Prison (but with cats)

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When he stepped outside the next morning and found the cat still sitting there, he took a closer look. Scrawny and covered with scratches, he was compelled to help, spending his last £20 at the local veterinary clinic.

This was a significant moment for James, because his sole income came from busking at Covent Garden—and even then, he could only buy food with whatever meager money was left over after supporting his heroin habit. 

The pair soon became inseparable, with the stray following James everywhere he went, even hopping the bus to Covent Garden with guitar in tow.

Before they met, the stray cat had nowhere else to go, and the stray musician had nothing to live for. Together, they formed a bond, much like a chemical reaction—a meeting of two personalities that left both forever changed.

Perhaps Bob sensed the pain and sorrow, and that’s why he planted himself on James' doorstep—to lend a helping hand (or paw, as the case may be). And perhaps that’s why James named his new feline friend Bob, after the interdimensional entity who feeds on the pain and sorrow of others—a fictional character from the television show Twin Peaks. But instead of adding to the pain and sorrow, this real-life Bob helped James realize there was more to life.

Much, much more.

Because by the spring of 2007, James decided he wanted to take better care of himself so he could better take care of Bob, so he finally put down the heroin and completed  a methadone program.

“When I was using drugs, the only thing you care about is yourself and where your next bit of drugs are coming from,” James recalled in an interview about his relationship with Bob. “But when I found him, and he was injured and he asked me for help, I had to think about someone other than myself.”

Photo by Dwayne Senior

Do, Love & Hope
It’s been said that to live a happy life, we need only three things: Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. Bob gave James the first two, and in so doing, gave James hope for a brighter future for himself.

Aside from the new lease on life, James also become a published author, writing nine books about his experience with Bob, including A Street Cat Named Bob, which in 2016 was turned into a movie starring Bob as himself.

And it’s not just James who is getting a second chance at life. Inmates at Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison outside of Indianapolis, spend their days caring for homeless cats.

Proponents of the program say the initiative helps inmates gain skills such as empathy, responsibility, and self-esteem, helping to significantly improve recidivism rates, because the skills gained in the program helps them better manage their lives upon release.

As for the inmates, they say it gives them a reason to get up in the morning.

“These cats need somebody like I need them,” says Joseph Coleman, a cat caretaker in prison for homicide. “I need them just as much as they need me…When I'm in here with the cats, I’m not thinking about out there.” 

As for the cats themselves, it’s a chance to experience loving care.

Before coming to Pendleton, many had been abandoned on the streets or come from abusive households. In a traditional shelter, they would be cooped up in a cage, but in this prison, they are free to roam the indoor cat sanctuary—including towers and scratching posts—and interact with people on a regular basis, helping to socialize them and increase their chances of adoption. 

“I feel that we’ve already took enough from society,” said Anthony LaRussa, one of the inmates taking responsibility for the cats. “When we’re able to come to a program like this, we’re able to give back—and not for just us, but for the animals.”

When inmates at Pendleton were given something meaningful to do, they also found something to love, and their relationships with the cats gave them hope for a brighter future—even after they had long given up on themselves. 

Some cats came to the sanctuary from particularly troubled pasts and have been a challenge to care for, but for inmates like Anthony, he takes personal responsibility for letting them know they’re cared for so they won’t give up. “A lot of us have gave up in life, me included,” he admitted. “With them, I just don’t want to give up.” 

On the other side of the prison walls (and on the other side of the pond), when he talks about his new-found hope in sobriety, James says, “I believe it came down to this little man. He came and asked me for help and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body. He is what I wake up for every day now. He’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life.”​
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Reflection
To live a happy life, we need only three things: Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. If lately your heart has felt empty, consider what might be missing:

1. Do you have something meaningful to do? If not, what project might you undertake? The best projects are ones that take a lifetime to complete—because it’s the process itself that brings joy.

2. Do you have someone to love? Whether it’s the love of a partner, a family member, a friend, or a pet, consider which of The Five Love Languages you can use to demonstrate that love: words, time, gifts, acts, or touch.

3. Do you have something to hope for? If not, what short-term and long-term plans might you create for yourself? Challenge yourself every day to come up with an answer to this question: “What are you looking forward to?”

Your Next Step
As a storyteller, magician, musician, and facilitator of fascination, my mission is to help you, your team, and your community experience abiding joy—at work, home, and wherever life takes you.

When we work together, we complete a process that starts with engagement and empowerment (for knowledge and skill building), and concludes with encouragement (by providing resources, support, and opportunities) to create results by design.

To get started, connect with me today to discuss your challenges, goals, and obstacles.

With Joy --
Jonas

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• Book me to speak with your group.