Dean Nicholson first found Nala while traveling in Bosnia. The former welder decided to quit his job and dedicate his life to seeing the world. And up until that point, he was doing it alone. But when the sad-looking stray kitten climbed up his bike and fell asleep, he started a brand new journey with a brand new best friend. He named her Nala, and they’ve spent the last two years touring 21 different countries.
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While Nicholson initially worried he would spook the frightened kitten or she would simply decide to wander away, Nala seemed to know exactly what she wanted. Nicholson said they “bonded straight away,” and Nala never looked back on her old life. She trusted her newfound human to not only take care of her, but to show her an amazing, one-of-a-kind type of life.
Now an inseparable pair, Nala accompanies Nicholson on all his travels. They’ve been to Austria, Romania, Slovakia, and several other countries. They mostly travel by bike, sleep in a tent, and tour the most beautiful places in the world. Nala sits comfortably in a basket on the front of the bike and tends to snooze while traveling from place to place. She has her own passport, and thanks to her adventurous lifestyle, she is reportedly the second-most travelled cat in the world. She’s been to more countries and has seen more of the world than most humans, and she does it all with her best friend by her side.
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You can’t travel with your cat without taking tons of pictures, and pictures of Nala and her human are fan favorites on social media. They have their own Instagram with 860k followers, and the pair has also been featured on news sites and television shows. Nicholson says traveling with Nala is the perfect break from the 9-5 grind he used to endure.
With his cat by his side, people are always willing to start a conversation or even buy him a beer. He says that with his tattoos and beard, Nala makes him look more approachable. Together they meet people from all over the world and experience different cultures.
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COVID-19 has made traveling more complicated, but Nala and Nicholson are still enjoying life on the road. Their future plans include trips to Greece, Russia, and Thailand. They continue to document their life on social media, and Nicholson has even published a book entitled Nala’s World.
To make their story even sweeter, Nala has inspired Nicholson to donate to cat shelters. He announces his daily donation recipients on Instagram and is helping cats from all over the world live their lives to the fullest—just like Nala.
Don’t forget to follow Nala and Nicholson on Instagram!
