Bobby the campus cat: the cat who stole Leiden Science’s heart
A small cat with a big personality has captured the hearts of students and staff at the Faculty of Science. The black-and-white Bobby even has his own Instagram fan account. Who are the people behind Bobby ‘the astrocat’? ‘He helps connecting people on campus.’
Walking in or out the Gorlaeus Building, you have probably spotted him over the last eight months. Bobby, a seemingly ordinary cat, likes to hang out at our campus, and receives love and cuddles as if he were our own pet. Fans share their Bobby moments on social media, and the Instagram account @bobby_the_astrocat happily shares them with other fans. Who are behind this account? And what is their Bobby story?
How Bobby first captured the hearts of Leiden Science staff
Bobby’s campus journey began in May of last year, when Leiden Observatory postdoc Franciele Kruczkiewicz first spotted him near the bike parking. ‘I immediately thought he was so cute,’ Franciele recalls.
Initially, people were concerned about Bobby’s well-being. Colleagues wondered if he had been abandoned or wasn’t eating properly. Franciele took the initiative to bring him to the vet. However, Bobby was nowhere to be seen. To track him down, she put up posters around campus asking anyone who saw him to get in touch. ‘People sent photos almost immediately. Everyone wanted to help.’
The day Bobby’s true story was revealed
Finally, Franciele found Bobby again. At the vet, the truth came out: Bobby had a family living nearby. ‘I had been calling him Kiki,’ Franciele laughs, ‘but his real name is Bobby.’ The vet contacted his family, and Bobby returned home—but his campus adventures were far from over.
Bobby the Instagram star
Inspired by the community’s excitement, her colleague Łukasz Tychoniec suggested an Instagram account. ‘We wanted to stay connected with him,’ he says. The account quickly gained followers after the Leiden Science Instagram account shared a post. Soon, people started bringing him gifts, including snacks, toys, and even a cozy little house to lounge in. ‘One student even made an app as part of a computer science assignment,’ Franciele explains. ‘You could virtually dress Bobby up with accessories, hats, and little outfits.’
Don’t feed Bobby
Despite his popularity, Franciele and Lukasz stress that Bobby should not be fed by campus visitors. ‘He has a family and a routine,’ Franciele says. ‘It’s important he keeps a reason to go back home. Feeding him here might be tempting, but it’s not good for him.’ In addition, food attracts pests. For this reason, it is removed when present.
‘He’s sometimes like an emotional support cat,’ Łukasz says. ‘He connects people who might never have spoken otherwise.’ Franciele agrees: ‘Bobby shares joy not only with me, but with everyone at the faculty. He brings people together.’
The continuing adventures of Bobby
Today, Bobby still roams campus freely, receiving cuddles from campus visitors. ‘Sometimes I just pet him before starting my day,’ Franciele adds. ‘And someone walks by, sees him, and we share a smile. It’s really nice.’
The story began with Franciele wanting a cat for herself, and now she has two at home - including one named Kiki. Through everyday sightings at campus, Bobby has become more than just a cat. ‘He’s a symbol of community and connection – a real Leiden Science cat.’