In 2016 the story of James and Bob, his street cat, came to our screens in the film adaptation of the best-selling novel A Street Cat Named Bob. The film tells James’ story of his struggles with homelessness and his crippling heroin addiction, and how unintentionally meeting a stray cat turned his life around! It is a true feel good story, about one man turning around his life for the better and making a friend for life. Even though that friend is in fact not a human, but a friendly ginger cat, A cat named Bob.
James became homeless in 1997, on returning to the UK after living in Australia in his youth. He spent his nights sleeping rough in the street or in homeless shelters, his only escape from his harsh reality was drugs, using heroin as a form of escapism and in turn his addiction started.
It was only in 2007 when James found help, and enrolled on the methadone programme, which provided him with his own living space and a strict routine to follow. Alongside this James was a talented singer/songwriter and spent his days busking on the streets of London to help him get extra money to live on. This was James life until one night on returning to his flat he came across a ginger cat, a cat that little did he know would change his life for good…
This little cat, now named Bob grew very fond of James, he followed him wherever he went whether that be on the bus, to the hospital or to busking and eventually James took him in as his own. The public’s reaction to Bob was profound, people came to see James busk purely to see Bob alongside him. Videos of him were uploaded to YouTube and his revenue from busking increased more and more allowing him to live better than he ever had since becoming homeless. Him and Bob became a tourist hotspot and people travelled from all over to see them perform.
It was in this time that James concluded his methadone treatment. It was a hard process, and this is documented in the film. James undergoes a period of withdrawal, which is hard to watch, but is a good representation of the will power and determination James needed to have to be clean for good.
It does sound a bit far-fetched that a simple cat could help one man get over his drug addiction and allow him to become a successful busker and author but it’s a film based upon a true story. Bob gave James responsibility, he wasn’t just looking after himself anymore, but he was providing for Bob which only made him more determined to be a successful busker, and become drug-free, while also giving him something to write about. James himself has been quoted saying that turning his life around was solely a result of meeting Bob, "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."
Since then James has written many more books all about his travels with Bob, had the film produced, winning Best British Film and the UK National Film Awards and now he continues to dedicate his time promoting numerous charities to help homelessness and animal welfare.
This heart-warming story is not just a lovely, feel-good film to watch in your spare time. It is a story which shows the importance of animals to people’s lives. Yes, they make for good companions and family pets but to some people they are so much more. They give guidance to many, company to the lonely and a friend to help through the tough times.
Whether its Bob and James or yourself, it’s not just a pet it’s your friend for life!