I guess this slightly departs from the direction the thread has taken but does having a pet with you increase attention from things like mountain lions and so on? Or would the string keep it occupied?

CSUMarmot wrote:Couldnt you just drag a string behind you when you go climbing?

That's an excellent idea, but I'm afraid its already been thought of.

Okay, my stupid cat-in the-high sierra momemt . . . standing on a windy pass (think it was Glen) sun setting and two guys come up the other side. One of them begins to take pictures and I'm hearing things, like a cat meow and I'm just looking at him, thinking, he's got a cat with him?

So I say to 'em, that this must sound crazy but I hear a cat, and the guys says, no, I didn't want to leave her at home

I'm so suckered that I'm already wondering where he's got all this cat food, not to mention the cat. Duh!

The guy was so good, I fully expected him to take off his pack and pull out a cat, but turned out that he'd had his camera shutter set up with a cat meow. Ha. . . . . okay, you had to be there. What altitude and hunger will do to ya.

In certain parts of SE Asia, they eat dogs.

I had a dog the other day, complete with sauerkraut. Was pretty good ..

You'd better not miss. They are natural born killers.

The best hiking strategy is to buy and carry as much gear as possible. Don't let your cats off easy.