The pet the inspired the book series and film A Street Cat Named Bob died at age 14.

James Bowen, a recovering drug addict, first met Bob in 2007 when he found him injured and abandoned.

He first checked if Bob did not belong to other residents before taking him in, and he continued to look for his owner.

Bob, however, continued to follow James around before Bowen decided he will look after him.

The cat in turn gave Bowen a reason to get up each morning, and the two quickly became inseparable, playing music and selling The Big Issue on the streets of London.

Bowen eventually wrote a book about their relationship, which became a bestseller and made into a film released in 2016 – starring Luke Treadaway as Bowen and Bob as himself.

They will appear in a sequel, “A Gift from Bob”, later this year.

Hodder & Stoughton, the publisher of the bestseller in 2012, confirmed Bob’s death in a heartbreaking statement.

It read: “Hodder & Stoughton and James Bowen are saddened to announce the death of Bob the cat on 15 June at the age of at least 14 years. ”

“As James and Bob continued to find fans all over the world, Bob led an incredible life meeting well-wishers at book signings, travelling the world and coping with feline fame. He was an extraordinary cat who will be greatly missed.”

Bowen said, “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,” he added. “The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous.”

He continued by saying that the cat met thousands of people and touched millions of lives, and there will never be a cat like Bob.