Unlikely Animal Friends Full Episode | Cat Best Friends 😻 | Nat Geo Kids

Cats. They're fluffy, fabulous, and incredibly friendly. I have never seen a cat be this loving towards all species. We're turning the idea of man's best friend upside down. We're gonna go see your buddy. Not fearsome foes, but back-rubbing besties, and two kittens with a nanny of the most unusual kind. The cats out of the bag on these unlikely feline friendships. At the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter in Tennessee, one stray animal became a special staff member. He's a three-year-old cat named Pumpkin. This feline strolls the halls to greet new animals and comfort sick and scared ones. A shelter is a very high stress level situation for most animals, but Pumpkin really tries and does calm down a lot of these animals. Pumpkin's an unlikely colleague for shelter supervisor Julie Arms. Pumpkin is one of the happiest animals, not even just cats, but animals I have ever seen. And Pumpkin has a sidekick, Batman the rat. Pumpkin and Batman are the best of friends. They sleep together. They take little naps together. They'll come up on our lobby desks and just kind of hang out and greet the public together. Cats and rats are unusual companions. Normally, a rat would be food to a cat, but in this situation, they're both affectionate towards each other. When it comes to caring for other species, Pumpkin's in a class all his own. I have never seen a cat, any animal, be this loving towards all species. This kitty first showed he was special when he arrived at the shelter as a one-year-old. There are certain animals that hit your heart. Pumpkin always wanted attention, always wanted love, so we decided that he was going to be one of the ones that stayed here. He is a shelter mascot. Then shelter staff realized Pumpkin's affection extended past people to other animals. As the months went on, he would go to the front door when he would see people in the parking lot and meow, and it was his way of welcoming people. Whatever animal they brought in, he would just immediately, hi, I'm going to love you too, and, you know, welcome to our shelter. Altruism isn't just a human attribute. Animals can display empathy and altruistic behaviors. It's most common in complex social groups where prey depends on each other to escape predators. Pumpkin may just see all these animals as wounded and has assumed the role of their protector. One day, Pumpkin revealed his incredible compassion. We brought in a goose that had been pretty badly injured after being hit by a car, and here comes Pumpkin. That goose settled down as soon as Pumpkin jumped up on that table. We were all kind of shocked by that, you know, a wild animal was calmed down by our cat, Pumpkin. Seeing Pumpkin nurture animals of all shapes and sizes, Julie brought in a companion rat. Batman is very special. He's a Dumbo-eared rat that is colored like a Siamese cat. We got him from another animal control officer when he was a baby. In true Pumpkin fashion, he took the newcomer under his wing. We were cleaning out his cage, and Pumpkin just jumped right in, and we were all kind of taken aback at first because we're like, okay, a cat and a rat, you know, this may not turn out well. Pumpkin laid down and just started cleaning Batman, and Batman returned it. He started cleaning Pumpkin's ears. They kind of rolled around together, and Pumpkin just kind of mothered Batman. Pumpkin's unusual kindness has earned him a special place in the shelter. Pumpkin's presence at this shelter is extremely important. We have animals that come in that are scared. They've been taken away from their homes. They are lost. There are new sounds, new smells, new people that these animals have to get used to, and that's very scary for a lot of animals. Pumpkin comes in, greets every one of them, and he kind of relays the message that you're in good hands. You will be safe here. You'll be fed properly here. Today, this special cat is checking in on a brand new litter of squealing kittens. Pumpkin has a very calming way about him. He's very patient, especially with kittens. He kind of acts like a parent figure for them. My good boy. I am here to look for kittens that might go into our foster program. I was pretty surprised to see Pumpkin interact as he does with different animals. He loves everybody, and he's very outgoing. It doesn't matter if you want him there or not. If Pumpkin wants to be there, that's where he will be. Pumpkin's giving nature is even more admirable. He suffers from his own health issues. Pumpkin has what's called FIV. It's feline immunodeficiency virus. Basically, his immune system doesn't work as well as it should. You can see here his cleft palate, where his lips sort of do not connect together