Dec 22, 2025 Book Review: “A Street Cat Named Bob”
The true story, A Street Cat Named Bob, is an international best-seller about twin redemption: that of a homeless tabby street cat and a homeless Englishman who adopt each other and help one another heal, leading to celebrity status for both cat and human.
The author, James Bowen, recovering from narcotics addiction, acknowledges his struggles to survive in a way that has resonated with millions of readers, in twenty-five languages: “Living on the streets of London strips away your dignity, your identity − your everything, really. Worst of all, it strips away people’s opinion of you. They see you are living on the streets and treat you as a non-person.” The story further connects with readers in Bowen’s instant empathy for a homeless cat he decides to name Bob: “In the daylight, I could see that he was a gorgeous creature. He had a really striking face with amazingly piercing green eyes, although, looking closer, I could tell that he must have been in a fight or an accident because there were scratches on his face and legs…. He’d probably been attacked by a dog, or possibly a fox, that had stuck its teeth into his leg and clung on to him as he’d tried to escape. He also had a lot of scratches, one on his face not far from his eye, and others on his coat and legs.”
After taking the cat to a veterinarian, which cost him all his meager money, he recalls, “There was no way I was going to get rid of the cat for at least a fortnight, not until he completed his course of medicine. No one else was going to make sure he took his tablets, and I could not let him out on the streets in case he picked up an infection.”
In the course of his story, Bowen educates the reader about the varied causes of homelessness, including “in an awful lot of instances, the road that led them to living on the streets stretches all the way back to their childhoods and their relationship with their family. That was certainly the way it was for me.”
Bowen bonds with Bob, taking him with him as he performs for tips around London, such as Piccadilly Circus, playing Beatles and folk tunes on guitar. Bob becomes popular with crowds who give gifts to keep the cat warm.
Bob’s presence transforms Bowen’s daily grind, boosting tips from passersby, providing emotional support during relapses, and even helping him stay clean by giving him a sense of responsibility and routine. The book blends humorous anecdotes, such as Bob’s antics on public transport, with poignant reflections on homelessness, addiction recovery, and the redemptive power of unconditional companionship. It culminates in their rise to minor fame, including book deals and media attention, but stays grounded in the gritty realities of street life. Bowen’s prospects improve as he becomes a seller of The Big Issue, a well-known magazine in the UK that is known for being a source of income for poor vendors: “I wouldn’t have even contemplated going back to selling the Big Issue if it hadn’t been for Bob. The way he had transformed my fortunes − and my spirits − on the streets had been amazing.” Bob played a significant role in making this a success, as his presence noticeably attracted more customers.
Themes of trust, second chances, and the human-animal bond run through the book. The story reminds readers that transformation often begins with the smallest acts, such as feeding a stray, choosing empathy, or accepting companionship.
James and Bob became international celebrities, attracting attention on YouTube, social media, and news programs worldwide. Their story led to a 2016 film adaptation starring the real Bob, and Bob himself became known as “the most famous cat in the world” before he died in 2020. The book also spawned a series of sequels, including The World According to Bob and A Gift from Bob: How a Street Cat helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas.
Steven Hansch is a humanitarian aid specialist with extensive experience in fieldwork, management, and evaluation. He teaches at several universities and serves on several nonprofit boards involved in human development and humanitarian aid. Leslie Barcus has served on the boards of national and international animal protection organizations. Her professional activities include work in more than forty countries addressing animal protection, microfinance, biodiversity conservation, organizational capacity building, and international economic development.