The Duchess of Cambridge made a furry new friend on Thursday night (Nov. 3). While attending the UK premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob, the royal made the acquaintance of one of the film's stars – Bob himself!

Attending the film in her capacity as patron for the charity Action on Addiction, the mother of two stroked the cat while chatting to his owner, James Bowen.

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"He's being very good," she said as the feline – who wore a red and black scarf for his red carpet debut – paid her no attention while looking distractedly at the cameras.

She then joked: "Is that purring or growling?" leading James, whose life with Bob inspired the bestselling novel and the film adaptation, to check the pet for himself, replying: "I'm not really sure if that's purring or growling," before putting a hand on Bob just in case.

Although Prince George and Princess Charlotte may still be a little too young for James's novel, Kate revealed that the pair love books, saying: "We are reading a lot to them."

Speaking to Hello! before meeting the Duchess, James opened up about what her attendance at the premiere meant to him.

"I haven't met her but I'm honoured that she's coming and that her charity has made themselves associated with our film," he said. "If it hadn't been for programs to help me get off drugs I certainly wouldn't be standing here doing these interviews today that's for sure."

He also opened up about how far he and Bob had come, saying: "It's amazing. Standing on a red carpet about a film about a part of my life, with my little man here, and he got to star as himself in the film. It's very surreal."

However, it sounds like Bob was quite the diva to work with on set, and his owner joked that his four-legged friend loved Dairylea Dunkers during filming.

"Dairylea Dunkers! Every crew member had Dairylea Dunkers in their pockets because Bob liked the cream cheese," he revealed. "He had to go on a diet afterwards."