there. You can kind of see, if you look close enough, his front teeth. His left eye here, he has a small scar. I think his own health issues might be part of the reason he's so loving with other animals. I think that it's he who wants to make that connection with other animals to kind of, you know, assure them that they're going to be okay. As part of the Oak Ridge Police Department, the shelter gets some uniformed visitors who come by to check on cases or to say hello to their favorite feline. Good. Pumpkin, how are you this morning? Some officers will just pick up Pumpkin and give him a little bit of love and he reciprocates. They do have very difficult jobs and they get stressed out and there is nothing better than petting a cat. Pumpkin brightens your day. It doesn't matter what kind of problems you had up to them. You walk in the shelter and you have an animal greet you and their love is unconditional. I can't say that I've ever seen an animal quite like Pumpkin. At the end of the day, this special cat might be soothing help to two and four-legged friends alike. We want these animals here to feel safe and secure. Pumpkin helps do that with all the love that he gives. Being a cat, he just does something that we as humans are unable to do with these animals. This tiny cheetah cub had a rough start in life. He is one of four cubs that were born to an 11-year-old mother and after a short period of time, the mother decided not to raise the cubs. The staff at Florida's Jacksonville Zoo where he's born can't raise him themselves. So they turned to the staff at Bush Gardens in Tampa. As with any young baby, the cub needs a lot of attention. He required 24-hour care when he arrived here. The zoological staff takes turns bringing the tiny cub home every night. They name the rambunctious cheetah cub Kasi, which means speed in Swahili. Even though Kasi is healthy, the staff still feels like something is missing. Since the park's resident cheetahs are adults, the staff looks for a young buddy for Kasi. When looking for a best friend for an orphaned cheetah cub, the obvious choice is, of course, a Labrador Retriever puppy. Kasi was about six weeks old when he met his new friend, the Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retrievers are such a great breed of dog. Everyone has either had one in their home or they know someone that's had one in their home. They're a great social dog. The cheetah and the puppy have something else in common. They're both rescues. Kasi is a rescued cheetah, and so we wanted to find a rescued dog to live with him for the rest of his life so they could be great companions. The puppy quickly proves herself to be the perfect temperament to be best friends with a cheetah. So the staff names her Matani, Swahili for close friend. The second that I met Matani, I knew that she was going to be the right dog. Matani is the epitome of the Labrador Retriever, the dog, the best friend, and she happens to be best friends with a cheetah. Morning, puppy. Hi, good morning. Matani is actually in charge of this relationship. This is actually by design. Matani was a little bit larger. She was a little bit stronger. And so that she could set her precedent, knowing that in the end, Matani is going to be about 60 pounds and Kasi is actually going to be probably closer to 100 pounds. Even at six months old, they're extremely agile. And you would think that the cheetah, being the fastest land animal, would already be faster than the dog, but honestly, she's still got some speed on him. This is a very typical play session. As you can see, the cheetah's natural behavior is to lay on his back and play with using his feet. And the dog is more of the dominant animal, and she typically kind of stands over him and engages him from the top. In order for two predators, because cheetah is a predator, dog is a predator, for two predators to coexist, one of them have to be submissive. And it's best that the cheetah is submissive, because that way the cheetah has direction and protection from the dog. Kasi and the park's other cheetahs help bring attention to the plight of the cheetah in Africa. Kasi is a great ambassador for cheetahs because he was able to survive. And being a survivor in the cheetah world is a really important thing. For Kasi and Matani, although they're ambassadors for rescued and threatened animals, their lives consist mainly of playing around. And the hope is that they'll spend the rest of their lives doing just that together. Life expectancy of the cheetah and the Labrador Retriever are pretty much the same. They both live about 10 to 15 years, and so we expect Kasi and Matani to be together for life and both of them to have a long life. For some predators, what could be prey becomes a friend on