Who says cats only love staying at home? In the U.S., there’s a white short-haired cat passionate about exploration who, over the past two years, has scaled mountains and explored waters with its owners, visiting more than 50 national parks across the country. Its adventurous tale has also inspired many American families to take their own felines on outdoor trips.
■While most pet cats seldom stray from the comforts of home, these so-called adventure cats are finding their way back into the wild.
Vladimir loves adventure. Over the past two years, he and the Hoffmans and their toddler have visited more than 50 U.S. national parks.
Climbing mountains and exploring waters is basically no challenge for him. Sometimes when he gets tired from playing, he’ll take a nap, eat, or watch the scenery outside in their modified RV. The travel-loving Vladimir has become an indispensable part of the Hoffman family.
His story has also encouraged more and more American families to take their feline companions outdoors during holidays. Although most house cats prefer to stay comfortably at home, there are also cats born with a thirst for adventure, eager to roam freely in the wild.
However, safety gear is absolutely essential when the Hoffmans travel with Vladimir. For example, when the husband goes rock climbing, he uses a special rope to securely fasten Vladimir against his chest. These safety measures allow Vladimir to fully enjoy the experience. Hoffman, 27, said, “He relaxes on my chest and has never tried to claw his way out.”
To ensure that curiosity doesn’t kill the cat, the outdoors-loving Hoffmans also carry Vladimir in a hiking harness when trekking, or tie him to the bow of the boat when going out on the water. In the latter case, the most important safety equipment is a collar and leash. Though the Hoffmans admit that training an independent-minded cat to get used to these two items is never an easy task.
To be able to take their cat on outdoor trips, the Hoffmans began training Vladimir when he was just 7 weeks old. While he was eating, they would put a small collar around his neck to help him gradually get used to it, then later attach a leash to the collar.
Developing the habit of wearing a leash
In a very short time, they were already able to take Vladimir for walks in the backyard or even nearby parks using a leash. Now, as soon as he sees the leash, his tail perks up and he runs to the door waiting.
Vladimir even joins the family on canoe trips. Wearing a collar, leash, and a bright yellow life jacket, he often sits at the bow of the boat because it offers the best view. However, Hoffman says he’s gotten so focused that “he’s fallen into the water twice.”
However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals does not encourage putting leashes on cats. The organization explains, “Taking cats out of their comfort zone makes them feel a loss of control.”
Ken Ramirez, a pet trainer at the Karen Pryor Clicking Training Center, also said that dogs are naturally more accustomed to leashes than cats, partly because dogs have been domesticated by humans for longer, dating back to when humans were still hunter-gatherers.
Cats began living alongside humans only after humans started settling permanently. Ramirez explained, “Cats are natural hunters, and humans have made good use of this trait.”
Training from a young age outdoors
Even though cats tend to be solitary by nature, he emphasized that they can definitely be trained—the key is finding the right treats or toys.
Inspired by Vladimir’s outdoor trend, Johanna Dominguez also began training her cat when it was just 10 weeks old. Now a photographer and social media strategist, she often takes her two-year-old cat hiking, canoeing, and camping.
Nature lover Karen Nguyen has also taken her pet cat hiking. But she said her 3-year-old cat, Muffin, “moves at her own pace.”
She explained that Muffin’s slow pace is due to too many distractions along the path. Muffin spends most of her time sniffing things around her before casually sitting down on the grass to rest.