The summertime is the perfect time to get outside with those we love, including our four-legged friends! Here’s a list of tips to enjoy the outdoors while ensuring your pets stay safe, healthy and happy in the wilderness!

1. Start with shorter hikes and incrementally increase the length of time spent on the trail.

2. Take regular breaks (not difficult when you’re taking in the scenery with your buddy)!

3. A sturdy harness is essential for dog or cat. I highly recommend Ruffwear and Puppia products, though it’s best to go to a local retailer to try on the gear for sizing and comfort purposes.

4. Bring sufficient water for both you and your pets. For a day hike, humans should consume a liter of water (32 oz.) every two hours we’re actively burning calories and hiking; while pets generally need to consume an ounce of water per pound of their body weight over the course of the day. Though with the great options for water filters out there today (Sawyer filters are great), it’s rather unnecessary to bring all the water you and your pets plan to consume, but always carry a bottle or bladder on you. Check the trail map before you go out to make sure there are water sources along your route. On hotter days, your pets generally need to consume more water.

5. If your dog is healthy, energetic and over a year old yet under 10 years old, feel free to strap a dog backpack on her/him and allow them to help you carry some of
the weight. Do not let their pack weight exceed 15% of their body weight. For a 70 lb. dog, that would be about 10 lbs. It’s best to avoid putting sharp objects in their pack, and only give them items that are light and that you don’t mind getting wet (water, small hand towel, collapsible bowl, etc.). I know from experience with Ollie, my Golden Retriever, that he loves to jump into any puddle, pond or lake he sees, and sometimes he sees them before I do when he runs ahead. As well, make sure to be wary of any hot spots that the pack might create, and if so, change it out for a different pack. A pack that works well for one dog might not work well for another, so take the time to research and experiment with a few different options before settling on one. Again, I like the Ruffwear backpacks, but while one Ruffwear pack initially caused hot spots on his underarms, another Ruffwear pack is the perfect fit and he loves it!

6. Use some form of a tick preventative on your pet. There are many options to choose from to keep ticks away from your pet – tick collars, sprays, chewables, even essential oil concoctions. Just be sure it’s safe and effective.

7. Bring a small first aid kit that includes gauze and a set of tweezers for removing ticks. An optional component would be to add essential oils like lavender to heal any small wounds that might come from getting cut and scraped on the rocks. Lavender is safe for animals, and many essential oil companies also sell animal-friendly EO’s to aid in healing or preventing infection of any kind.

8. If sun exposure is an issue on your hike, feel free to apply just a dab of a healthy sunblock to your pets nose as they can burn just as you do.

Specifically for cats:

1. To make sure indoor cats acclimate comfortably and safely to the outdoors, it’s best to start out on a deck or porch, then move to a backyard, followed by a nearby park, and then move onto trails.
2. All cats are different and they’ll adjust at their own pace, so have patience and be kind to your four-legged friend – it’s a whole new world for them.
3. For cats, it’s again essential to have a sturdy and comfortable harness and leash system that works for you and your pet. There are many options to choose from including walking jackets that wrap around your cat’s entire torso, but you may want to avoid harnesses and jackets that solely use velcro to keep them securely fastened, as it can easily split open when a cat pulls. I personally use a Puppia or Ruffwear harness for Loki, my Maine Coon, and go between using a handsfree leash or handheld leash that I attach to my pack. Loki and Ollie (my Golden Retriever) get along so well that sometimes I can even attach their leashes to one another, allowing them to walk each other. Again, all cats are unique but I highly recommend them wearing a leash at all times when hiking.
4. If you notice your cat panting or lifting their paws in any sort of pain or distress, take a break or pick them up and put them atop your pack. Loki loves the bird’s eye view, and with an anti-gravity pack, I barely feel my 13 pound cat (Osprey packs are my personal favorite and many of their packs have a wonderful anti-gravity system included). When you first start venturing out into the wild with your cat, you may find that you’re carrying them most of the time, so get comfortable with that scenario and again, be patient. But you’ll soon find them wanting to get off your back/out of your arms and walk alongside you (at least that’s what happened in Loki’s case). When they start walking on the trail, be sure to move at their pace and not your own. At first, I was carrying Loki about 80% of the time and now he walks about 80% of the time. He’s been hiking for a little over a year and he’s 11 years old, so he’s a testament to the fact that anything is possible.
5. Even if/when your cat starts to enjoy walking on the trail, you may want to offer them a little help and pick them up to cross muddy or wet areas, such as swamps or streams.
6. You may notice that your cat doesn’t want to drink or eat during short breaks on the trail, and this is completely normal. Don’t sweat it. When you get to that gorgeous mountain lake and spread out a blanket or put up a tent, they’ll usually get the message that it’s time to relax and imbibe.

7. Stay positive and try not to get frustrated if they don’t immediately love hiking, it’s a learned art for most indoor cats, so enjoy the journey with them. Giving them all your positive energy makes it more enjoyable for them and will make them want to continue adventuring with you in the long run.

8. Cats like to feel protected, so if you’re able, consider bringing along a lumbar pack or collapsible backpack you can stuff in your pack while hiking. Most of the time I don’t even have to take it out while hiking (unless a storm is passing through), but it does come in handy. This will help not only during inclement weather but also during breaks, when you’ll find they naturally seek out the safety of an enclosed space near you to rest and recuperate. Sometimes even the underside of a compact umbrella is a secure enough fortress for your cat when you’re taking breaks on long hikes.

9.  On the trail, you’ll undoubtedly encounter other four-legged friends who may not interact well with your cat, so to prevent a bad situation, it’s best to merely scoop up your cat and carry them until others have passed. Loki luckily has not only myself but Ollie, a dog who really loves him and protects him in any given situation.

10. Pack a rain jacket for both you and your cat.

11 .Enjoy the adventure. Happy trails and happy tails!