Cascade locks, ore- Let’s go out there this weekWe go to Wahklela Falls Road. If you’ve ever hiked, you’ve seen dogs on the trail. Well, what about cats? Enjoy this fun story with Katie Warbach and her cats, Rosie and Kittleson.
For Kathy Werbach, any day is a clean day to hit the road. It’s not the activity that matters, it’s who you’re doing it with.
“You never know what you’re going to see on the trail,” Verback said of the Wahklella Falls trailhead.
Katie is actually Lt. Col. Verbach’s second in command. District of Portland, US Army Corps of Engineers. On her vacation, she took the time to share what makes her hiking buddies different. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the cat is out of the bag.
“Two of them. One’s shy, one’s not,” said Verback. “This is Rosie. She’s a four-and-a-half-year-old Siberian forest cat. And this is Kittleson. He’s a two-year-old boy, he rescued.”
Each is named after a World War II figure.
Werbach’s cats have gone paddleboarding in four national parks. Rosie and Kittleson are always a hit when people introduce them on the trail.
“I think the funniest thing is that people don’t notice and go right there, and you only notice because the noise goes up. ‘Wow! Kitties!’ Warbach said.
Credit: Jon Goodwin, KGW
So cats on the street, what’s the big deal? There are many people, the noise of the fountains and especially the dogs. Rosie is specifically training to become a registered therapy cat.
“It’s not emotional support or anything. It’s liability insurance for us to visit hospitals or assisted living or even workplaces for one to two hours and have her visit us as a visitor and have her sit on our laps and be real. I’m comfortable with that,” she said.
Kittleson is more intelligent and is happy to stay in the secure Werback cat carrier bag.
Credit: Jon Goodwin, KGW
She (Rosie) loves him. He (Kittelson) was a little more nervous today. But that’s okay,” Verback said.
The two are indoor cats and have done well in a great environment. Why does Verbach bring them up in the first place?
“So they get the joy of life. The house is not that big. They like to ‘hit’ the birds. And this makes them experience more than the four walls,” said Verbach.
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Let’s get out there once a week on KGW’s 4pm newscast and The good thingWe have included audience photos for this series which airs from Monday to Thursday at 7 PM. You can send your photos to 503-226-5088. Or post them on KGW Facebook page.