'I will never forget him': Feline that inspired 'A Street Cat Named Bob' dies aged 14

The ginger cat, who inspired a series of books and starred in two films, was the companion of musician James Bowen

Bob, the cat who inspired the book and film 'A Street Cat Named Bob', died on Monday, June 15. AP

Bob, the famous feline that inspired the book series and film A Street Cat Named Bob, has died aged 14.

Hodder & Stoughton said on Tuesday, June 16, that Bob had died a day earlier. The publisher added in a statement that he “was an extraordinary cat who will be greatly missed".

Bob rose to fame after musician James Bowen, who was a recovering addict at the time, found the abandoned and injured ginger cat in 2007 and adopted him.

He began taking Bob, often seen wearing a scarf, with him when busking or selling The Big Issue magazine in London.

The pair attracted attention, and after a local newspaper published their story, Bowen secured a book deal. A Street Cat Named Bob was published in 2012 and became a British bestseller.

It was followed by The World According to Bob, A Gift from Bob and The Little Book of Bob. Together, the four books sold more than eight million copies in 40 languages, the publisher said.

A Street Cat Named Bob was turned into a movie of the same name in 2016, starring Luke Treadaway as Bowen and Bob as himself (along with six lookalikes). A sequel, A Gift From Bob, is due to be released later this year.

“Bob saved my life. It’s as simple as that. He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I’d been missing,” said Bowen in a statement.

“The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous. He’s met thousands of people, touched millions of lives. There’s never been a cat like him. And never will again. I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.”