the way to adulthood. Breeders contact a Florida wildlife reserve to surrender a three-month-old Siberian lynx cub they can't keep. The reserve's founder, Deborah Warrick, realizes Malishka can educate visitors about the species. Warrick temporarily takes the cub into her home, but before long there's a wrinkle. A neighbor calls her with a rescued wild fawn. When we first got Amira, she was a newborn and she was hungry. And from what I was told by the people who found her in a ditch, the mother had been chased off by dogs. There was no time to wait for the mother to return. Another 24 hours, she probably would not have survived. Newborns don't have any scent that enables them to hide from predators, but eventually the baby is going to get hungry and it's going to get up. So it was only a matter of time before dogs found her. Deborah moves the deer and the lynx into their own permanent places on the reserve. But to the surprise of the staff, Amira seeks out Malishka in her cage. The deer would kept getting closer and closer to this cage and they would actually lick each other through the fence. And then one day Margaret took the lynx out for a little while and she was walking her. And suddenly Amira just appeared out of nowhere. And I remember Margaret saying, oh, what are we going to do? Get the deer out of here. And I said, no, let's just see what happens. She had the lynx on a secure leash. So what could possibly happen? The deer just waltzed right up to her. No hesitation and just started licking and licking and licking and grooming and licking down in her ear. And the lynx was purring. And we just were standing there with our mouths open going, oh my gosh. She's done it pretty much every time we take the lynx out now. The deer comes running up and they do their little grooming session. Margaret Gomez, reserve volunteer, believes imprinting is the cause. They were raised together and they were raised in an environment where they did not ever have to hunt. And it's a curiosity between the two for each other that these two animals could have a positive interaction and a curiosity and an affection for each other. So it's very interesting. She would actually start following the lynx around. And I think she may have adopted that as her mother because the lynx is the same color as a deer. So she's fluffy and warm and furry. So that would make sense that that would remind her of her mom. The bond is remarkable because in the wild, deer as big as Amira are a Siberian lynx's favorite prey. Malishka's behaviors are a mixed bag. Malishka still does act like a cat though once in a while. She'll just try and surprise her or stalk her. But she never has her claws out and it's a very different behavior than when she's hunting. When she's hunting, she gets low to the ground. She flattens her ears. She sticks her tail underneath her and it's none of that with the deer. Especially when she gets close to the chickens and the goats, you'll see more of a predatory mode. She'll slink down and, you know, it's pretty obvious she's in hunt mode. Guys, you're pushing your luck. Hang on tight to that leash. Yeah, I got it. You still want to try it? Yeah. That's breakfast. Amira is obviously more playmate than prey date, but the staff still supervises. It's not wise to leave a predator alone with a prey species. Even if they seem to love each other, anything can happen. The deer could give off a signal that triggers the predator-prey response in the lynx. You know, she could jump up, she could run, she could just act like food, and that's going to trigger that response. And the lynx is going to chase, so there. In an unlikely game of cat and mouse, a lynx and a deer enjoy a supervised play date. We just keep Malishka on a leash and let Amira come as close as she feels comfortable to doing. By nature, lynxes like their alone time. As Malishka, Russian for little child, reaches adulthood, the staff realizes her bond with Amira may end. Here we have a deer that's gregarious and likes to be around other deer, mixing with a lynx that is solitary. In the wild, she would be a solitary animal. Especially a doe would probably remain with the herd, would stay with her mother and become part of that herd, whereas the lynx would also stay with its mother for about a year, and then they go their own way. Despite the odds, the staff will let them enjoy the bond as long as they can. In any event, their futures are set. Malishka has a job to do. Most people don't know that there are lynxes in Russia or Asia or the Middle East. They think of our Canadian lynx, so we let them know, we create an awareness that this species does exist, and we also tell them about how the habitat destruction is destroying where they live. They were hunted in Russia and in