James Bowen is a British author and busker, best known for his best-selling books about his life and his cat, Bob. Born in Surrey in 1979, Bowen had a difficult childhood following his parents' divorce, which led to him becoming a self-confessed "tearaway kid" who was frequently bullied and eventually diagnosed with ADHD, schizophrenia, and manic depression. After moving back to the UK from Australia, Bowen became homeless and spent nearly a decade living on the streets, turning to heroin to escape the realities of his situation.
Bowen's life took a turn for the better in 2007 when he was enrolled in a methadone program and found a stray ginger cat, which he named Bob. Bowen took Bob to a veterinary surgery to treat an infected wound and eventually decided to take him in on a permanent basis. Since Bob seemed keen to accompany Bowen to work, he began bringing him along to his regular busking spots in Covent Garden and Piccadilly, which proved to be a popular move with the public. The pair's visibility increased further when Bowen began selling the Big Issue, and soon tourists were visiting Covent Garden to see them. Bowen credits Bob with helping him turn his life around and inspiring him to withdraw from methadone treatment.
Bowen's books, co-written with author Garry Jenkins, tell the story of his life with Bob and have sold over 250,000 copies, been translated into 22 languages, and spent over 45 weeks at the top of the Sunday Times' bestseller list in both hardback and paperback format. As of November 2012, two further books were in the works - a follow-up to A Street Cat Named Bob and a version of the book for children. Bowen now dedicates his time to helping numerous charities that involve homelessness, literacy, and animal welfare.