Exploring 'tails' of feline friendships

At 14 years old, Wang Tianjun began accompanying his father on long truck journeys, eventually becoming a truck driver himself. For over 40 years, he traveled the roads, but when his wife and children returned to their hometown, he was left to drive alone — until he met a stray kitten wandering along the highway.

Five years ago, Wang adopted his first kitten, naming her Fubao. Over time, as his cat group grew, they became inseparable. The cats shared his truck, eating and living together like a family. Wang began documenting their lives on social media, amassing over 800,000 followers, with his videos garnering more than 26 million "likes" on video platforms Douyin and bilibili.

His daughter noted that the once-stubborn Wang became much gentler after adopting the cats. Wang treats them as his children, feeding them premium cat food while he eats inexpensive water-fried buns. His truck, cramped with cat supplies, left little space for his possessions.

In January, 58-year-old Wang announced that due to high blood pressure, he would no longer be able to drive trucks. After Spring Festival, he decided to sell his truck and purchase a secondhand van to travel the country with his elderly father and the cats.

Wang's unique life with his cats on the road was recently featured in the documentary Life with Cats, which exclusively aired on bilibili last month. The series garnered over 58 million views with a viewer rating of 9.8 out of 10.

During filming, Wang's first cat, Fubao, fell ill and passed away, a moment captured in the film. At the screening, Wang watched the painful scene, which he was initially reluctant to be filmed. However, he later expressed gratitude to director Liu Qianyu for preserving Fubao's final moments.