Asia, and the only part of the pelt that they use is that nice soft-spotted belly fur, so it takes about 75 of these beautiful animals to make one full-length coat. And what kind of assignment does St. Augustine give Amira the deer? To enjoy a long life. Amira is always going to have a nice habitat to roam and good food and never have to worry about a predator. It's a stress-free environment here for her, so Amira should do well. They got a lot of years ahead of them here at the reserve, and they're going to stay right here. Southern charm and hospitality are rooted in the rivers and squares of Savannah, Georgia. Lifelong residents Libby Miller and Gay Fortson push those traditions to the limit when it comes to their house full of pets. We have four dogs, two birds, and two cats all under this little house, and they all live very happily together. Good girls. Fortune has smiled on their rescue tabby Lucky ever since Gay and Libby brought him into their home. Lucky was a feral cat. Lucky is a very independent cat, yet he also loves to be other people. Come on. Good morning, Lucky. But Lucky's favorite playmate is what most cats would normally want for breakfast. We're going to go see your buddy. Look who's waiting for you. His best buddy is a cockatoo named Coco. Say hello. Hello. Good morning. This is Lucky the cat, and this is Coco the cockatoo, and they are best friends. Good morning. Hello there. You ready for some breakfast, huh? You are? Good. Okay, come on. Coco is an umbrella cockatoo. She's got the name because she fluffs up. She's probably about 15 or 16 inches tall, and her wingspan is probably double that. We got Lucky and Coco around the same time. Coco was about 10 years old when we got her, and Lucky was, golly, just a wee kitten. They're probably like twins. They love each other. They love to hang out. When these housemates first met in 2006, the resident pecking order was up for grabs. Libby made sure to have her camera rolling. Coco is right there, and all of a sudden, Lucky jumps up on the end of my bed. Ow, ow, ow. Oh, not nice. Is he biting him? He's going to climb up. And it kind of scared me at first. The fearless cockatoo continued her feline inspection. It's Lucky sleeping. It was just an amazing show of affection between two animals that literally could do serious harm to the other, but it was just amazing. For Lucky and Coco, fur and feathers converge in a surprising friendship. Coco starts caressing Lucky and just feeling her fur, and Lucky's like, oh, I think I kind of like this. And so toward the end of it, you see Coco really kind of getting in, wanting to feel Lucky's neck. And Lucky was really digging it and turned to look at Coco like, oh, thanks. I could have a little bit more around my ear. Coco and Lucky are engaging in what's called mutual grooming. This is affiliative behavior. It's bonding behavior. Coco scratches Lucky. Lucky rubs against Coco. It brings them together like a family. The inseparable pair have now been living together for over 10 years. I think that Lucky and Coco probably recognize that they have been together since the first time they were brought into the house. And so for that, there probably is some sort of kindred spirit. Coco is a really, really cool bird, and she's definitely part of the family and part of Lucky's life, a big part of Lucky's life. And yet inside, he will cuddle right up next to Coco and not even give it a second thought that he would even want to eat that bird. Oh, yeah. Hey, baby. What's going on here is that Lucky isn't seeing Coco as a potential prey item because he sees her as an individual and as a member of their family because they've spent so much time together. And what that does is allow Lucky to squelch that natural predatory instinct. All right, time to make some grits. Libby, you want some grits for the babies? Oh, man, they are ready. Yeah. Both waiting on the grits. Even at breakfast, these two are at each other's side. Some eggs. Every morning for breakfast, we'll get up and fix grits and eggs and bacon and toast. Oh, yum. It's a big thing in our house. The grits are very important. Oh, yeah. Thank you, Mama. Good girl. Boy. Coco loves grits and eggs. We like our grits. Yeah. We like our grits. What? Lucky will eat anything he can get his mouth on. Look at this. Except for the bird. Sorry. You want any more? Are you full? When it's time to relax, these two love to cuddle on the couch. One of my favorite times with Coco and Lucky is when we get to sit and watch movies. And Coco will snuggle up with me, and Lucky will be in my lap. Normally, you would have dogs all in your lap, but it's a bird and a cat, and we just watch a movie together. Really? They love sitting together like this, just relaxing and really, I guess, just