James Bowen: Street Cat Named Bob enjoys the lap of luxury on set

Cool for cats: James Bowen and Bob with Luke Treadaway and Ruta Gedmintas, who stars as his girlfriend Betty
Andreas Lambis
Miranda Bryant12 November 2015
The Weekender

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The author of surprise bestseller A Street Cat Named Bob aims to conquer America - but only if his feline sidekick can travel in style.

James Bowen’s memoir about a stray cat which he credits with rescuing him from homelessness and heroin addiction has sold more than four million copies and is being made into a film starring Luke Treadaway.

Now the former busker wants to visit America but doesn’t want Bob, who often sits on his shoulder, to go in an aircraft hold.

The 36-year-old, from Haringey, said: “I’d never let him travel in the cargo hold so we would have to find some other way to get there.

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"By boat, by private jet, who knows, or if a commercial jet might let him go up top. He’s the best-behaved cat in the world and everybody who’s spent time with Bob says that.”

Bowen is taking an advisory role on the film, in which he is played by Treadaway, 31. Bob - with the help of trained cats - plays himself.

“It’s been really fun,” Bowen said on set. “I’ve got Bob here as well, he’s relaxing in his trailer. He’s got his cat bed, he’s got his cat milk, all his treats, he’s quite content.”

Of Treadaway, who won an Olivier Award for best actor for the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, he said:

“Luke is doing fantastically in his role. He’s got quite a few of my things down and Bob gets on with him well.”

Shooting on the film, which also stars Ruta Gedmintas as Bowen’s girlfriend Betty, started last month.Now Bowen, who has published six bestsellers about his life with Bob, wants to buy in London.

He said: “It’s nice to actually say I can afford my own home now.”

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