A Thai man made a 160-mile trip with his 11 pet cats onboard his sidecar motorcycle.

Choowong Thepkoh, 65, fondly called 'Uncle Samsen' by locals, left Bangkok on March 18 to sell his wares at an annual flea market in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The cat lover became known among Bangkok residents after videos emerged online praising his love and compassion for his feline companions, which he kept by his side for the slow journey.

Hoping to make more money at the fair, Choowong took his sidecar motorcycle - adorably adorned with cat-themed decorations and stickers - and set out for Nakhon Ratchasima with his cats tagging along in pet carriers.

Upon learning of his long journey, a team of rescuers in Nakhon Ratchasima offered to be his entourage, following him on the highway until he finally arrived at his destination at around 3:30 PM.

The trip took around six hours and spanned around 160 miles.

Before Choowong's trip, a local cat Facebook page called Kingdom of Tigers called for donations and urged Thais to take care of him if they encounter him on the road.

The page said Choowong had previously owned a small construction company in Nakhon Ratchasima before it went bankrupt during the 'Tom Yum Kung' Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Choowong sold all his belongings and dismissed all his employees before travelling to Betong in Yala province with the last of his savings.

When he returned to his hometown after working for several months, he was faced with insults from neighbours, prompting him to head to Bangkok instead.

He has since been selling amulets and trinkets to earn a meagre income for himself and his pets. Donations from Good Samaritans have helped them survive so far, with supporters pooling their money to buy him a sidecar motorcycle for travel.

Choowong said this trip is the first time he has returned to his home province in 26 years, adding he wanted his cat 'children' to see his birthplace.

Despite falling on hard times, the cat lover said he would never sell his pets, who have always been there for him through hardships.

Speaking to local media, he said: 'Someone once offered to buy Thong Kwak for 20,000 baht, but I refused to sell him, fearing that the person would become bored of taking care of him and abandon him. I want to take care of him until the day he dies.'

Choowong said he planned to peddle his merchandise at the Ya Mo Fair, which runs from March 23 to April 3.