After Catnapping, Washington Ski Area Tells Visitors: Don't Take the Felines

If you see a cat, don’t take a cat.

That’s the message from Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington, where a coterie of resident felines has lived for decades.

Someone recently made off with one of those cats, prompting the ski area to issue a notice on social media.

“Quick PSA. Please don’t take the Lodge Cats home or to an animal shelter even if you find them hanging outside the lodges,” Mt. Baker wrote.

In the comments section of the post, Mt. Baker confirmed that, yes, a cat had been catnapped. Luckily, the cat has since been returned, the ski area said. Another comment from the Instagram page dedicated to the cats noted that they’ve all been microchipped.

In 2023, the Cascadia Daily News reported that the cat crew, which dates back more than 25 years, has a few jobs: providing companionship and stress relief to employees and helping with rodent control. The original cat, who was named Blaster, lived in the employee lodge, the Cascadia reported.

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The cats are taken care of. An employee keeps them up to date on vaccinations, takes them to the vet, and assigns feeding schedules. When the cats get older, they “retire,” heading off the mountain to homes where they get some much-deserved rest and relaxation. 

According to the cats’ Instagram page (presumably the cats don’t run it themselves, but you never know), their ranks are now eight strong: Graupel, DOT, Spud, Maple, Skippy, Juju-bee, Grouser, and Tilly.

If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, the page showcases the cats in their natural environment and, of course, looking cute. The cats also pose for a yearly calendar.

It isn’t the first time the cats have been abducted. The Cascadia reported that Grouser and Tilly were previously taken by “well-meaning” visitors and ended up in Seattle and Bellingham, respectively. Thanks to the microchips, the cats were located and returned to Mt. Baker so they could resume their duties.

The latest kitten kerfuffle follows the news that Mt. Baker had debuted a new logo featuring its iconic mountain skyline and a raven.

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