Leaving your animal companions behind is often one of the most difficult aspects of travel. However, one couple from New York City has managed to take their three cats on adventures around the world. Dan and Olivia Nguyen have trained their cats - sponge cake, mocha and donuts - to love the outdoors and to feel comfortable in public places. The adventurous family has documented their many travels on their Instagram account, which has more than 300,000 followers.

From wandering Times Square to sitting outside the Louvre in Paris, these friendly cats have come a long, long way. While they now appear to be completely comfortable with their surroundings, it didn't come naturally. Dan and Olivia adopted all three cats in the summer of 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, and acclimated them to their surroundings on a small scale outdoors. Sponge Cake and Mocha are Scottish Fold cats, a breed characterized by small folded ears, and Donut is a British Shorthair.

Their Instagram photos are usually snapshots of one or more of the cats in front of their current destination, which are wearing bows or sweaters. Understandably, the Nguyens keep their cats on a leash when they go out to make sure they don't escape. When they're done walking, they can be safely placed in Dan's funny cat backpack." We get a lot of laughs, a lot of smiles, and a lot of curiosity," Dan admits." We have a lot of people coming up to us and wanting to say hello, which is always fun." And, he adds, "All the bow ties and ribbons you see were custom made by my wife."

Making these pet-friendly trips is not without preparation, however. Before hopping on a plane, the Nguyens had to get a certificate from their veterinarian stating that their pets were safe to fly and had the necessary vaccinations. Fortunately, since their cats weigh less than 22 pounds, Sponge Cake, Mocha, and cat beds can travel under the seat and stay by their owner's side - although that sometimes means the couple has to purchase another seat to accommodate their third cat. All the effort was clearly worth it when this family of five was able to stick together in a new, fun place.