A cosmopolitan cat has been dubbed the world’s most well-travelled moggy after covering 100,000 MILES in holidays around Europe.
Pet-lover Sue Crook, 51, rescued five-week-old McVitie after hearing its distressed cries on a holiday camp in Spain.
She and her partner, Dick Garrard, 67, nursed the forgotten feline – which was covered in sores – back to full health and the trio quickly became inseparable.
As a result, lucky McVitie has enjoyed the luxury of joining Sue and Dick on their travels around Europe.
And while in Italy in 2013 they picked up Millie, another abandoned kitten, who has also been on the move with them ever since.
Sue and Dick, who move around for their jobs as holiday couriers for Eurocamp, have taken the worldly-wise moggies to more than ten countries.
They estimate that after eight years of zigzagging across Europe, McVitie – who is nicknamed Mack – has travelled a staggering 100,000 MILES on his Spanish passport.
And Millie is hot on his heels, having clocked up 40,000 miles using her Italian passport.
Sue, who is originally from Hove, East Sussex, said: “We found McVitie on the 11th of November eight years ago, and that’s where it all began.
“He has been moved around constantly for the last eight years. He has been to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Wales and more.
“Three years ago we picked up Millie in Italy and she started coming around with us too.
“People seem to think it’s quite unusual. They are certainly the most well-travelled cats I know – I don’t know anybody else who has cats that do this.
“I think they are more well-travelled than most people.”
Sue and Dick picked up cat number two, Millie, when they stopped off in Italy, in 2013.
Two girls had rescued the tiny kitten after its mother and siblings were thrown into a lake and Sue and Dick offered to take it under their wing.
Ever since, the foursome have pitched their caravan in dozens of spots, staying in each for two to three weeks at a time.
Wherever they go, McVitie and Millie – which are both domestic, short-haired cats – sample the local cuisine because they can’t get their favourite dinner abroad.
Sue added that McVitie’s favourite place is Torrox, Spain, where he was found, while Millie’s is Bolsena in Italy – her hometown.
She said: “When we’re moving around we have them both in a travel box so they can have food and water.
“When we stop we let them out and get the caravan in position.
“They sniff the car and caravan and that’s it. They’re there and they can come and go as they please. They don’t seem to go far usually.
“Millie likes to go hunting a lot while Mack follows us everywhere – even to the shower blocks.
“They certainly seem to enjoy it – they don’t show any signs of stress.
“We don’t go anywhere where we think they will be unhappy, places with lots of dogs or people.”
She added: “They’ve both got European passports so they’re allowed to travel but I think Brexit could well have an impact on that.
“But as long as we keep on travelling they will come with us, and we don’t plan to hang up our boots just yet.”
