Pet Life Magazine, New Zealand Pet Life Magazine Issue 6 Autumn 2018 | Page 12

BRUCE’S STORY HAS A HAPPY ENDING When you have over 38,000 fans all around the world you warrant your own story book. Bruce the Cat became an internet sensation after his story of survival was documented on Facebook by his owner, writer Kathryn van Beek. Kathryn had found him, 1 day old with his umbilical cord still attached, soaking wet on the footpath in Auckland and took him home to raise him as her own. “Once I realised I was taking him home with me I would have done anything for him,” says the animal lover, who already had one rescue cat. Last month, Kathryn launched her first children’s book, Bruce Finds a Home, which is loosely based on the story of how Bruce, named after the orphan Bruce Wayne, was found. “He had a big audience, it would have been a shame not to do anything,” says Kathryn, from her home in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, where she and Bruce now live. “He just really fit being a kid’s story.” Kathryn says she had initially made a Facebook page for Bruce Bruce Finds A Home is av ailable from brucethecat. co.nz and al Bruce Finds A Home so her friends could see how he was doing. “He was quite poorly and it really was touch and go. It was really hard looking after him. Thank goodness they grow up quickly. It’s like looking after a baby, regularly feeding and a surprising amount of washing.” Kathryn says it was a complete shock to her that Bruce became famous. “I guess you don’t really choose what goes viral. Because I worked in communications in Auckland and had friends who were friends with people in the media he ended up on the front page of The Herald and then on to international websites Love Meow and The Dodo. So he has a lot of fans from all over the world. “I honestly didn’t know whether he would survive, and once he was okay I thought the interest would go away but then he changed colour, from grey to black.” As a newborn, Bruce had what is called a “fever coat”, due to his mum being poorly when she was pregnant. “There had been a lot of speculation on social media that he was a British Blue or a Siamese but, nah, he was just a black cat. But he keeps picking up fans every day.” l good bookst ores. WIN! Author: Kathryn van Beek (RRP $20 NZD) Bruce Finds A Home is an illustrated children’s book loosely based on the story of how Bruce was found. In the book a girl called Kate is walking home from school when she finds a kitten. She has to figure out where his home is and get him to safety before a thunderstorm drenches both of them. Pet Life has one copy of Bruce Finds A Home to give away. Email [email protected] with Bruce in the subject line and include your name and address to be in the draw. Competition closes 31 May 2018, with winners details published in our winter issue.