Casper The Commuting Cat: The True Story Of The Cat Who Rode The Bus And Stole Our Hearts

During the Civil War, St Budeaux and the surrounding villages swore their allegiance to the Parliamentarian cause and the church was attacked by the forces of Royalist Cornwall and used as a garrison. It was almost destroyed by the end of the war, and not fully rebuilt for many years.

As time went on, the parish grew in size. Growth increased with the construction of the Royal Albert Bridge and the development of roads throughout the nineteenth century. In 1899 St Budeaux combined with the town of Devonport, and by the start of the First World War it was amalgamated into the city of Plymouth. The Second World War resulted in many homes being bombed, and, once this period had ended, there was a huge rebuilding programme. There are many ex-forces houses in the area. St Budeaux is typical of many places in England – a mixture of housing, local shops, schools and community centres. It is very ordinary and very normal.

I think that is why so many people have been drawn to Casper. Had he been a grand cat from some posh country estate, or a pedigree cat who was groomed and pampered to within an inch of his life, would there have been so much interest? I don’t think so. Casper was everyone’s cat. He was an ordinary little moggy loved and beautiful, but the sort of boy who reminded people of their own cats. I like to think that, as they read or heard Casper’s story, they looked at their own pets and wondered what they got up to. Or perhaps they wondered where Tiddles was when they were laughing about Casper’s bus ride, then suddenly realized that maybe Tiddles was up to the very same thing.

Casper was an extraordinary cat, while at the same time he was a very ordinary one. His adventures made people smile, and they were a novelty, but they were also not so far-fetched that others couldn’t imagine their own cats getting up to similar naughtiness. This, I believe, was Casper’s charm. Everyone could love him, and everyone could remember their own cats – past or present – getting up to all sorts just like him.

As I settled into the new house in Poole Park Road, all of this was ahead of me – and him. I had no way of knowing that bringing Casper to Plymouth was going to be a match made in heaven and that Plymouth would take Casper to its heart. I unpacked boxes, kept an eye on the cats, met new neighbours and had no idea what was around the corner.

I managed to get a job working in a nursing home with elderly people. I still couldn’t drive but luckily there was a bus stop directly opposite our new house. I noticed that Casper was all too keen on crossing the busy road, but there was only so much I could do about it. If I had a day off, I would try to keep an eye on him and make sure he was close to me, but on the days I worked, he was left to his own devices. Given that I was never able to keep him in against his wishes, there wasn’t much I could do to force him to stay indoors all day, but I did usually try to get him in before I left.

I’ve always kept up a running commentary with my cats and I would give Casper rules every day in the hope that he might finally pay attention to them. Now, Cassie,’ I would chide, ‘that’s a very busy road out there and it’s also very new to you. I don’t want you going out there at all, but I know that you’re going to ignore me, so I hope that at least you’ll try to be safe. Look out for traffic, and only go across when it’s all quiet.’

He always had a way of looking at me as if I were quite ridiculous – not to be talking to a cat, but to be considering that he might follow my instructions. He was a cat of leisure and a cat who wandered where he pleased. Why on earth would he be restricted because that was my preference? Still, I persevered with my words of warning in the hope that one day he would take pity on me and do as he was told.

One day in the summer of 2009, I was running a little late. Things had taken longer than usual that morning and everything had resulted in me being in rather a hurry. I gathered my things together and prepared to rush off to work. I knew that my bus was due, but I couldn’t get Casper indoors. ‘Casper! Casper!’ I shouted outside, knowing full well that he was darting under bushes and shrubs every time I looked for him ‘Come here, now!’ I was getting more and more desperate for him to come in, as I was worried that, should he see me leave, he would follow me.