Two Rescued Cats Have Been Living an Extraordinary Lifestyle, Traveling with Their Beloved Human
There's a lot to be delighted by when it comes to stories of cats being rescued and adopted; even the most basic details are a cause for triumphant celebration. In Japan, 10 million cats live in homes, but the number of stray cats is entirely unknown (except for Tokyo, which has 60,000 stray cats).
Every cat deserves a loving home, whatever that may look like, and not a single one deserves to be neglected or abused. And yet, every day, all over the world, animals have stories that must be told because they had to be rescued and adopted.
In Japan, Daisuke Nagasawa lives and works... and travels. Nagasawa has two cats, Daikichi and Fuku-Chan, who were abandoned as kittens before they found their forever home with him... but that's not all there is to this adorable family!
Daikichi and Fuku-Chan mean "Happy Kid" and "Lucky Boy" in Japanese.
Daisuke Nagasawa began traveling for work when he realized one day over a decade ago (in 2011) that he hated being away from his cats, and his cats hated being away from him.
Since neither party enjoyed being apart, but Nagasawa had to travel for work, he decided the obvious solution was to bring the kitties with him.
For over ten years now, Nagasawa, Daikichi, and Fuku-Chan have traveled to incredible places.
If you didn't know, Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, and Daikichi and Fuku-Chan have visited all 47 of them.
Living the dream? Daikichi and Fuku-Chan have toured Tokyo during cherry blossom season.
The cats have also been to some of Japan’s most iconic landmarks.
The adorable, furry duo has even visited Mount Fuji.
Nagasawa has done an incredible job documenting their journeys.
Not only has he shared their adventures on Instagram, but he's also published multiple photo books!
When Nagasawa first found Daikichi at a wildlife park, he was on the brink of death, trying to survive in harsh cold weather.
Fuku-Chan was found abandoned in a cardboard box.
Nagasawa took them from those humble, sad beginnings and brought them all over Japan... and even better, he shared their journeys with the world.
The cats sit in Nagasawa's backpack, get pushed in a stroller, and even walk on leashes as they travel.
Nagasawa describes his continued documentation of his time as if you were viewing the journey from a cat's perspective, as if it's the cat's diary.
The cats don't even like being inside; they love to explore.
Although, sadly, Daikichi passed away not long ago after battling cancer.
His family said that even when Daikichi was receiving cancer treatments, he was still "itching to go outside."
And for his last trip before he crossed the rainbow bridge, he climbed Mt. Sugio in Kouchi, Shizuoka Prefecture, "for relaxation."
Fuku-Chan still travels with his dad and still loves every minute of it, even if his brother is only with him in spirit.
Check out a few more pictures of the world's cutest traveling cats.
Here is where you can purchase a copy of one of Nagasawa's photo books.
You can also follow Nagasawa and Fuku-Chan on Instagram! As Dr. William Doherty, a family therapist, notes, "The companionship of pets can provide emotional support and enhance our relationships," highlighting the positive impact pets have on our lives. For further insights on the importance of pet companionship, visit his page on Psychology Today.
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