Join Our Community of Dog Lovers!

Subscribe now so that you get email alerts about all new content and/or updates from Champion of My Heart!  +

FREE e-book "8 Things to Know About Veterinary Care"

December 26, 2011

Thanks to my work, writing pet industry and pet consumer articles for magazines and online outlets, I interview lots of amazing people and pioneers. The latest one to catch my fancy? A cat named Bug, who hikes, canoes, and sometimes oversees events at her human companion’s veterinary practice (Westside Family Pet Clinic in Madison, Wisconsin).

OK, I might be a tad partial to Bug since that’s one of Lilly’s nicknames, but she is an awesome, awesome kitty. Observe.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, bug the amazing kitty
Yes, she is hiking "off leash" and wearing a hunting reflective vest.

You can read Bug’s first blog post, which reads in part:

“Adventure is my middle name. I have been labeled an adventurer because I LOVE to ride in cars, LOVE to camp, climb trees, and get along with all types of dogs we meet hiking (yes, I LOVE to hike, too!). Dr Ken has already taken me camping 3 times including 3 State Parks and forests. I have even been fishing with him and took a ride in the canoe. Last weekend I even put my toes in Lake Michigan. It was windy and the water was cold but the waves didn’t scare me a bit!”

Want proof?

These are Bug’s paw prints in the sand of Lake Michigan.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, cat footprints in the sand

I also love this blog post, where Bug answers all the frequently asked questions about her adventurous life, including this one:

“How did Dr Ken teach me to hike? He didn’t teach me. I knew how already. He just was brave enough to try.”

***

I love all the photos of Bug hiking and camping and climbing trees, but this picture of her hanging out during a Halloween party about slayed me.

Howdy, Sheriff!

best dog blog, champion of my heart, cat alseep atop door jam

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. You don’t see too many cats out hiking, Bug certainly is an adventurer! Not too surprising that such a cool cat is from Wisconsin. He’s probably a Packers fan too. =D

  2. My cat Salem used to love camping & traveling in the RV. She loved to go out on her harness & leash and explore with us. She started traveling at age 5 weeks, She passed away 2 yrs ago and we miss her. We have 5 rescue kitties & 3 dogs who travel in the RV but none of the cats like to go out like Salem did they prefer to see the world through the windows

  3. Omigosh! I love Bug! That is so awesome. I think people often think cats can’t do these things, but Bug proves they can.
    I once knew woman who would take her cats out on a leash for a walk and my friend Marty takes his two cats for a walk, off-leash, every evening. His cats love it.

    Great story to share!

  4. Hi, I am looking for some good camping tips and I found yours blog. I am planning to go for camping after this winter. I also liked your blog topic as well… I am also collecting the listing of campground directory

  5. This is incredible! I’ve tried to acclimate my cats to new adventures via leash and harness, but the reality is that they’d rather hike and climb around our house. Bug gives me hope that we might find a “road kitty” someday, though.

  6. Yay! What a great adventure kitty.

    After seeing kitties on leash at BlogPaws, I’ve been wondering how many cats would enjoy doing the things that dogs do if they were only exposed to them as youngsters.

    I don’t see a reason in the world that many cats wouldn’t enjoy hiking. Thanks for sharing Bug’s story with us.

Comments are closed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Free!

Stay Tuned for Something New!

big things in the works ... promise

Success message!
Warning message!
Error message!