A rescue cat has change into a social media star after turning to a lifetime of journey – going snowboarding, mountain climbing and paddle boarding whereas sporting mini goggles and jackets along with his energetic homeowners.
Erin Geldermans, 32, and Daniel “Dan” Schreck, 37, adopted their cat Liebchen in September 2020 and instantly began taking their kitten in all places on a leash and of their backpacks.
After occurring hikes, boating and paddle boarding journeys in addition to to bars and eating places of their hometown of Aspen in Colorado, Liebchen has change into a social media sensation with practically 180,000 followers on Instagram.
Erin, who’s ending grad faculty to work in trauma and dependancy restoration remedy, even put protecting clothes on Liebchen for his or her shared adventures, like pet snowboarding goggles to guard the cat’s eyes on snowy journeys with accomplice Dan, who works within the out of doors business.
Sooner or later, the couple hopes to take their beloved pet on journeys overseas and probably even on helicopter rides.
Their adventurous lives collectively began when the couple adopted Liebchen at 9 weeks of age in September 2020.
Erin and Dan began leash coaching their kitten instantly.
“I saw a lot of cool adventure cats on the internet, so I wanted to try it with Liebchen too”, Erin remembered.
“He always wanted to go outside but where we live in the mountains in Colorado, there are many predators like mountain lions, bobcats, bears and coyotes, so he can’t go out on his own.”
She added: “He only weighed two pounds when we got him, so the harness barely fit him, but we just took him everywhere.
“We would take him on hikes and road trips, to bars and restaurants. Aspen’s very pet friendly so they were like ‘oh my gosh, bring him in.’
“We just started socialising him, walking with him and taking him literally everywhere right away at 10 weeks old.”
Residing within the excellent place to go on adventures in nature, Erin and Dan, who’ve been collectively for greater than three years, have taken Liebchen on hikes, snowboarding, driving on a snowmobile, tenting, biking and paddle boarding.
Liebchen has even accompanied the couple when visiting their households by way of airplane in Michigan in addition to on highway journeys to among the many nationwide parks within the US.
Erin mentioned: “Liebchen’s favourite thing is just exploring our neighbourhood. He loves smelling things, meeting dogs and exploring the woods on hikes.”
The couple’s four-legged good friend is provided with loads of gear for his or her varied adventures to get pleasure from every thing safely.
She mentioned: “We always have a harness and leash on him to be safe, but we also got goggles to protect his eyes from snow blindness.
“You sunburn very easily where we live and even burn your eyes. We knew we needed some kind of protection for him and our friends had these dog goggles, so we got some for Liebchen.”
She added: “He didn’t mind them from the beginning and while we truly got them for his protection, they also look really cute.”
Their “super chill” cat, who additionally owns cute jackets and blankets to maintain him heat within the chilly Colorado winters, additionally loves something to do with water and incessantly joins the couple within the bathe, tub or throughout paddle boarding and boating journeys.
“We don’t have an explanation for why he likes water. He’s very clingy, but when he first came into the shower with us, we were really surprised. He even swims around us when we’re swimming in a lake”, she mentioned.
For his or her snowboarding journeys, both Dan or Erin have Liebchen beneath their coats or in Liebchen’s designated backpack.
They’re very cautious, ensuring that their fluffy companion is secure.
Erin mentioned: “He likes to climb up our shoulder, but it can get a little unsafe. I mean it’s not entirely safe to ski with a cat anyway, but we’ve both skied forever and we don’t clip him in or anything, so if something were to happen, he can get away.”
Erin, Dan and Liebchen should not simply inseparable on their adventures collectively, but in addition of their Aspen residence.
“He always wants to know what we’re doing. He’s very vocal and is always talking to us and when people come by, he greets everyone at the door,” mentioned Erin.
For his or her future adventures, the couple plan on taking their furry good friend scuba diving, or a minimum of to the seaside.
Erin mentioned: “We would love to take him to the beach and try surfing with him. We think it would be so fun.
“He’s never actually seen the ocean, so that’s on our bucket list. We can finally travel with him internationally soon, now that things are opening up with Covid more and more.
“We really want to take him to the Dutch Antilles as they have really loose rules on bringing cats. We both scuba dive and maybe he can come. Scuba diving itself is something he cannot do ever – he’d hate it – but it’d be fun to take him on the boat with us.”
She added: “We’d also love to take him on a helicopter, for example to go heli skiing where they take you in a helicopter to the mountain top and you ski down.
“We’re just really excited to go on many more adventures with him.”
Since Liebchen joined Erin and Dan’s two-bedroom residence in Aspen simply over two years in the past he has change into an necessary a part of their lives.
Erin mentioned: “Dan and I were really interested in getting a cat and we knew we wanted to rescue one.
“One day, my friend sent me a Facebook post from a local animal shelter and she was like, look at this little orange fluffy baby.
“I knew that I need this cat. Something just felt so right about his picture.”
She added: “He was so cute and so fluffy. I actually didn’t tell Dan that we were going to meet him and it was kind of a surprise.
“Liebchen was in the corner of the create, hissing at the other kittens, having an attitude, but he came right up to Dan.
“So Dan held him first and we fell in love instantly. We took him home and it was amazing right away – he slept with us on the first night, cuddled in right between us. It was so sweet, he’s just our little best friend and we’re inseparable.”
Liebchen’s title is in honour of Erin’s mum’s cat she used to have when she was the identical age as Erin.
Erin mentioned: “Liebchen means Sweetheart in German and while it’s more of a feminine name, it suits him really well.
“He’s so sweet and cuddly. He’s definitely the most chill cat. He’s really outgoing and likes to meet people, he loves dogs and kids.”
She added: “He’s such a little sweetheart and I feel like naming him that kind of manifested it.”
To comply with Liebchen’s adventures, go to his Instagram
