Alberta’s most-loved cat, Gary the Cat, has been skiing with his owner, James, since 2019. I recently spoke with the pair about their rise to fame, life as adventurers, and the changes in the Rocky Mountain landscapes in the last few years.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hi Gary and James. Thanks for taking some time to talk with me.
James: For sure.
Gary: My pleasure.
So tell me, you two, what’s the best place you’ve been to?
James: For me, it would be the glacial ice caves we’ve hiked to. When I’m not out with Gary, I do a lot of mountaineering, and I think glaciers are super cool. They’re temporary things – all the caves we’ve gone to have melted and no longer exist. To be able to go to them at all, and to go with my cat, it’s special.
Gary: My favourite spots are defined by the quality of the snacks and the grass on the trail. We were recently in Jasper and walked up to Old Fort Point. The Jasper wildfire burned through this area, but it’s starting to regenerate. There’s lots of lush post-wildfire grass up there.
There’s a certain level of hope there.
Gary: The forest looks different, but life is coming back and it’s already super lush up there.
Gary, what’s your favourite snack after a long hike?
Gary: On the trail, I like to eat grass. But if humans provide the treats, my favourite is ham, followed closely by lobster and crab. I’m a very bougie cat. Chicken is low on my list, for example. It’s not good enough.
How are you managing the fame?
Gary: I’ve always thought very highly of myself. I’m finally being publicly recognized for who I’ve always been.
James: Having a famous cat is strange. My life is not always normal. Trying to explain to people the things that I do because I have a famous cat is hard. This year, an Alberta Jeep dealer gave us a Jeep to drive around. When I tell people that my cat got a jeep, people wonder if it’s a tiny cat-sized one. It’s weird to say no; it’s a full-size jeep that we pay for in cat photos.
Gary: I’m the famous one, though. People recognize you if you’re out with me, James, but you mostly don’t get recognized if you’re out alone.
Most people know me. And even if people don’t, I’m a sight to see. I wear goggles when it’s bright – the reflection of the winter sun on the snow is too much for my eyes, and even sometimes in the summer when we’re up above the tree line, I wear them. I look very good in my goggles.
Gary, I heard you don’t like being petted. Could you tell me about this? Do strangers try to pet you?
Gary: Strangers on the trail do kind of bother me. I’ll walk when other people are not around, but when there are other people, I’ll stop and let James pick me up. When I’m on James’ shoulders, I’ll tolerate a quick scratch from people I don’t know. I’m just a bit wary of new people. Even at home, I’m not a very affectionate cat. You can pet me with your eyes, and that’s it.
James: Yes, but when you do want affection, it’s very special because cuddling you is like cuddling a cloud. It’s a bit of a crime that you don’t like it more.
I’m curious about what it’s been like exploring the natural world. What’s the most intense weather system you’ve had to manage?
James: We’re usually pretty choosy about the days we go out, so we haven’t caught anything crazy. We did a sunrise hike up to Lake Louise’s Plain of the Six Glaciers, and it started hailing on us. It was a bit gross.
Gary: This was when you picked me up and put me in my backpack.
James: You prefer to be on my shoulders, but that day, you were dry and happy in that backpack.
Gary: You were less dry and less happy.
Gary, how do you protect your lungs when the forest fire smoke gets thick?
Gary: Kind of like everybody else does. You have to manage the smoke. On really bad smoke days, we don’t do anything too crazy. We’ve taken a few photos in and around forest fires, but we usually just stop and do a quick pose. I don’t like hiking in smoke.
What are your thoughts about the increasing number of forest fires in recent years?
James: Part of my job is fire management. The increase in fires means Gary does fewer adventures because I’m working more. That’s probably the most significant change we’ve experienced. The increase in smoke days is not conducive to going outside, as Gary is too fluffy for the heat.
Gary: I much prefer cooler adventures. We’ll avoid going outside on really crispy or smoky days.
What changes have you noticed in your favourite landscapes over the last few years?
Gary: Some of the fire-affected areas are the most talked-about changes. But the most dramatic changes we’ve experienced are on the glaciers we’ve hiked to or been on. We’ve gone to some really cool ice caves – we check them out in spring, and by the middle of summer, they’ve melted and gone. The first glacier that I walked on was the Bow Glacier. James and I went up there again this year, about five years later. The amount of change and retreat in such a short time was pretty significant. Things are changing in the mountains. It’s a little depressing.
James: Last year, the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper lost ice during the winter. We’re not even seeing those reprieves over the winter months. Things are accelerating. Ice caves are always temporary but do not last nearly as long as they once did.
What are your thoughts on preserving the forests and reducing fire risks?
Gary: People start a lot of forest fires. It’s not just abandoned campfires that start forest fires. It’s your exhaust pipe heating up when off-roading and lighting the ground cover on fire. You can throw a glass bottle in the ditch, and the sun that refracts through it can start a fire when it’s dry enough. Just be mindful when you’re out on the landscape.
James: If you live near a forested area, I strongly encourage you to undergo a fire-smart assessment and follow all the recommendations. Fire-smart works well. We can’t change the fact that we have bigger fires, but we have some pretty effective ways of protecting people. It’s worth looking into if you’re in a spot affected by fires.
What’s the best part about your job?
Gary: I see many beautiful places, and James carries me around to most of them.
James: And you never offer to carry me.
Gary: James carries me uphill, and then I walk downhill. I get to spend lots of time outside and I don’t have to work very hard for it.
James: Wouldn’t it be nice?
What’s the worst part of your job?
Gary: The pets from strangers.
