Meet the adventurous backpacking holiday cat

A couple have been turning heads taking their cat on adventures and holidays with them.

Felix, a handsome three-year-old Siamese, accompanies his owners almost everywhere, usually in a backpack, and has travelled across the UK and to a number of European countries.

Magda Orpel, from Great Ashby in Hertfordshire, describes herself as "Felix's human" and has been documenting his adventures on Instagram.

"He absolutely loves being outdoors and people are so surprised - it really opens up a conversation," she said.

Ms Orpel and her husband Adam have had Felix since he was a kitten, but as the pair love to be outdoors and visit other places, they were concerned about staying away from a cat, even for just a day.

"I started reading about other cats and their adventures, so we got a little backpack and a tiny harness - and Felix got really into it," she said.

Since then, the adventures have grown, and what started off as "little walks" turned into longer rambles and visits much further afield.

He now regularly travels in his backpack on their bicycles, getting out for long walks on an eight metre (26ft) retractable leash.

Felix has travelled by bicycle, bus, tram and ferry and has visited all corners of the UK as well as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

"He travels in a backpack so he's always secure, otherwise I'm pretty sure his curiosity would get the better of him and he'd jump out," said Ms Orpel.

"As long as he is near us, he is happy."

Taking a cat overseas is not the easiest of things, and she admitted that the family had "adapted our way of travel to accommodate Felix".

Quick flights to Europe have been replaced by ferry trips and long train rides.

"But that has made for some beautiful journeys," she said.

Asked whether Felix enjoys his adventures, she said: "Well, he is a cat, so it's not like we can force him to do what he doesn't want to.

"If we're walking and he goes off route, we sometimes have to do a bit of negotiation."

She started an Instagram account called Felix the Blue-eyed Cat where she documents his walks and holidays.

He can be seen leaping through long grass, gazing at fish in rivers and posing by local landmarks.

When he is out and about, Felix is the centre of attention and attracts cat lovers.

"If I had a penny for every time someone has come over and asked, 'is that a cat?'..." Ms Orpel said.

"People are so surprised and their reactions are super-cute.

"Everyone turns their heads and it really does open up a conversation.

"He is such a chilled cat.

"I think every adventure is enriching for him - and so enriching for us," she added.

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