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Crag Cats?

Original Post
K R · · CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 50

I've read once before about a woman who would go cragging and hiking with her cat. I'm moving to California and am planning a climbing road trip while we move from MN to CA. My question is: can I bring the cat on the road trip, or should I figure out something else for her during those weeks? She was an outdoor cat on a farm household prior to about a few months ago when I got her. She's been indoors the last few months. The trip might entail miles of hiking and sleeping in a tent. Would a cat follow me or need to be backpacked or does that sort of thing just not work?

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

Depends on the cat. Try taking the cat for a walk on a leash. Increase the distance and see where that takes you. Some cats are cool and some freak out when they hear loud noises.

I have three cats I rescued after their mom got run over. I got them at three and half weeks old. My office is in my house so I spend lots of time with them. These cats are like dogs! They come when called. They listen better than some dogs but I spend a ton of time with them.

Good luck.. Post pics!

MilesC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 467

I've run into two awesome outdoor cats - they were both Savannah cats, and were hiking along with their owners like dogs.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savan…

Worth Russell · · Rosendale, NY · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 40

Crag cats would be super cool. Hope the trend takes off

Tommy Layback · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 85

I'd take the feline on a test trip. I had a indoor/outdoor cat (classic black) that would go on town walks with my family and dog, and was always very relaxed and friendly. But when I took him on a road trip, he totally freaked out in the car.

Jonathan Cunha · · Bolinas, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 62

Maybe take the cat to the gym first and see how things go...

Benj84 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 435

have a friend that dirtbags out of a camper car with his cat, the cat doesn't go to the crag but runs around the camp sites at night and seems pretty stoked with his existance. I also have a friend who adopted a cat during a prolonged south american expedition and ended up with it living in the top of her backpack throughout hikes public transportation and a bunch of other improbable adventures. so yes, in practice outdoor traveling cats are a thing that exitsts

Erik W · · Santa Cruz, CA · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 280

Just be mindful of the cat's stress level. And don't lose it out there.

Climbing with cat

instagram.com/pechanga/

Zac Robinson · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 415

www.canyonkitties.com

Linnaeus · · ID · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

If they are strong enough for avy work...

youtube.com/watch?feature=p…

Mike Belu · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 135

A crag cat peed on my rope, can I still use it?

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145
Linnaeus wrote:If they are strong enough for avy work...
Kitty CPR at 6:10
Kevinmurray · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

Sorry, but cats are coyote bait as far as I'm concerned.

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

Hidetaka Suzuki & his wife traveled the US climbing back in the 80's with their cat. They brought it with them from Japan I'm guessing, so yeah crag kitty road trip is totally feasible. Probably depends on the cat though.

K R · · CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 50

Took her outside for the first time since I got her as a practice/training run. She was pretty relaxed in the car. We walked around a park today with a leash, she didn't like to be set in a backpack with her head poking out. She climbed a tree, got scared by a dog, peed in my back seat on the way back. Overall a good day for cat. Hoping with more practice she will get more comfortable walking around and also hopefully we can find a way to carry her on a pack or poking her head out of a pack.

Very cool link Erik thanks

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790
Pontoon wrote:Took her outside for the first time since I got her as a practice/training run. She was pretty relaxed in the car. We walked around a park today with a leash, she didn't like to be set in a backpack with her head poking out. She climbed a tree, got scared by a dog, peed in my back seat on the way back. Overall a good day for cat. Hoping with more practice she will get more comfortable walking around and also hopefully we can find a way to carry her on a pack or poking her head out of a pack. Very cool link Erik thanks
Ode de Cat pee...
in the back seat of a car...
with the windows rolled up...
during the dog days of summer...

Overall not a good day for the car.
Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

Meow when you take the cat outside be sure it's a short and quiet walk. Keep on walking the kitty and meow or later he or she will be used to the outdoors and car rides. Remember meow you do it will help or hinder the process of becoming a crag cat. I like to take along a meow to wrap the car up in if he or she gets scared. If the cat gets scared dont have a meow just take the meow, meow down and scoop him or her up with it. Meow you're have to take the kitty home but it doesn't mean you can't try another meow meow meow..

Have a nice day sir.

Did I break the record?

Chris Bersbach · · Arroyo Grande, CA · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 356
Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974

Maybe you've already seen this cat crag thread?

mountainproject.com/v/missi…

R. Moran · · Moab , UT · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 140

Joe Brooks used to bring his cat up to MT.Charleston all the time. Pretty funny watching the double takes of people walking up and seeing a cat.

Aubrie Nader · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 0

I brought my cat to Haycock bouldering this past weekend.

He's a very energetic and adventurous cat. He is around 8 months old. He doesn't mind carrides. He sits on my lap or under my seat. And he doesnt hate a leash either, of course he only will go the way he wants to go though. I brought him to the crag in a little bag, so he could fit his head out of it.and just tied him to a tree that seemed in a good location he could kind of roam or lay. I would love to take him off the leash, but i'm not sure if he'd come back to me, like I said he's very adventurous.

Maybe if i ever get him to listen to "come" or his name, I could take him off a leash, but until then i'll just buy a bigger cord so he could roam further.

I think all the hiking up to the boulders was a little stressful to him, i'm not the smoothest hiker. But ones he was on the ground, he was pretty good to go. He got along well with the dogs there too. He's an indoor cat, so theres hope for your cats too!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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