Puss in routes
Tabor the tortoiseshell cat clocked up more than 3,000 miles and battled everything from blizzards to bears in a remarkable journey across the United States.
The lost puss got into scrapes galore as she accompanied nomadic Michael King, who found her a café in Portland, Oregon.
Homeless alcoholic Michael, 53, bonded instantly with Tabor and dipped into his own kitty to buy some cat food – the first time he had spent his last few dollars on something other than booze.
Then, in a story echoing that of busker and former heroin addict James Bowen and his moggy – subjects of the film A Street Cat Named Bob – the pair embarked on a road trip across America.
Travelling from Oregon to the beaches of California and the high plains of Montana, Tabor – named after the café – was with Michael for 10 months.
They made a striking pair as the cat followed Michael on a leash or rode high on his backpack.
Tabor somehow dodged death when she ran into a busy road, the cars swerving around her. She saved Michael by waking him when his sleeping bag was on fire. And when a brown bear approached in Yosemite National Park, Tabor arched her back, hissed and spat.
This was no contest, of course – and Michael scooped her up and ran to safety.
It was clear Michael had found a soulmate to love and care for in his darkest moments. He said: “She was a rainbow in an otherwise dark room.” The friendship inspired him to get sober and come to terms with past traumas and grief over the death of his life partner.
Now the pair are the subject of Strays – a book chronicling their journey.
They finally parted after former chef Michael took Tabor to a vet in Montana and discovered she had an identification chip.
Owner Ron Buss lives in Portland and had been distraught when his moggy went missing in 2012. Tabor’s real name is Mata – sister of Ron’s other cat Creto.
Michael made the difficult decision to head back to Portland and reunite them.
But not before one last road trip... as they hitchhiked home.
The story of Tabor is told in the book Strays by Britt Collins.