A commuting cat that was mourned around the world after being killed by a hit-and-run driver eight days ago is to be immortalised in print.

Casper became an international celebrity last year after it was revealed that he regularly caught the No 3 bus from his home in Plymouth for the 11-mile (18km) round trip into the city centre. The 12-year-old black and white cat would queue patiently with other commuters and, if there was a spare seat on the bus, would curl up and fall asleep.

Casper, who had been making the journey for several years, was killed by a car last week. Wellwishers from as far afield as Argentina, Italy, Australia and Indonesia sent messages of sympathy to his owner, Sue Finden.

Now Casper’s story has caught the eye of the New York publishers Simon and Schuster, which intends to publish a book telling his life story.

//

Nigel Stoneman, one of the firm’s commissioning editors, travelled to Plymouth this week for three hours of talks with Mrs Finden.

He said that the book would be aimed at adults and children, would include photographs of Casper and was due for release in the autumn. A Scottish author has been lined up to write the story but he declined to reveal her name while negotiations continue.

If the first book is successful the story will be turned into a children’s book next year. Mr Stoneman said that he had been touched by Casper’s tale since hearing of his adventures last year. “It is amazing and very heartwarming,” he said. “It is a lovely story, especially with all the doom and gloom at the moment.

“The story is so fantastic and it will be beautifully told, bringing in all the people who were critical along Casper’s path. It is amazing how a local story can strike a chord with people all over the world.”

Mrs Finden adopted Casper from a cat rescue shelter in 2002. She called him after the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost because of his habit of wandering off.

She said: “It is incredible there has been this level of interest in Casper but it is wonderful. It is just sad that I had to lose him for it to really take off.”

No one is saying how much money has been offered for Casper’s story but Mrs Finden insists that she does not want to profit from her pet’s death and will donate any proceeds to charity.

A giant photograph of Casper and Mrs Finden has been put on the side of one of bus company First’s buses in Plymouth.

Mrs Finden added: “I want to send my deepest thanks to everyone who has got in touch. We have been really touched by all the letters and cards we have received from strangers.

“We won’t ever be able to bring Casper back, and I still find it hard that he has gone, but it is lovely to think he will go on in memories and that, with this book, his story will live on for ever.

“I cannot wait to see it and, at the end of it all, the money the book makes will help other unfortunate creatures like Casper.”

Simon and Schuster is one of the four largest English language publishers in the world. Its authors include Michael Moore and Stephen King.