I Never Thought The Kitten I Found In A Box Would One Day Go Paragliding & Collect Nearly 80 Medals With Me | WeirdKaya

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For most people, bringing a cat outdoors might mean a short walk around the neighbourhood.

For 44-year-old Azhan bin Dziaruddin and his furry companion Jibek, it has meant climbing mountains, joining running events and even taking part in paragliding.

Their adventures have caught the attention of Malaysians in the past, particularly in 2024 when Azhan completed a 10km trail race with Jibek calmly perched on his shoulder.

But their story started long before the medals and viral attention.

Speaking to WeirdKaya, Azhan shared how a kitten he once found abandoned in a box eventually became his adventure partner of almost a decade.

Found Jibek inside a box

Azhan, who is from Kuala Lumpur and works as a senior human resources executive, first met Jibek near the house he was renting.

Jibek had been left inside a box, and Azhan believed he may have been abandoned by his previous family. Taking pity on Jibek, a mix of Maine Coon and domestic cat breed, Azhan took the feline into his home.

Jibek’s tough, active, cool and calm, though things were quite different when he was younger. As a kitten, he was way more mischievous and hyperactive.

“At home today, Jibek lives a much more typical cat life by spending much of his time eating and sleeping and rarely mixes with the other cats in the house.”

The bond between Jibek and Azhan are very strong, with Jibek sleeping near Azhan at night despite the fact that he doesn’t follow Azhan everywhere he goes.

“He will only follow me when there are outdoor sports activities or when organisers invite him to events such as pet expos,” Azhan shared.

Climbed first mountain at just 6 months old

When Jibek was only six months old in 2017, Azhan brought him along for his first mountain hike at Gunung Nuang. Instead of appearing frightened by the unfamiliar environment, Jibek remained calm.

Azhan noticed that he was comfortable exploring his surroundings and did not seem afraid of being around Azhan’s friends.

That was when he realised Jibek might actually enjoy being outdoors.

Even Jibek’s now familiar habit of sitting on Azhan’s shoulder was never something he was trained to do.

“Initially, I tried keeping Jibek inside a backpack during our adventures, but he absolutely hated it and would become restless and make noise until I let him out.

“Once, I took him out of the backpack and he jumped onto the bag and stayed on my shoulder throughout. I suppose that’s how I knew Jibek had chosen the spot himself,” he mused.

From hiking to running

The duo’s running journey came about largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic as access to outdoor activities, especially mountain hiking, became limited during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020 and 2021

Wanting to remain active, Azhan started taking Jibek jogging around their neighbourhood instead. After restrictions were lifted, he decided to join Malaysia’s running community and began signing up for events with Jibek.

Their first official running event came in 2022 when they participated in a 5km JomRun event, but it took some adjusting on their part.

“Jibek was already used to doing his business in the forest, so finding a suitable toilet spot in a running event environment proved difficult. But with repeated exposure, Jibek gradually got used to it.

“His toilet breaks are still one of the more unpredictable parts of their adventures, and this is why Jibek can spend quite a long time looking for the perfect spot,” Azhan explained.

To save time, Azhan would sometimes dig several holes and let Jibek choose one himself. Once his “business” is done, Azhan fills the hole back up before continuing their journey.

While photos of Jibek sitting peacefully on Azhan’s shoulder may make their adventures look effortless, there is plenty of preparation involved.

Azhan said the amount of equipment he brings for Jibek can sometimes exceed what he packs for himself, which includes food, water, a portable fan, umbrella, raincoat and harness to ensure his feline companion stays comfortable and safe.

After years together, I’ve also learnt to read Jibek’s behaviour. If Jibek appears uncomfortable on my shoulder or repeatedly tries to get down, I take it as a sign that he may be tired, needs the toilet or simply wants to walk.

“When that happens, I’lll usually give Jibek around 10 to 15 minutes on the ground before continuing.”

Ever changing adventures

In 2024, Azhan and Jibek caught widespread attention after completing a 10km trail race in Baling.

Azhan said he never expected their story to travel as far as it did, with people from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei reacting to their story and leaving supportive comments. Even his own family was surprised when the pair later appeared on television and radio.

When WeirdKaya first spoke to them in 2024, Azhan and Jibek had collected around 45 medals together. Two years later, Azhan estimates that their collection is now approaching 80.

Among all their experiences, Azhan said conquering some of the highest mountains in Peninsular Malaysia and participating in paragliding remain particularly meaningful to him.

He also believes Jibek was the first cat in the country to accomplish some of those feats, something he considers a personal source of pride.

Today, Azhan and Jibek are still active outdoors, but things are no longer quite the same. They have stopped hiking for some time and are now focused mainly on running. But they no longer join as many running events as they used to.

Jibek is getting older, and I want him to have more time to rest. Who knows, next year could be the year Jibek fully retires from outdoor activities?” he quipped.

For pet owners inspired by their story, Azhan stressed that not every cat will necessarily enjoy advised owners to first understand their cat’s personality and whether it is suitable for outdoor recreation.

He also reminded owners to learn how to handle their pets properly in case something unexpected happens and never neglect their safety or needs.

“As much as we take care of ourselves, we need to do even more for our pets,” he added.

After nearly nine years together, the medals and adventures may be memorable, but Azhan’s final message to Jibek was much simpler.

If Jibek could understand everything he said for just one minute, Azhan told WeirdKaya he would tell him: “I love you so much. You are my everything.”

He thanked Jibek for being a good companion through everything they have experienced together, adding that he could not imagine life without him.

No one can replace you, ever.”

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