being loved. Was that cause them to want to be together? Maybe he feels good on his mouth or something. But there's obviously some sort of bond. You could see they look each other in the eyes, and there's just something unique, something that drew them to each other. And it has grown into a sweet little love between the two of them. Coco and Lucky, this unusual pair is a living proof that anyone can get along, no matter how tasty they might look. To have something that's so loving and sweet like that, a bird and a cat that are loving each other, yeah, it's amazing. Love is in the air at the Arizona Humane Society too. Here, there's one animal that goes beyond being an unlikely friend. This one helps others in need. Boots, a golden retriever chow mix, is this animal shelter's most unusual volunteer. They call him the Kitten Man. With Boots volunteering here, the kittens learn that there is a positive, safe way for them to be around dogs. A kitten in a shelter environment, having this experience around a dog makes them more adoptable. This mutt's owner, Susan Jorgensen, also volunteers here, but Boots has some unique canine qualities. I think the fact that Boots is part golden retriever is the part that makes him more nurturing. He's a very personable dog. He can be a very fun-loving dog too. Boots is a hero to shelter kittens today, but it all got started with some in-home training. Boots, the golden retriever chow mix, became fast friends with Susan Jorgensen. We had been foster parents of baby kittens, so bringing a new dog that we knew nothing about into our home was something we had to make sure was going to be safe for everyone. When he came in, the kittens were meowing, and he ran straight to them. We all three just sat down together and witnessed Boots start licking them and taking care of them. Over a decade later, Boots is paying it back. He's now working for the organization that saved his life. One of my first projects was to bring a dog in. Susan mentioned Boots and how great Boots is with all of her foster kittens, and lo and behold, the Boots kitten nanny was born. At the shelter's nursery, Boots helps kittens to be more adoptable. So many people have dogs in their homes already. If we can prepare these kittens and get them adjusted to dogs before they go into these homes, it makes them so much easier for everybody in the household to get along later. Oh, good girl. Yeah, you're gonna have fun with the nanny? He's coming today. The kitten nanny even has his own uniform. The vest is his uniform. It's his way of knowing that it's his day and his time to go to work. After only seeing and smelling Boots, it's time for an inexperienced kitten to get up close and personal with a canine mentor. We're going to bring over one kitten that has never met Boots before, so this will be a new introduction. Stay. Stay. Well, Boots is actually getting excited. He knows once the pen is set up, that means that it's time for the babies to come and meet him. Boots is the perfect dog for the job. Boots is very laid back, and that's exactly what is needed for the kittens, so they do not get stressed and they do not get scared by a dog. So far, so good. Yeah, staying nice and relaxed. She's curious about the environment, but I don't think she realizes Boots is living. I think it's because he's so calm. Kittens are most receptive to new experiences between two and seven weeks. After that window, anything unfamiliar can be threatening, so Boots is having a huge positive impact on them this early in life. This is exactly what we like to see. Boots is in his element of relaxation, and this kitten is very relaxed while it's learning. Golden Retrievers are known for their kind behavior. They're called Velcro dogs because they always want a companion, making them ideal family dogs, and they're very sweet with children, much like Boots is with the kittens. Now, this cat whisperer deserves a break. So it's time for Boots to decompress and socialize with people for a while. I'm often asked, does Boots like his job? And the only way I can answer that is it's become very hard for me to even leave my home without Boots because he thinks every time I'm going somewhere, he's coming here. He loves to come here. Boots' volunteer position is seasonal. He comes in at least once a week and is here at least four to six hours a day. Boots assumes his position back in the pen, and Susan brings in a litter that Boots has met before. This group of kittens, this is their at least second time being with Boots, and you can see that they are very comfortable around him. Boots' calming influence on the kittens even helps when it's time to bathe them. We've found that if we include Boots, then they actually relax a little bit more. See, there's your big