Bowen, had an unsettled upbringing. While in school, he was sniffing glue and eventually was diagnosed with ADHD, schizophrenia and manic depression.

After living in Australia for a while, he returned to England in 1997.

He was 18 years old, and when living with his half-sister didn’t work out, he began a life of either living on the street or in shelters. James’ life revolved around his heroin addiction and busking (street musician) on the streets of London.

In early 2007, James tried to drag himself up by enrolling in a Methadone programme. He was living in sheltered accommodation and one day returned home to find a ginger colored tom cat in his building.
Figuring it belonged to one of the other residents, he didn’t pay too much attention. The next day, the cat was still there. James asked around and found no answers as to the animal’s ownership.

On closer inspection, he discovered a wound on the cat’s leg and decided to take it to the vet and get it treated. And so James adopted the cat, whom he named Bob.

Since then, Bob has led James into a public life. Together they have become celebrities. It began when Bob started following James everywhere. He joined James busking on the street, and James’ income rapidly increased.

He began to attract more and more attention. Tourists would visit his spot just to see the cat, who was happy to dress up and sit still.

They went everywhere together…on foot…
And on public transport.

You Tube videos appeared and newspapers got hold of the story. This led to a publishing agreement and James started writing about his experiences with Bob on the streets of London. Apart from “A Street Cat Named Bob” and “The World According To Bob”, a number of books for children have also been written. Sold worldwide, James’s life has improved.

Together they have become celebrities. And their teamwork is certainly causing a stir.

The books have been translated into numerous languages. More than a million have been sold.
There’s also news that a movie will be made about the two of them.
Still living in London, James still loves busking and a healthy looking Bob goes along, too, efficiently taking care of the publicity.

YouTube has several videos of this amazing pair:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MePaWG7g5FA















Reply
Aug 27, 2015 20:59:07   #
Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley
 
Great story and pictures. Bob looks almost exactly like our cat Poco.
Animals certainly have a uncanny way of affecting people.
Seems like Bob knew James needed something in his life to have some meaning to him. Amazing how a cat or any other animal can change a person's life for the better!

will

Reply
Aug 27, 2015 21:21:28   #
RS Loc: W Columbia, SC
 
That IS a very touching story.
It will be interesting to see if we hear about them
sometime in the future.
Thanks for the posting...

Reply
 
 
Aug 27, 2015 22:47:40   #
Jackel Loc: California
 
On one of the YouTube videos, it suggests they're coming to America, so we should be hearing about them soon.

Reply
Aug 27, 2015 23:33:51   #
dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma
 
have to take the S off the http:/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MePaWG7g5FA


pretty cool :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 02:17:11   #
luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC
 
Great story and photos!!! Animals can make such a difference in a person's life!!!

One day while I was sitting at a stop light I saw a homeless man with his dog. Some one handed him a McDonalds bag and I watched while the man opened the bag, took out the burger and broke off a piece about 1/3 the size of the burger. He then handed the bigger piece to the dog and he ate the smaller piece. At the time I worked in a feed store and we sold dog food so the next day I bought a small bag of dog food and stopped at McDonalds and went looking for this man. I found him a couple of intersections down and handed over the food and told him what I had seen him do the day before and how I was impressed he had given the dog the bigger piece. He said the dog (can't remember his name) was his best and only friend.

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 09:10:03   #
DaveHam Loc: Reading UK
 
I believe the cat and 'owner' ended up in Hollywood with a film deal, though whether this came to anything I don't know.

Picking cats up off the street is something of an English past time; we have been taken over by a short haired starving pitiful little thing we found on the road that is now five kilos, as hairy as a Persian tcreature that owns our house.

Be warned!

Reply
 
 
Aug 28, 2015 09:47:04   #
MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand
 
Brilliant!

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 11:35:58   #
Wrangler Loc: North Texas
 
Mathew 25:40 whoever has done this to the least of mine has done it to me." I don't know which one was the least but both Bob and James were rewarded.

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 11:44:04   #
richard-sports Loc: New York City
 
DaveHam wrote:
I believe the cat and 'owner' ended up in Hollywood with a film deal, though whether this came to anything I don't know.

Picking cats up off the street is something of an English past time; we have been taken over by a short haired starving pitiful little thing we found on the road that is now five kilos, as hairy as a Persian tcreature that owns our house.

Be warned!


The owner and the human ended up in Hollywood :).

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 11:46:21   #
Wrangler Loc: North Texas
 
oops sorry

Reply
 
 
Aug 28, 2015 11:55:40   #
John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN
 
This story reminded me of one of my wife's email tag lines:

The moral progress of a nation may be measured by the way it treats its animals.
-- Mohandas Gandhi

Reply
Aug 28, 2015 11:58:44   #
dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma
 
:mrgreen:

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk)
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.