A Street Cat Named Bob (2016): The True Story of a London Busker and His Cat
A Street Cat Named Bob (2016) tells the true story of a struggling London street musician whose life changes when he forms a life-saving bond with a stray cat named Bob.
A Street Cat Named Bob
Director: Roger Spotiswoode
Country: UK
The story of James and Bob has always held a special meaning for me.
I read all of their books, and even though their journey couldn’t be more different from mine, it inspired me to write about my own cat, Avalon, after he passed away.
That memoir became my biggest bestseller and was later translated into French and Italian.
If James hadn’t told his story first, I might never have written mine.
The connection between James and Bob reminded me of what I shared with my cat.
And it felt even closer to home because I once lived in London and spent most of my time in Islington, where James and Bob used to live.
But will A Street Cat Named Bob work its magic on you as well? Here’s everything you need to know about the film.
Plot Summary
The movie opens in Covent Garden, where busker James Bowen (played by Luke Treadaway) performs for passing crowds.
It’s a familiar scene in one of Central London’s busiest spots (around 44,000 people come through the market every day, according to PNB Paribas Real Estate). I was there the day I rewatched the film, and the scene instantly brought back happy memories.
But the movie quickly shifts to a side of London that most tourists never witness: financial struggles, homelessness, and addiction.
James can’t afford food, spends the night outside in the rain, and can’t count on his family for help.
When a so-called friend offers him drugs, it feels like it’s the only way to get through the night. The next morning, the police find him unconscious.
At rehab, he’s given a final chance to change his life. Thanks to a compassionate counselor named Val (Joanne Froggatt), James can move into a small flat in Islington. It’s a fresh start that will soon change the course of his life.
Meeting Bob
One evening, he finds a scruffy ginger cat in his kitchen. The animal spends the night in his apartment, and the following day, James goes looking for the owner. When no one claims him, James lets the cat go in a nearby park.
That evening, the cat waits by his door. Now injured, he needs care, so James takes him to the vet. He spends his last money on treatment, even though it means going hungry.
After Bob recovers, James tries to send him back outside, but the cat keeps coming back.
Eventually, James accepts that Bob has chosen him, and the two become inseparable.
Bob starts following James everywhere, even on the bus.
People on the streets quickly fall in love with the sight of the man and his cat performing together, and James’ earnings begin to improve.
At Second Chance At Life
Through their bond, James also finds the motivation to stay clean and focused. He resists temptation, comes off methadone, falls in love with his neighbor (Ruta Gedmintas), and reconnects with his estranged father (Anthony Head).
Bob gives James a sense of purpose and responsibility he’s never had before.
As James’ story attracts attention, a local writer takes an interest, and he begins to share his journey in what will eventually become a bestselling series of books.
Does the cat die? Does A Street Cat Named Bob Have a Happy Ending?
Bob the cat does not die in the movie. The film (and the books) also end on a happy note, with James turning his life around, getting clean, rebuilding relationships—all thanks to Bob’s companionship.
Based on a True Story
A Street Cat Named Bob is based on a true story. James was 19 when, after a difficult childhood in Australia, he ended up living on the streets of London and became addicted to heroin.
He found Bob the cat in 2007, and from then on, his life completely turned around.
The movie takes its story from James’ memoir A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life, published by Hodder & Stoughton in March 2012.
The book became a worldwide success and appeared in more than 40 languages. James went on to write several follow-ups, including:
- The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Streetwise Cat (2013), which continues their real-life journey together.
- Bob: No Ordinary Cat (2013), a young readers’ adaptation of A Street Cat Named Bob.
- Where in the World is Bob? (2013), a children’s picture book about Bob the cat traveling the world and discovering new places.
- A Gift from Bob: How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas (2014), which focuses on their experiences during the Christmas season.
- My Name is Bob (2014), a picture book imagining Bob’s life before meeting James.
- Bob to the Rescue (2016), another illustrated picture book about Bob’s kindness and adventures.
- The Little Book of Bob: Life Lessons from a Streetwise Cat (2018), a collection of reflections and lessons inspired by Bob’s wisdom.
According to the publisher, sales of the book and its sequels have reached at least 8 million copies.
The movie adaptation premiered at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema in London on November 3, 2016. James and Bob (wearing his signature scarf) walked the red carpet. It was then released widely in the UK on November 4, 2016.
The film, which had a production budget of approximately US$8 million, grossed around US$17.9 million worldwide.
How accurate is the movie compared to the books?
The movie closely follows the first book in the series. However, like most adaptations, it simplifies some of the darker aspects and compresses timelines. It focuses on the uplifting and heartwarming parts of James and Bob’s story.
James actively supported the making of A Street Cat Named Bob. He even wrote about his experiences on set in publications like The Big Issue.
He also showed the cast and crew the real locations where he and Bob used to busk and helped the actors understand his daily routines and his bond with his cat. His presence on set helped ensure that the film remained authentic to the real-life events.
James also made a cameo in the movie. He appears at a book-signing near the film’s end, asking the actor who plays him for an autograph.