buddy. Some kittens just do not like a bath, but we have found that some kittens will be more comfortable in his presence. They may look over at him as a sign of comfort during that time. I can't tell you how lucky we are to have Boots here. He's just been so perfect. We can't possibly imagine this program without him. It's been a successful day. Thanks to this unlikely animal helper, another litter's ready for loving homes. As a final gesture, Boots helps tuck his kittens in. Say goodnight, kitties. It's a sunny morning in Norwalk, Connecticut. Holly LeBlanc has three animals. One of them is an orange tabby cat named Gus. This 10-year-old kitty has an unlikely best buddy. You want to go say good morning to Wallace? It's a Flemish giant rabbit named Wallace. Gus and Wallace are like brothers. They love spending time with each other. Over 10 years ago, the four-month-old kitten was rescued from the Humane Society. One day, Holly got a Flemish giant rabbit named Wallace. I had heard that they were a really great breed, really personable. When Gus met the newcomer, he was curious and sniffed the unknown creature. In return, Wallace hopped around as if he was parading in front of the resident cat. They were very interested in each other. I don't believe Wallace had ever seen a cat, and I know Gus had never seen a rabbit before. Same in color, different in species, Gus and Wallace are unusual besties. Wallace is very outgoing and curious, so he didn't run away when Gus was interested in him. Soon, the two were snuggling up every chance they could get. They started to do a lot together and really love each other. Years later, this unlikely duo spends most of their time together. Like many siblings, they tease each other, but most of all, they play. Gus and Wallace's favorite thing to do together, they chase each other up and down the hallway, around the living room. Gus seems to know to be gentle with Wallace. He never gets too rough with him. It's important to remember that rabbits are like any other pet, and they need exercise. You shouldn't keep them in their cage all the time, so these two toying around is certainly healthy for both of them. Rabbits have powerful hind legs to leap away from predators. Some rabbits can leap over 10 feet and run up to 40 miles an hour. But instead of escaping from Gus, Wallace always hops closer to his playmate. In fact, Wallace rarely leaves his feline friend's side. They nap together. They groom each other. They lay in each other's beds. They use each other's toys. They both really enjoy cardboard boxes, so they'll play with those together. This pair doesn't just sport a similar coat. They're also close in size. Flemish Giants are one of the largest rabbit breeds. They can grow to be 30 inches in length and weigh 20 pounds. The average healthy weight for a tabby is around 10 pounds, so maybe the similarity in size is part of the reason that Wallace and Gus became such good friends. I'm so happy that Gus has found this friendship in Wallace. I hope they get to spend many more years being friends. Salt Lake City, Utah. This beautiful part of the U.S. is a mecca for rock climbers like Craig Armstrong. I do love to rock climb. It's my main hobby. Utah affords endless climbing opportunities. It's ridiculous. It's a year-round activity here. Craig's found a unique climbing buddy. I would say our climbing styles complement each other. All right, Millie, let's go. She's agile, she always lands on her feet, and best of all, she has nine lives. Meet Millie, the climbing cat. Good girl. I feel great about having a cat as a rock climbing partner. She's non-stop fun. The adventurous duo have conquered many of Utah's peaks, from Little Wild Horse Canyon to Stansbury Island and Devil's Golf Ball. Millie loves to seek high ground. She loves to climb rocks. She loves to climb trees. She loves to climb people, bookshelves. She's my little feline adventure partner. Millie is my first cat. My girlfriend and I went to the rescue center, and she jumped right up on my shoulders, so we pretty much knew right away she was going home with us. Millie loves to be around people. She's very curious, and she definitely likes to get on top of anything. Craig's girlfriend, Julianne, noticed their bond from the start. When Millie was little, Craig taught her to climb up the front of his body, so she still does that, and every morning she runs up to him, climbs up the front of him, and gets up on his shoulders, and almost kind of curls around him, and that's truly when I see their bond the most. From the very beginning, I would always call her up to get on top of my shoulders, so my shoulders kind of became her safe place, and anytime she's scared, she kind of seeks me and seeks that high ground on my shoulders as