Bentley, the beloved cat of Bondi, has become a familiar sight around the area, often spotted lounging on the local bottle-o counter or wandering the aisles of Woolworths. His adventures have even led him into the homes of unsuspecting locals, making him a well-known figure in Bondi.
This adventurous feline has developed quite the wanderlust, frequently appearing on the Bondi Local Loop Facebook page, much to the delight and confusion of Sydney residents.
Local residents are often surprised when Bentley turns up uninvited, either curling up somewhere cozy in their homes or simply stopping by for a visit.
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Bentley, a pale ginger and white cat, simply loves to explore, as noted by his owner, Elaine Moynan.
Despite her efforts to keep him indoors, Bentley has a mind of his own. “I’ve tried to keep him in, but it’s impossible,” Moynan confessed.
The Moynan family adopted Bentley when he was just six weeks old, nearly nine years ago, after he was discovered wandering in her boss’s daughter’s apartment building.
While initially intended to be an indoor cat, Bentley’s life changed when he was taken into the garden by the Moynan’s three daughters, sparking his adventurous spirit.
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Known locally as the Blair Street cat, Bentley’s escapades have taken him to various parts of Bondi.
“He just wanders around,” Moynan explains, noting his unique ability to follow people. “I sometimes wonder if he’s part dog. He’s hilarious, and then he returns to lounge on my younger daughter’s bed.”
On one occasion, Bentley even accompanied a Bondi Rescue Lifeguard, Harries, home.
Another surprising moment occurred when Moynan was at the gym and received a message from a woman saying, “Bentley is at my house,” located two kilometers away in Dover Heights. Upon arriving, she found her adventurous cat comfortably resting on the sofa.
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It’s evident that Bentley has no reservations about making himself at home in various places. One Facebook post humorously noted, “This cat came into BWS a while ago and hasn’t left. Does anyone own it?”
Another local remarked, “We have inadvertently adopted someone’s cat tonight! They’re currently sitting on our armchair watching Ash Barty.” Yet another shared, “Found this big white cat literally outside my door at 1:30 PM. Seems to love me. It’s now asleep in the only sunny spot in my flat.”
In the comments, other locals joyfully identified the furry interloper as Bentley.
However, Bentley has had his share of close calls. A few years back, Moynan feared the worst when he went missing for months. She had resigned herself to the possibility that he might have been in an accident.
To her surprise, Bentley turned up over an hour away, with a call from the Hawkesbury Pound informing her, “Have you left Bondi? Because we have your cat.” Moynan suspects he may have been stolen before managing to escape.
On another occasion, he went missing for five months, only to be found at Camperdown vets, looking like he had been living on the streets.
“He had cuts everywhere and was really anxious,” Moynan recalled. While she thought Bentley had finally learned his lesson, he proved her wrong.
Although Moynan has considered attaching an Apple Airtag to him for tracking, keeping collars on him has been a challenge. “I buy Kmart collars in bulk,” she noted, acknowledging Bentley’s knack for adventure.
