Book Review: Adventure Cats

Quite a few years ago now, old SoLT wanted a pet that she could take places with her—to go on short hikes and such. So she adopted a dog. She already had a cat, but it never occurred to her that the cat might like to go hiking. You just never heard of things like that back then.

But now you do. All the time. “Adventure cats” is a “thing” now. We’ve lost count of the number of news stories we’ve seen about kitting out a cat with harness and leash and taking him or her out into the countryside. There’s a website devoted to sharing stories and tips on adventuring with your cat. Perhaps you’ve come across the Adventure CatsInstagram account. And now there’s a book, Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest, by AdventureCats.org cofounder Laura J. Moss.

A guide for all aspects of adventuring with cats

If you have been wanting a book to gently guide you and your cat into adventuring together, this is it. Adventure Cats covers everything from figuring out if your cat would even enjoy venturing outside to selecting a harness, safety tips, and how to introduce your cat to the world beyond the windows of your home. Old SoLT did the “Purrsonality Quiz” for both Real Cats to see if either of them might be the outdoorsy type. The answer was a solid maybe for both of them. They might enjoy exploring the backyard, but we doubt they would go any farther than that—if they even get that far. (Convincing 12-year-old cats to wear a harness and leash? Let’s just say we have low expectations.)

We met real-life adventure cat Little Bug
at BlogPaws. She does all sorts of things
all over the world with her person,
veterinarian Kenneth Lambrecht.
Follow her on Facebook.

If your cat does turn out to be the adventurous type, there are lots of things you can do together, from a slow stroll through the backyard to camping, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, sailing, surfing…there’s even a skiing cat in Norway (he mostly walks alongside or ahead of his person as she skis cross-country; he rides in a backpack if he gets tired or the going gets too difficult). Adventure Cats is filled with stories about cats that do things most people think cats just can’t do (skiing, for example). We particularly enjoyed the section on specially abled cats having fun with their people in the outdoors. They prove that being deaf or blind or even having a neurological condition doesn’t have to force a cat to live an indoor-only life. And the photos! This book is worth buying even if all you want to do is look at lots of pictures of cats enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

It’s all about the cat—and changing minds

One thing Adventure Cats reminds us of over and over again is that, no matter what kind of adventure you’re on, it’s all about the cat. You can’t force a cat into being an adventurer. Your Fluffy might be more of an indoor explorer, in which case, this book has some tips for making your home cat friendly. If you do hit the hiking trail with your cat, be prepared to move at the cat’s pace (i.e., slowly) and to pay attention to your cat and pick her up if she gets tired or something scary happens (i.e., a dog comes trotting down the trail).

In story after story, people mention how their cats taught them a new way to see the world. We think that’s an exceptionally good thing. Moss writes that she started AdventureCats.org both to provide information and to change people’s minds about “cat people.” Another thing she’s doing is showing people a different way to relate to their cats. We’ve said it before: A cat is not an object. A cat is a conscious being with thoughts and feelings, wants and needs. Adventure Cats encourages cat guardians to slow down and look at the world through their cats’ eyes. We love that.

Two paws way up!

A note on the "Paws Up" system: Miss C gives either one or two paws up. One paw is for a good read; two paws is for a great read. She never gives three or four paws because that would require her to lie on her back...and Miss C does not do that!

The link below is an Amazon Associates link. If you purchase the book through this link, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account. Thank you!