A cat dad goes viral for taking his 3 pets on dreamy journeys around the globe

• Cat dad Dan Nguyen has long past viral sharing his travels together with his 3 cats on Instagram and TikTok.
• His spouse Olivia is at the back of the digicam, taking pictures their adventures throughout The united states and Europe.
• Sponge Cake, Mocha, and Donut started as indoor cats however have been “incrementally” skilled to trip.

New York Town-based legal professional Dan Nguyen has just about part 1,000,000 other folks following his adventure as he travels the sector together with his cats.

Dan Nguyen and his spouse Olivia Nguyen run a well-liked Instagram account @spongecake_thescottishfold, which has over 314,000 fans, in addition to the TikTok web page @spongecake_cats, which has 199,000 fans as of Friday.

Each record their 3 cats as they discover the sector — Venice, Paris, Milan, and extra — from the relaxation of Dan’s trip backpack.

Olivia began the social-media accounts in November 2021, because the circle of relatives launched into their first global go back and forth to Paris. The second one video she posted in November confirmed Dan hugging Sponge Cake with a view of the Eiffel Tower within the background. The video gained over 192,200 perspectives and 16,900 likes.

Chatting with Insider, Dan mentioned he and Olivia were given Sponge Cake and Mocha, two Scottish Fold cats, and Donut, a British Shorthair, in the summertime of 2020. With slow coaching, the indoor cats — who Dan calls his “pandemic small children” — have grown aware of the outdoor international, consistent with their homeowners.

Sponge Cake, Mocha, and Donut have distinct personalities, however all of them love exploring, Dan says.

Dan mentioned Sponge Cake is “an overly adventurous man who loves to discover” and is “very connected” to him and Olivia, while Mocha is “an overly candy boy who’s all the time calm” and enjoys walks on 5th Street. Remaining however no longer least there may be Donut, the ultimate cat to enroll in the circle of relatives. Dan advised Insider that Donut used to be hesitant to move outdoor in the beginning however is now the largest fan of the outside.

Olivia began social-media accounts for his or her cat trio simply as Dan began coaching them for trip by way of taking them to native locations like Central Park. Over the years, their journeys turned into extra adventurous and their on-line following grew.

Tale continues

In keeping with Dan, who wrote “Journey Cats: Learn how to Educate Your Cat for Outside Adventures,” a e book printed in July outlining his procedure of coaching indoor cats to move outdoor, it is best to show them “incrementally” with numerous treats, delicate petting, and encouragement.

To these hoping to emulate Dan and Olivia’s good fortune, their recommendation is to get your cat to believe you and really feel protected with you.

Dan mentioned he and Olivia merely do not wish to trip with out their cats, although it calls for extra group.

Their first out-of-state journey used to be a go back and forth thru Orlando, San Francisco, and Sacramento in 2021, Dan mentioned. Dan’s reason why for bringing the cats used to be easy: “We needed them to be with us.”

The go back and forth gave them the boldness to move in another country for the primary time that November to Paris, which Dan mentioned the cats specifically loved.

Since then, they have long past directly to discover Venice and Milan, and Dan mentioned they’re aiming to talk over with Switzerland within the fall.

However taking Sponge Cake, Mocha, and Donut in another country isn’t any stroll within the park as maximum international locations have other regulations about touring with cats, he mentioned.

Dan mentioned getting certifications from their vet for sure airways used to be useful, and far sooner than the long procedure of having qualified by way of the United States Meals and Drug Management.

This supposed he and Olivia may merely verify in with the vet to ensure their pets are protected to fly and feature the proper vaccinations previous to touring. If you happen to plan on touring together with your puppy, you’ll be able to seek for your vacation spot on the US Division of Agriculture’s web site to seek out essentially the most up-to-date necessities.

Whilst some airways require passengers to place their animals within the dangle, Dan and Olivia’s cats are usually sufficiently small to move within the cabin.

Dan and Olivia favor to not put their cats within the dangle when flying, as a substitute opting to take them into the cabin with them. For pets that weigh beneath 10 kg, or round 22 kilos, Dan says you’ll be able to take them in carriers that qualify as hand baggage and have compatibility them beneath the seat in entrance of you. He added that the cats sleep of their carriers on every occasion they’re drained all over lengthy flights.

As Sponge Cake, Mocha, and Donut outnumber their folks, occasionally Dan and Olivia want to e book an additional price tag, however no longer all airways permit them to try this. “From time to time, once I sought after to shop for a 3rd price tag and an empty passenger seat, it isn’t allowed,” Dan advised Insider, noting that they simply allowed one puppy according to human passenger and would not permit them to shop for a price tag for an empty seat.

The day sooner than a flight, the couple additionally units apart one complete check-in suitcase for the cats. “In it’s disposable clutter bins and slightly little bit of clutter, rainy and dry meals, after which all their toys, and scratching posts,” Dan mentioned, including that he and Olivia all the time attempt to re-create their house atmosphere on the vacation spot.

The globe-trotting cats do not simply draw in consideration on-line as individuals who come across them in the street are similarly attracted to them.

“We get numerous laughs, numerous smiles, and numerous interest. We get numerous other folks coming as much as us and in need of to mention hi to them, which is all the time amusing,” Dan mentioned, noting that folks incessantly ask how he were given the cats to be so at ease outdoor in busy areas.

Again house in New York Town, Dan mentioned the cats incessantly experience spending time in Central Park or Occasions Sq., or out of doors eating with their folks. He added that he and Olivia are cautious of no longer overwhelming their pets with consideration from passersby however cat fanatics will nonetheless come as much as them and take pictures.

The cats are identified for his or her sublime outfits together with comfy sweaters and Olivia’s home made colourful neckties.

Olivia makes the cats’ tradition bow ties and in addition purchases knitted pastel sweaters for them to put on.

“All of the bow ties and the ribbons that you just see are customized by way of my spouse,” Dan mentioned, noting that Olivia clothes them up for “amusing and pictures.”

He added that Olivia’s designs are fragile and wish particular remedy once they trip. “She in fact does no longer put the bow ties and stuff into the suitcase as a result of they are too treasured to her and they are so subtle, so she in fact carries them available in a field,” Dan mentioned, giggling.

Dan mentioned he and Olivia have discovered an excellent few issues from the adventures they have shared with their cats.

A couple of issues Dan mentioned he has discovered about touring with cats come with simply how lengthy it takes for them to cross safety tests, which may also be further tricky if they are not happy with the method. He additionally mentioned you have to analysis pet-friendly motels to your vacation spot and to do further making plans to create a pet-inclusive itinerary.

Whilst the Nguyens have by no means misplaced observe in their cats, Dan mentioned it may be a problem once they climb timber. Considered one of his perfect guidelines for the ones bringing their cats to city areas is not to allow them to climb upper than you’ll be able to achieve, he mentioned.

“Every now and then, considered one of them is going too top,” Dan mentioned. “Then we need to gently wait them out. I put my backpack with the highest down and I dangle it as much as them and in the end, they’re going to soar into the backpack.”

After boating in Lake Como and prancing outdoor Paris’ Louvre Museum, it is protected to mention no prohibit to how a ways those cats will move.

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