Please Don’t Force Your Cat Up a Mountain

Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

On a recent hike/scramble up one of the tallest regional mountains, it was not exactly what I expected. But the first rule of the mountains is to expect the unexpected. And, to be fair, it was generally a wonderful experience.

It’s a great day, out in nature, with the elements. Being outdoors has been shown to improve blood pressure, mood, and generally be stress relieving. What’s not to enjoy?

But, too, the mountains can be unforgiving. Even a short hike can turn deadly. A lack of preparation can turn a day outing into something that quickly becomes all too real if weather conditions change, or a member of the group injures themselves. And that’s just for humans. But what about pets? Where do they fit into this equation?

Adventure Calls!

As more and more people are jumping onto social trends and getting their adventure cats and adventure pups outside, in many ways, it is to be applauded. The bond that is created, not to mention the exercise, are all very positive items that arise from getting your pet out and about. As a vet, I also have a secret evil pleasure in seeing the stigma of cats being indoor-only pets, or homebodies, absolutely vanquished.

But this recent hike really got me thinking: what are the limits on what we should ask pets to endure? In particular, this hike involved technical scrambles, white-out conditions, winds 50+ knots, and near-freezing temperatures. And did I mention the rain? The absolutely bone-chilling, strength-zapping, wind-driven rain? And if it is all for a social media image or worse, pure ignorance of the severity of the conditions, why take the risk? We all love our pets, but surely that also means knowing when to say no, as well.

Know Your Limits

To put it bluntly, about 30 minutes from the summit, we encountered multiple adults and children literally yelling, sobbing, or both, that they could not go on. The conditions had taken their toll. These people were done, defeated. They knew their limits, and they were drawing the line in the sand. Yet, the number of animals I saw, going up the mountain, seemed unreal. Certainly, a small number seemed to be enjoying the rather blustery outing. But most dogs looked wary, and uncertain, if not outright terrorized.

I get it, we love them. They are family. But just as not all people should be hiking tough climbs, nor should all animals. Pad cuts, dehydration, injuries- were these people prepared for first aid for their pets? Many barely had waterproofs and themselves were soaked through, looked miserable, and were ardently complaining. If that had been the prep they’d done for themselves, you had to wonder: what failsafes did they have for their pet?

Avoid the Risk

Just as we do a mountain risk assessment with ourselves, I strongly advocate that we need to do the same for our pets before we head outdoors. Even the risk they present to others—I saw more than one dog attempting to get away from the winds that could possibly blow them over the edge, and almost trip a number of hikers with their leash in the process. The decision to take these pets up a mountain in inclement weather was now putting multiple lives at risk.

In my opinion, very few, if any, pets (feline or otherwise) belong on a mountain. Instagram may make it look lovely, but the reality can be harsh, and both human and animal lives can be put at risk.