Mogli may have started life as an orphan on the streets of Morocco, but less than a year later, the brave cat is giving the phrase “adventure cat” a whole new meaning.
After traveling across more than a dozen nations with her father, 32-year-old Martin Klauka of Rosenheim, Germany, largely in the tank bag of his Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin bike, the small cat is now astonishingly well-traveled. And her father still has a ton of far-flung locations he wants to cross off their shared bucket list.
Klauka never anticipated adopting a kitten. His dream of a more nomadic lifestyle seemed at odds with animal ownership. But on a bike trip with some friends through Morocco in March of last year, Mogli found him, and wouldn’t let him go.
“We were sitting in the streets of a small town when a little malnourished cat with an injured tail approached us,” Klauka told. “I called to her and she instantly came over, laid down in my arms and fell asleep. Locals who had seen her before told me that her mum got hit by a car and that she, being too young and weak to fend for herself, would most likely die in the streets.”
When Klauka realized the little black and white kitten was too exhausted to even lift her head, he knew he couldn’t abandon her. Though some people mocked him for touching a dirty flea-ridden street cat, Klauka carried her around for the rest of the evening, smuggling her into his hotel room for at least one night’s respite from the elements.
He was aware that adopting an animal, particularly one so young and defenseless, would involve a great deal of responsibility; he was still unsure of whether he wanted to accept it. He then made the decision that he would decide in the morning.
In spite of my doubts, I had already fallen in love with that tiny rugrat when I woke up, so I decided to put her on the motorcycle to see how she would handle it, according to Klauka. It was either going to be that or virtually certain death on the streets, I reasoned, “‘It’s obviously not the ideal environment for a cat.
Klauka left his job in July 2017 and went on an epic road journey in the latter part of August. He traveled through ten nations, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with Mogli by his side, and eventually arrived in Dubai in December.
Klauka and Mogli immediately established a pattern while traveling. Mogli travels in safety in Klauka’s backpack on the front of his bike, occasionally popping her head out to take in the surroundings or meowing in complaint if he chooses to take a rocky dirt road instead of the smooth road.
In busy public places, Mogli sits on Klauka’s shoulder, observing new cities, restaurants and shops from her elevated perch, and when they reach their campsite base, Mogli gets to roam the grounds freely, exploring as she pleases.
“This is obviously what she likes the most,” Klauka adds, “and after checking back on me a few times to make sure we’re actually staying, she goes off exploring for hours, sometimes even a whole day.”
Klauka observed that whenever they set up camp somewhere new, Mogli has a ritualistic process of scanning the area for potential hazards like automobiles and dogs and choosing a secure location.
When Klauka loses track of the tent and Mogli is able to guide him back to their center of operations, the little cat’s strong observing abilities have proven useful to her owner.
“Normally she stays near the campsite when I leave to run errands or check out the surroundings, but sometimes when it’s safe and there are no cars, dogs or other cats around, she follows me,” Klauka said. “Most of the time I’m following her, though.”
Month-long motorcycle trips with a cat have frequently been surprising and full of particular difficulties. Klauka has encountered challenging border crossings, missed out on some cat-unfriendly events and attractions, and been asked to leave more stores and hotels than he can count.
The two have had a difficult time finding accommodations and have been forced to sleep in chilly deserts when no places would let them inside.
Klauka has made innumerable sacrifices for his closest buddy, but they have always been worthwhile.
Klauka said, “I’m pleased to have taken her and happy to have gone through all of this. I’m content with where I am in my life.”
Klauka is now working in Dubai after finishing the first stage of their journey and has plans to continue this summer to Pakistan and India. He and Mogli are currently having a much-needed rest, but there will undoubtedly be many more adventures.
