Rescue cat Willow tours Australia with her dad in their van

After a painful break up, Rich decided to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure all by himself. He chose to leave his ‘ordinary’ life behind to hit the road…alone!

But, after selling all his possessions, including his house, Rich simply couldn’t bear to say goodbye to his furry friend Willow so he decided to bring her along.

“I made a promise to look after her when I adopted her and I wasn’t going back on it, just because I was looking for something else in life.” Rich said.

They’ve sailed the Great Barrier Reef, enjoyed the summer at the Dorrigo Plateau Mountain Range and travelled a 1,000 km gravel road from Bourketown in Queensland, all the way up to Northern Territory.

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It was quite an ambitious expedition but apparently Willow is so chilled out and easy going that the pair have been purrfect companions throughout the whole trip.

When the two best pals aren’t chillin’ in the van, they’re most likely exploring the Australian wilderness.

Rich has a leash for walks they do together and radio frequency collar fitted to her too. So even if Willow decides she wants some alone time, he can always find her.

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Generally though, he says it’s unusual for Willow to wander more than 100 meters from the van. “We have an unspoken agreement, she knows I’ll never leave without her and I know she will always return.”

When driving, Willow has to ride in the back in a special cat carrier. Much as Rich wishes she could ride up the front with him it’s simply not safe.

Rich went on to say: “It’s funny how well cats adapt to travelling, they just do their own thing which has meant we’ve been able to share so many experiences, yet have alone time. We’ve loved it so much, we’re even thinking of doing a second lap as a way of encouraging others to travel with their furry friends.”

Having completed their loop of Australia, there’s no sign of these two halting their travels anytime soon. Rich says: “I document our road trip on social media. I love hearing that our travels brighten up someone’s day.”

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