her place of safety. Time for a power breakfast before today's adventure. Millie! It's important to load up before burning calories out on the mountain. The couple also adopted Evelyn, who's not quite as adventurous as her counterpart. Millie's climbing gear is minimal, but essential. Millie! Come on, Millie. Yeah, this is her leash. This is her harness. When I'm climbing, I have a harness attached to me, and she's attached to the harness with this, so she's essentially on belay. So if she falls, she only falls this far. Craig used to just go on trips for himself and with his friends, but now he goes frequently with Millie specifically for catting trips, which are trips with cats. It's already unusual to see a house cat rock climbing, but what is so special about Millie is her self-confidence, and we have to give part of that credit to Craig. He knew to expose her to the environment, and now even as an adult, she's up for adventure. Craig discovered Millie's passion for adventure naturally. When you go rock climbing, there are always dogs at the crag, so I figured I will take my pet, so I'll just bring my cat. She just tried to get on top of every rock around us. So from there on in, I just started taking her on more and more trips. It's so normal for me to take her places and to be camping with her and to have her out in the woods and stuff, so I'd say we're just really, really good travel partners. Millie, look. Look, that's where we're going. There's the mountain. There's Mount Olympus. Equipped with climbing gear and a tight bond, these unlikely thrill-seekers are ready for anything. Craig and his cat Millie have climbed over 20 mountains together. Today, they're climbing close to their home in Salt Lake City to a destination that looms thousands of feet above ground. I go away almost every weekend on climbing trips and take Millie with me. Millie, come on. This way. This way. Good girl. I think Millie might be more of an adrenaline junkie than I am at this point in my life. Millie's climbing skills resemble those of her wild counterpart nearby. Just like domestic cats, mountain lions are great climbers. They use their retractable claws and their really long tails for balance. And if you look at Millie, I think you can see a little bit of a mountain lion in her. Despite Millie's innate advantage, Craig takes every precaution to protect his climbing partner. Okay, we're going. When we're climbing, I feel connected to Millie's safety level and comfort level. That's the main thing I'm concerned about. I don't want her to overheat. I don't want her to get hurt. So, I'm very connected to her energy level, so to speak, and how safe she is and how she's feeling. When we're doing really big climbs, I wear a harness and I attach her to it. So, if she falls, she's on belay. She's attached to me and the rope catches her. Cats have an innate instinctual ability to land on their feet when they're falling or jumping from high surfaces. This is partially due to their knowledge of their body in space, but also because of the flexibility of their spines. The solitary nature of cats makes the bond between these unlikely friends all the more extraordinary. I rock out with Millie just because it's really fun to take her to very crazy places where maybe no other cat has ever been. Okay, we're going. Come on, Millie. Up here. When I rock climbing, she just climbs right beside me. My goal is just for her to experience nature and to get on top of things, but I let her climb as much as she possibly can. I try to just let her do her own thing and see how high she can get. There are times where Millie can't do a certain move, so at those times, I'll put her on my shoulders and just help her get to the top because it's just too dangerous and too hard for her to summit. The unconventional climbing duo tends to raise a few eyebrows on the wall. When someone sees a guy climbing a rock face with a harness on and a cat attached to it, it's a ridiculous scene. So I understand that, but I'm having the time of my life, so it might be weird for them. It's not weird for me at all. These two share a love of the great outdoors, but a 10-pound climbing partner without thumbs does have a downside. Millie's completely different as humans as a rock climbing partner. She can't belay me. She can't save me, but she's just as fun as any other partner. With another climb under her collar, Millie's ready to call it a day. All right, Millie, let's go. Good girl. Now it's time to relax and unwind. Let's get you out of this harness, Millie. You're free. Good girl. Millie is the most important thing in the world to me. I love her to death. I wish she could talk for five minutes of my lifetime. It'd be worth the world. She's changed my life for the better for sure.