Danny Murphy reveals Bob the Cat 'went feral' and died after Royal Mail van disappearance

Danny Murphy has finally revealed the fate of Bob the Cat, the beloved pet whose disappearance into the back of a Royal Mail van became one of the most talked-about side stories of the 2026 World Cup.

The former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder, working as a co-commentator for the BBC throughout the tournament, first dropped the unexpected anecdote during Norway’s round-of-32 victory over Ivory Coast. His deadpan delivery — “I used to have a cat called Bob. Yeah, he jumped in the back of a Royal Mail van, and we lost him” — was met with stunned silence from broadcast partner Steve Bower but sparked an immediate and widespread reaction across the football world.

When the pair were reunited on the microphone for Spain’s victory over Austria, Bower wasted little time in pressing for a resolution. “Just very quickly, because our fans haven’t stopped since our last commentary,” he said. “When you told the story about your cat, Bob.”

Murphy obliged with the full story. “Surprisingly, Steve, there has been a lot of interest which has surprised us both,” he said. “He didn’t actually die — we did get him back six or seven weeks later. Unfortunately he’d gone feral and we couldn’t re-integrate him into the home. He ended up living with my friend’s parents in Preston. That was the life he had. He passed away unfortunately many years ago. Thanks for all of your concern, those who have been messaging us.”

Bower provided a suitably dry epitaph: “R.I.P. Bob. Who passed away. Seemingly this week, a national tragedy.”

The closing of the Bob the Cat chapter appeared to do little to dampen the mood inside the stadium. Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal shortly after, with Pedro Porro doubling the advantage before Oyarzabal added a second in the 89th minute to seal a commanding win for Luis de la Fuente’s side.