In this day and age where cats are on the leash almost as much as dogs, headed into the woods and lakes alongside their humans cosplaying as weekend warriors, what is a three-month old kitten to do?

Seriously, I’m asking anyone who has an “adventure cat” they take hiking with them. This is new territory for me and especially my feline companion, Samwise, who is my one and only foster fail after coming into my life this summer. As much as I love my other two kitties, Twigs and Tich, a pastel tortie and my first orange tabby/pumpkin hybrid, I’m afraid I didn’t do right by them in exposing them to the wider world. As a result, they can be just as antisocial and couchbound as their human. But, while I know how to rehabilitate myself with the help of the great outdoors, I question the sense of forcing two middle-aged cats into hiking with me just to make myself feel better about my pet rearing mistakes. 

Like many things in life, I’m probably overthinking it. However, if I’m going to care for another cat, knowing what I know now, he might as well get out in the forest when he’s still pint-sized and open to the experience.

And is he ever! This last weekend we ventured with my longtime friend, Crystal, to the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars in Bonner County. The trailhead was popular that day, with numerous families taking in the waterfall and old-growth cedar trees that line the water. With the amount of people around, I left Samwise in his pack, but that didn’t stop his little eyes from dilating at the various sounds, sights, and smells. Granite Falls shoots down through the rocks and the air carries the scent of cedar, leaves, and wet stone. The trail itself is a little over two miles and has an elevation gain of roughly 300 feet, so it didn’t take us long to leave the crowd behind (most were large families attracted to the lookout or sticking around the falls). 

Once we were alone and found a plateau to take a short rest, it was time to unleash the beast, and by “unleash” I mean letting Samwise out of his pack with a harness and a leash. He proceeded to enact his own Ode to Joy, chasing ants, sharpening his claws on nursing logs, and trying to stuff any and all vegetation into his little gob (while I don’t equate my beloved pets as my children, you can’t deny that both parents and pet owners seem to repeat, “Get that out of your mouth,” a lot). 

Suffice it to say, besides the lack of cheese, which is one of his most coveted treats, Samwise seemed to enjoy himself immensely, and I’m looking forward to getting him back out on the trail. If there are any hikers with veteran companion cats out there, please get in touch. I sense I have a lot to learn. 

Sophia Mattice-Aldous is a Washington resident and reporter with an affinity for The Great Outdoors who thinks fitness should be fun, and that looks different for everyone. For her, it’s going outside. If you have questions and/or comments, including hiking suggestions, email [email protected].