Going on vacation with your cat seems like a dream for some. For American TikTokker Dan Nguyen, it is reality. For two years he has been out and about with his three four-legged friends. He trained them to become full-fledged travel buddies and now shares his tips with us. “A lot of hotels allow it.”
Two years ago, New York lawyer Dan Nguyen decided to travel the world with his partner and their three cats: Sponge Cake, Donut and Mocha.
Since then, Dan, and more specifically his cats, have been wildly popular on social media. The family entertains a whopping 890,500 followers TikTok and 716,000 followers Instagram.
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Dance cats really enjoy exploring the outside world. “I cherish their curiosity”
We snagged Dan for an interview. “When I first took my cats to Central Park, I noticed they were curious about the outside world,” he says. “I wanted to nurture their curiosity and spend more time with them in the outside world, so I decided to train them.”
“Sponge Cake was the first to act. When he was about five months old, I took regular walks with him in New York City. Then I did the same with Mocha and Donut. After a few months they were already traveling from NYC to Orlando.”
Our cats travel in their carrier bags
Dan Nguyen
“As time went by, it became clear that they liked to explore new environments. Donut begged at the door practically every day to go out. Two years ago, my wife and I decided to take them on all trips. This way they discover new places and we should not miss them. We now go on holiday about every six months and take them with us. In the weekends we also walk around NYC, of course.”
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This way your cat also becomes an adventurer. “Start with treats”
How does the couple approach this practically? “Our cats travel in their carrier bags. Because we have trained them well, we don’t have to give them any sleeping medication. During the flight or train journey, they are always calm and sleep almost all the time. If they get the chance to look out the window, their heads will come out.”
If you want to train your cat to be an adventurous daredevil yourself, a positive mindset is the key to success, according to Dan. He dedicated a book to it: ‘Adventure Cats: How to Train Your Cat for Outdoor Adventures’. “I used treats to get my cats to associate the outdoor environment with something positive. However, every cat is different. It is important that you listen to your cat and train him at his own pace.”
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Cats’ favorite destination? “Venice”
In the meantime, the five have already visited a lot of countries and cities. “In Europe we have already visited Paris, Venice, Milan, London, Amsterdam and Brussels. In the United States, we can tick off Orlando and San Francisco. What was our cats’ favorite place? Then I must say Venice. They were very curious about the many canals in the city.” (laughs)
In terms of accommodation, according to the couple, it is not at all difficult to find pet-friendly accommodations. “There are many hotels that allow pets. Usually the pet policy is also on the website.”
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Do you also want to take your cat for a walk while travelling? Veterinarian Joshua Dutré explains how to do that in this piece.
For more information: beestig.be
Read also:
More and more Belgians are making ‘dogwalking’ their profession. “I get 40 euros per day, per dog”
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2023-07-15 14:04:25
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