Is the Cat in the Movie the Real Bob?
Hello! magazine explains that they had originally eight cats and that Bob wasn’t supposed to be in the film.
However, the real Bob the cat ended up appearing as himself in most scenes, especially the on-location shots in busy London areas, such as Covent Garden, where he felt at home.
The filmmakers also used the other “Bob-alikes” as stand-ins for more difficult or technical scenes that required stunts, tricky movements, or multiple takes.
Who Plays James Bowen in the Movie?
The filmmakers chose Luke Treadaway to play James because of his ability to balance the raw emotional journey of a man rebuilding his life with the warmth of his friendship with his cat.
Luke spent an evening with James walking around Soho. The next day, he even tried busking and sleeping rough on the streets of London to experience a fraction of James’ life. He also practiced playing guitar and performing live in front of the camera.
Who directed A Street Cat Named Bob?
The film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, who debuted with the slasher movie Terror Train (1980), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and David Copperfield.
He went on to helm many other well-known titles, including the dog movie Turner & Hooch (1989), the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi vehicle The Sixth Day (2000).
Is A Street Cat Named Bob Any Good?
A Street Cat Named Bob has the power to resonate with anyone who has ever loved an animal with unwavering devotion.
While the film is heartwarming and often playful, it also peels back the layers to reveal the stark realities of life on the streets and the immense challenges of rebuilding one’s life from scratch.
But it is just as much a love letter to London. The filmmakers shot every scene on location, often amidst real pedestrians and street performers. Few films capture the rhythm, character, and soul of areas like Covent Garden, Islington, Soho, and Vauxhall so vividly. The film pulls you into London and makes you feel as if you’re right there.
If you’re craving an inspiring and feel-good story with real emotional depth and that typical London vibe, A Street Cat Named Bob is definitely worth watching.
Is A Street Cat Named Bob family-friendly?
Yes, it’s broadly family-friendly (though younger children might find some scenes around addiction or homelessness heavy).
In the UK, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rated it 12A, which means children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
Where to Watch A Street Cat Named Bob?
A Street Cat Named Bob is not on Netflix. However, it’s available on DVD, Blu-ray, and through Amazon Prime Video.
You can currently also watch it for free on YouTube.
Is there a sequel to A Street Cat Named Bob?
Yes, the sequel is called A Gift from Bob aka A Christmas Gift from Bob. It’s a Christmas film and was released in 2020.
What movies are similar to A Street Cat Named Bob?
If you loved A Street Cat Named Bob, you should definitely watch Tabby McTat (2023).
This animated movie also follows a street musician and his cat who spend their days performing together in the streets of London.
James Bowen and Bob: Where Are They Now?
Bob sadly died in June 2020 after being hit by a car. He was around 14 years old.
To commemorate him, sculptor Tanya Russell created a life-size bronze statue of Bob sitting on a stack of books.
The memorial statue was inaugurated in July 2021 on a granite bench at Islington Green, right across from the Waterstones bookshop near Highbury & Islington tube station. (Read more in this Ultimate Cat Lover’s Guide to London.)
The publisher said that Bob led an incredible life: “Meeting fans at book signings, appearing in two feature films, and traveling the world for promotions. Bob was an extraordinary cat who will be greatly missed.”
James added that Bob met thousands of fans and touched the lives of millions. “It feels as if a light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.”
In 2015, James wanted to open a cat café in Covent Garden. He raised funds successfully through a crowdfunding campaign for what would become Bob’s World Cat Café. Unfortunately, the café never opened, supposedly due to property and regulatory issues.
In recent years, James faced new personal and financial challenges.
He told The Independent that rising mortgage rates forced him to sell his £500,000 house in South London and that he and his Shih Tzu dog and four cats would soon be without a place to stay.
According to Wikipedia, he became homeless once again and had the re-home his four cats (but kept his dog, Chewbacca). Around that time, he was also attacked and robbed by unknown assailants. This left him with a fractured skull, two black eyes, and a broken nose.
He says he doesn’t dare return to South London, because the people who attacked him still live there and even threatened to kill Chewbacca.
He currently resides in Dalston, and despite the many setbacks, he has maintained his sobriety and confirmed in early 2023 that he became clean from drug use.
However, recent videos of James show a face that is barely recognizable. It truly feels as if Bob gave him life, and without his cat, everything went back to square one.
Pin the Movie Poster of A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)!
About the Author
Vanessa Morgan is the editor of When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampires Movies, Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children, and Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. She also published one cat book (Avalon) and four supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders). Three of her stories became movies. She introduces movie screenings at several European cinemas and film festivals and is also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels. When she is not writing, you will probably find her eating out, doing yoga, or taking photos of felines for her website, Traveling Cats.
If you loved James and Bob’s story, you might also enjoy this memoir about my cat, Avalon. It’s available in English, French, and Italian.
Discover more cat movies in my book Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies.
Bob is a handsome kitty and statue tribute to him is wonderful ~ Great movies too ~
Wishing you the best ~ hugs
I remember this story. Such a great couple of buddies.
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