The words ‘Strange Catman’ will either instantly hit a chord with you or cause you to furrow your brow in confusion. The journey of one man, a wheelbarrow, and a cat suit as they cross the country on foot is the kind of kooky adventure We Are Explorers was born of.

I recently chatted with Strange Catman about the 18-month journey he’s currently taking as he walks across Australia. If you’re unfamiliar with the famous Catman, you can follow along his wild journey on Instagram, which began in Carnarvon WA last year.

Read on to learn more about this mysterious and determined man!

 

AF: You’re walking across Australia from Carnarvon WA to Sydney with a wheelbarrow and dressed as a cat. What inspired you to make the journey?

SC: The reason for my journey is a breakup with my girlfriend in Japan. I had a girlfriend (not a cat) in Japan whom I loved dearly. However, one day she told me she wanted to break up, and my reason for living crumbled in an instant, leaving me in deep sorrow.

But when everything was gone and nothing seemed to matter anymore, my body felt incredibly light, and I felt like I could do anything. So, I decided to embark on a long-distance journey overseas, something I had longed for since my student days.

We’ve finally got a big cat in Australia!

And he’s found a big lobster

How long have you been walking for and when do you expect to get to Sydney?

I have walked 1848km out of the total 6400km from Carnarvon to Sydney. I started walking last November, and now, 200 days later, I have only covered 28% of the distance. This is because I not only walk but also take the time to meet people and appreciate the local attractions, which takes time.

As a Japanese citizen, my visa expires in July 2025. I hope to experience as much of this country’s charm as possible and reach my goal by July next year.

 

On my way to see the Sydney Opera mouse

Why did you choose a wheelbarrow to help transport your stuff?

I felt a sense of destiny with the wheelbarrow. Originally, I worked in construction for six years, and the wheelbarrow was a familiar tool. Additionally, when I worked at a tomato farm in Carnarvon for three months, I used a wheelbarrow every day. We once parted ways, but we had a miraculous reunion in Australia and strengthened our bond.

What’s been the best moment of the trip so far? 

The best moment of my journey was when I visited a school in Albany and greeted the children. At first, I was worried about how the kids would react, thinking they might be scared. But when they saw me, they gathered around me, shouting, ‘Catman! Catman!’ and welcomed me warmly.

After that, I gave a lesson to the children about my journey, and they listened intently. If I was able to inspire the children and give them dreams, that would be the most rewarding thing for me.

 

Take your cat to school day

What’s been the hardest moment of the trip so far? 

The most challenging part of my journey was the 450km stretch from Carnarvon to Northampton. I left Carnarvon in November, during the peak of summer, with day time temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees and sometimes reaching over 50 degrees.

At that time, I was just starting out and was not yet accustomed to walking long distances or handling the weight of the wheelbarrow, causing me to fall numerous times.

 

One stray animal has been located

 

Without a refrigerator, the water was always warm, and if I collapsed from heatstroke, I wouldn’t be able to call for help due to the lack of mobile signal.

Moreover, during the day, my body was constantly covered with flies, making it impossible to have lunch. Starting my journey under such harsh conditions made me regret beginning the trip at that time.

Additionally, there was a stretch of 150km where I couldn’t replenish my water supply, so I had to carry six days’ worth of water. I drank 5L of water per day, meaning I had to carry 30L of water and walk at least 25km each day to avoid running out of water before reaching the next replenishment point.

Why did you choose to dress up as a cat for the journey? 

I decided to become a real superhero. The shock of being dumped by my girlfriend made me feel like I had lost my mind, and I thought there was nothing I couldn’t do. If I was going to do something, I wanted to become what I most wanted to be.

I love Spider-Man and Iron Man, and I drew inspiration from them. The origin of Catman comes from the fact that wheelbarrows are called CAT in Japan.

 

The Catman and the fiddle

Do you have more than one catsuit and mask? How often do you wash it and does it get hot?

I have two sets of cat suits and masks. However, in the beginning, I only had one mask, and it was terrible. The frequency of washing is irregular; I wash them every day when I’m in town, but when I’m far from town, I can’t wash them at all.

In the scorching hot area from Carnarvon to Northampton, I sweated profusely every day and couldn’t wash my clothes, so I was tormented by my own stench in the tent at night. When the smell was too strong to sleep, I wrapped a bar of soap in a towel and tied it around my face like a mask to escape the odour and get some sleep.

 

11 Questions With Strange Catman, Photo from @catman6701, yurt

Smelly cat, smelly cat

What’s been your favourite place in Australia that you’ve visited?

This is a difficult question, but in terms of the beauty of the townscape, I love Margaret River. Surrounded by forests, it felt like stepping into the world of Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese animation.

In each town I passed through on my journey, I met many kind people and created many wonderful memories. All of these memories are my greatest treasures, and each town holds a special place in my heart.

 

11 Questions With Strange Catman, Photo from @catman6701, boat, ocean, rocks, seals, shaka

Looks like this cat doesn’t mind water

Your content is super unique – what’s your inspiration and how do you manage to create videos while on the road?

I started making videos inspired by Joe Bloggs, a Japanese YouTuber. While walking, I think about the structure and take notes, and I edit the videos when I’m at a campsite or staying at someone’s house.

Tourism boards…

…take note

What’s the one piece of gear that’s helped you the most?

The most useful gear for me has been the stretcher. It’s a bit heavy, but since I started using it, the quality of my sleep is no longer affected by the condition of the ground, and I can sleep soundly every night.

 

Now I can cat nap in peace after having dinner

When you’re not walking across Australia, are you secretly saving the world from evil?

Yes, during the daytime shift, Catman handles things, and for the nighttime shift, I hire the Kangaroo Guardian. Compared to Japan, their wages are about twice as high, so it’s quite troublesome.

 

Cat’s all folks!

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