Susan Finden - Casper the Commuting Cat - The True Story of the Cat Who Rode the Bus and Stole Our Hearts

With a shaking hand and a lump in my throat, I rang Rob. ‘Hi Sue,’ he said, cheery as always, ‘what can I do for you today?’ The story poured out of me, as I asked him to tell Karen and the others. I could tell that he was in shock too, but he was practical and said he would let everyone know He urged me to take care of myself.

I settled back onto the sofa, without a clue as to what I should do next. I’d called the people who had been most involved in Casper’s public world. As I lay there, I knew that they would be telling others, while I faced the reality of life without him on my own.

The house was empty of Casper but today he wasn’t wandering, he wasn’t waiting on the bus, he wasn’t sitting under the hedge, watching dogs. He was gone and there was nothing I could do to bring him back. Every time I felt my mind wander, I tried to stop it. There was no benefit in thinking about how he’d looked when I picked him up from under the car, or lain him on the sofa, or saw him at the door, or left him with the vet. That was in the past and I would only hurt more if I dwelt on it.

As I sat there, alone and lost, I had no idea that the news of Casper’s death had had an immediate impact. Rob had put up a notice in the bus depot. It echoed those from earlier times, but today it contained a much sadder message.

CASPER THE CAT HAS DIED

I HAVE THIS MORNING BEEN MADE AWARE OF

THE SAD NEWS THAT CASPER THE CAT HAS

DIED. A CAR HIT HIM AND, UNFORTUNATELY,

BY THE TIME HIS OWNER GOT TO HIM

HIS INJURIES WERE NOT SURVIVABLE. HIS

OWNER, SUE, HAS ASKED ME TO PASS ON HER

HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO

LOOKED AFTER HIM WHEN ON THE BUS AND

EVERYONE WHO HAS ASKED AFTER HIM.

MANY THANKS – ROB

One driver, Jo, later told me that there was complete shock in the depot. People had got so used to Casper and his funny little ways; they considered him one of their own, and now he was gone. It was, of course, something that we’d all worried about ever since we’d found out about his habit of crossing the road and wandering about. As time had gone on, perhaps some of his friends had thought he was a remarkable cat in more ways than one; maybe he would avoid the inevitable and survive the traffic. I must confess that I’d never thought this way; I’d always worried, I’d always thought this day would come.

The hours passed slowly until Chris came home. I heard the car pull up outside and knew what he would be feeling – the absolute emptiness that Casper was not there to run to him. I fell into his arms with all the sadness of the day’s events pouring out of me. It felt so real. It felt so final.

CHAPTER 26

RIP Casper

Edd was true to his word. Within a few days, the story of Casper’s death was in the Plymouth Herald.

Celebrity cat killed in hit and run

A much-loved Barne Barton cat who made headlines around the world has died after being hit by a car.

Casper the commuting cat fast became a celebrity on Plymouth buses when he used to politely queue with the other passengers, before hopping aboard to travel around the city.

His owner says she’s devastated and doubts she’ll ever have a cat like Casper again.

Sue Finden said: ‘I never dreamt I’d miss an animal as much as I miss him. He was lovely and loved people so much – he was such a different character.’

She said she only found out about his death when a woman knocked on her door to tell her she’d seen Casper get hit by a car, but the driver hadn’t stopped.

She took Casper into the house but realized he’d already died.

‘If he’d been ill we might have prepared for it but it hasn’t helped us that the driver didn’t stop – we couldn’t believe it.’

Sue discovered Casper’s escapades when he followed her onto a bus and a First Devon and Cornwall bus driver said he travelled with them all the time.

The Plymouth puss featured on websites from England’s tabloids to the USA’s mystateline.com.

Headlines Casper enjoyed included ‘Stowaway Cat gets bus-ted’, in The Sun while The Press Association went with ‘Joyrider Casper given a puss pass’. He also appeared on a diverse range of other websites.

He proved a hit with drivers and customers alike, who always made sure he returned home safely.

Casper’s journey took him from just outside his house in Poole Park Road to the final stop at Royal Parade and back, via St Budeaux Square, HMS Drake , Keyham, Devonport and Stonehouse.

Mrs Finden added: ‘I thought it was only decent that I let the public know what had happened to him as he made so many friends and would turn up to the bus stop like clockwork.’

She posted a notice at Casper’s usual bus stop in Poole Park Road, saying: ‘Many local people knew Casper, who loved everyone. He also enjoyed the bus journeys.

‘Sadly a motorist hit him . . . and did not stop.

‘Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed . . . he was a much loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended him.’

Marc Reddy, Managing Director of First Devon and Cornwall, expressed the company’s sympathy for the friendly feline.

He said: ‘We were devastated to hear that Casper had been involved in an accident; he was a regular passenger on Service 3 in Plymouth and had become very well known across the business.

‘On hearing the news of his death, many of the drivers expressed sympathy for him and Susan, and we contacted her to offer our collective condolences.

‘Casper touched many people’s lives and clearly had a very exciting life – travelling around Plymouth and who knows where else. I suspect he’s now exploring heaven and is telling all the other cats up there about the many adventures he had.’

Casper was so popular that an image of him was emblazoned onto the side of a First Devon and Cornwall bus.

Mr Reddy said: ‘Casper’s image will remain on the bus for some time to come, and we hope that seeing it around town will give Susan some comfort.’

He added that Casper is also due to feature in a children’s TV programme later this year, detailing his exploits on the bus in the city.

‘His memory will live on, giving people pleasure, for a while yet,’ he added.

Mrs Finden said that Casper had been cremated at a local vet’s crematorium. She would like to thank the woman who let her know that Casper had been hit.

As Ed mentioned, I had decided to put up a notice in the bus shelter with a picture of Casper so that all his fellow passengers would know that he would no longer be taking any trips with them. I wrote:

Many local people knew Casper who loved everyone and his trips on the bus. Sadly, a motorist hit him at about 8.45a.m. on Thursday, 14 January, and did not stop. Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed by many, but especially by us, as he was a very much loved pet who had so much character Thank you to all who befriended him.

The news of Casper’s sad end was spreading quickly. Newspapers were picking up on Edd’s report and tributes started flooding into Facebook from all over the world after a Casper page was set up. It was staggering. There was such an outpouring of affection and grief. So many people were reaching out to me even though I had no idea who they were. I was extremely touched, but also very emotional every time I read the kind words.

Casper was a legend amongst felines across the globe. Truly wish I could have sat next to you on the bus. Deepest sympathies to your owner, your friends at First bus and everyone else’s heart you touched. I also hope the rotters who knocked you over and didn’t bother to stop and help are found and they get their just desserts. Sweet dreams little kitty.