While stopping in for a brewski or a burger at one of the Mount Baker Ski Area lodges, skiers and boarders might be delighted (or disgusted) to find one of the ski area’s eight cats napping in a sunny window or strolling through the crowds.
For the last 25 years, the cats have roamed the ski area, provided companionship and stress relief to employees and helped with rodent control in the summertime, marketing manager Amy Trowbridge said in an email. The first cat, Blaster, was in the employee lodge.
Throughout the year, one full-time staff member keeps the cats up-to-date on vaccinations and vet check-ups and makes sure that food is purchased and feeding schedules are assigned. Various staff at the lodges provide day-to-day care for the pets. Older cats are retired to off-mountain homes for a quieter life, Trowbridge said.
Signs hang around the lodges, reminding visitors that the cats are safe and right at home. Last summer, Heather Meadows’ kittens Tillie and Grouser were “rescued” by well-meaning visitors. Tillie was taken to Bellingham, and Grouser ended up at a shelter in Seattle. Thanks to their microchips, the kittens were brought home a few days later.
Trowbridge said they are working on finding a collar the cats won’t slip out of while romping around outside in the summer.
Follow along with the cats on Instagram at @meowntbakerlodgecats.
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