Cats are aloof and independent. They are lazy and anti-social. And definitely not ADVENTUROUS! Those are some common misconceptions about cats. When people think of cats, they think of the type of animal that wants to lay around the house all day. When they think of a pet who would like to go hiking or camping, people tend to think about dogs. But that is where one of the biggest misconceptions about cats lie. And that is exactly what Emily and KittyCatGo is trying to change. Your cat CAN be an adventure cat!

Emily’s journey to starting KittyCatGo began in 13 years ago when she started to take her cat, Sophie outside in the backyard to get some mental stimulation. Sophie had cerebellar hypoplasia which affects a cat’s balance and coordination. This condition can limit a cat’s ability to move around and play. Emily knew that Sophie needed and would benefit from mental stimulation in a safe environment. She decided to take her out in the backyard to play and interact with nature. And that was the beginning for Emily.

She then tried providing her other cats with the outdoor experience. Some took right to it. 2 of Emily’s cats, Delilah and Gryphen, are completely content just being in the backyard. Others, like Raddy, definitely chose to embrace being a homebody. Sophie and Kylo Ren, another one of Emily’s 5 cats, have fully embraced being an adventure cat. Both of them have gone on hikes, been camping, and have taken road trips with their humans. Proving that cats CAN be just as social and adventurous as dogs. However, there was definitely a learning curve for Emily when she started this journey.

Back when Emily first started to take her cats on adventures, there were not a lot about this concept available to cat guardians. Resources to help guardians learn the best practices and guidelines were minimal at best. Emily had to learn by trial and error. She learned the hard way about providing your cat with a safe space for them to rest when they get tired of walking. Because we all know how difficult it is to get a cat to do something they don’t want to do. So, when Sophie decided half-way through their hike that she was done and promptly laid down in the middle of the trail, Emily realized that she needed to invest in a backpack carrier for her.

In 2020, Emily decided to compile all the lessons she had learned the hard way, tips and tricks to ensure kitty is safe and happy during their adventures, and a place for cat guardians to find all the resources they need to help their cat become an adventure cat. She started by blogging and then it quickly grew into a all-in-one resource for active cat guardians who want to include their cat in their adventures.
Emily’s goal with KittyCatGO is to educate people. You may think that your cat would not want to go outside, but Emily wants to remind people to not underestimate their cat. Maybe your cat might not want to go on a hike or camping, but they might actually love just going on in their backyard. Enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of nature all from the safety of their backyard. I know that my cats would spend all day and night on our screen porch if I let them.

Emily’s goal with KittyCatGO is to educate people. You may think that your cat would not want to go outside, but Emily wants to remind people to not underestimate their cat. Maybe your cat might not want to go on a hike or camping, but they might actually love just going on in their backyard. Enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of nature all from the safety of their backyard. I know that my cats would spend all day and night on our screen porch if I let them.

Because Emily wanted to ensure that she was providing cat adventurists with the best possible training, advice, tips and tricks, she, herself, has received training and certifications as a Certified Cat Trainer. She is also multiple awards for her writing, photography, videos, and podcast about the different aspects of adventure cats. You can find so many resources on the KittyCatGO website, including collars for your adventure cat that Emily had makes herself!