Hello everyone! My name is Zack and my adventure partner is Maple. The two of us currently reside in Denver, Colorado and if you've ever visited, you know there are so many outdoor activities to do: hiking, camping, rock climbing, paddleboarding - you name it, we got it. I enjoy doing most of them as well!
Maple is a new addition to my home, and I hesitated a long time before choosing to have another cat in my life, primarily because I lived alone and enjoyed not having to worry about furry friends left alone for most of the day or even weekends while I'm gone having my adventures. But after watching YouTube channels such as Ezra, Nova, and Conan (watch them here), as well as friends who have encouraged me with their own personal stories, I decided to take Maple in and train her in the ways of the outdoors.
So, why Maple? Well, Maple is an Abyssinian cat which are known for their intelligence, curiosity, playfulness, and being overall an active and interactive breed. My goal was to find a cat that would thrive being with me on my adventures and enjoy exploring nature. That being said, Maple will always be an indoor cat. The only time she is able to be outside is with a harness and attached to me in some form or fashion (a slight exception is the car, but more on that later). Additionally, I don't know what we'll encounter during our adventures together, so she will always be current with her vaccinations. These are strict rules put in place by the organization I got her from, and I have no intention of doing otherwise.
What is an adventure cat anyway? I think the definition can vary between people, but here is mine: an adventure cat is a feline friend that will accompany me on my hikes, camping, and road trips. It sounds like a lot to ask for, and maybe it is unreasonable to set those kinds of expectations, but I don't think it is unrealistic and with time and patience, we can do it. I have a pretty long checklist involved with getting Maple ready for the outdoors:
Being comfortable riding in a cat backpacking or on my shoulder for hikes
Tolerating longer car rides
Be well-socialized with people and dogs, and hopefully cats too
Keeping calm and composed in louder/active environments like a campsite
A basic understanding of commands (most importantly, recall)
Staying in a tent overnight
Non-destructive behaviors
It's a lot, and they are not things that can be accomplished overnight. And despite the inclinations of the breed as a whole, Maple is a unique cat and some of these behaviors may be difficult or impossible to learn. But the goal is to try and see what sticks. Who knows, maybe we will end up accomplishing more than this!
I look forward to sharing our adventures with you, and hope that they become a source of inspiration for you and your furry friend(s) in the future!
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