Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/bao-zi-water-loving-cat-travels-world/

When most people think of having a cat as a pet, they picture an indoor cuddle bug who might occasionally venture outside to lay in the sun or chase some squirrels.

Cats don’t often get out much in the same way that dogs do. They don’t go on walks on leashes, ride in the car around town, or take trips to the dog park. At least, most cats don’t.

Bao Zi, however, is living a different life than most pet cats and she’s on a mission to dispel “the myth that cats should stay home.”

When Helene and Alice first welcomed Bao Zi home, they noticed she was rather shy and anxious. She spent a lot of time hiding in the basement and over-groomed herself out of nervousness.

But when the two scheduled a trip to travel around and work remotely, they decided to take Bao Zi with them. They figured if they could walk her on a leash like a dog, there wasn’t any reason to leave her behind!

So, Bao Zi loaded up in the car and began a road trip that would change her life.

According to The Dodo, the cat’s parents began to notice that as she was exposed to more of the world, she grew more confident.

She learned to walk on a leash outdoors and her world slowly expanded from a small apartment to so much more. And then, Helene and Alice realized that Bao Zi not only enjoyed walking and seeing the world, but going on adventures as well! The cat also developed a deep love for the water.

Speaking with The Dodo, Helen explained: “We just had the idea to put her in the water gently and see what would happen, and she just very happily paddled to the shore. And we found that she loved it.”

They did it “again and again” and found that Bao Zi was just “super happy to be in the water.”

Beyond swimming, Bao Zi also enjoys bike riding, kayaking, and rock climbing. She’s quite the adventure cat and she’s already traveled to four different countries, 45 states, and 22 national parks – wow!

Check out the video below:

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You can keep up with Bao Zi and her adventures on Instagram, @bestadventurecat.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog