Simon, the Backpacking Kitty, and his dad, JJ Yosh, are seen having a blast together to metal music. Nope, this is not your ordinary house cat. Simon is less of a house panther and more of a full-throttle adventure cat. He goes everywhere with his dad in the great outdoors, in the snow and rugged landscapes around Boulder, Colorado.
He’s Dad’s best buddy and has a seat at the table, not at all shy about snagging some food.
“I never eat alone,” Yosh said. “He’ll do anything to get a piece of food from me.”
Video via Instagram/catsandmetalmusic
Simon the Backpacking Bombay Cat
Simon, a rescued Bombay cat, and his dad have a huge social media following, where they have been sharing their non-stop adventures across the country for about seven years. There’s not much that Simon hasn’t done, from skiing, sledding, biking, sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and swimming, to name a few.
“Happy New Years!” JJ Yosh shared from Chimney Rock.
JJ Yosh at Chimney Rock with Simon the Backpacking Kitty. Images via Instagram/jjyosh and backpackingkitty
From Devil of a Rescued Kitten to Feline Guardian Angel
In 2016, Yosh adopted the kitten from a landlord who had rescued a litter of kittens. At first, Yosh didn’t think he wanted a cat due to his active, traveling lifestyle. But then he changed his mind and brought Simon home. That’s when he discovered that Simon was quite a little rascal, so much so that Yosh initially nicknamed him Diablo. For a couple of days, he considered rehoming the kitten.
“I just didn’t think he was going to change and become the calm cat that we know of as Simon,” Yosh explained.
After the kitten ran off and hid under a rock, he managed to bring him back home. Given a couple more days, Simon began adjusting and “mellowing out,” eventually becoming “super loving and affectionate.”
“Simon doesn’t want to get his paws cold, so he uses me as his carpet,” shared JJ Yosh.
Image by Jordan Singer via Instagram/backpackingkitty
As a new cat dad, Yosh may not have known that newly adopted cats can generally take as long as three months or more to adjust and feel fully at home. So, it was actually a rapid transition when Simon started feeling at home after just a few days. Likewise, it looks like Simon rapidly adapts to all kinds of new situations.
JJ Yosh and Simon the Backpacking Kitty on the Colorado River.
At a friend’s suggestion, Yosh named the kitten Simon, which he instantly loved. Why? That was the name of his childhood imaginary friend, who he considered a guardian angel. Now, he considers Simon his best buddy, and he’s much like a familiar or a beautiful, sleek guardian angel in feline form. We think that’s beautiful!
“In a lot of ways, he does feel like my kid,” Yosh told PEOPLE. “He is my soulmate and my guardian angel.”
Image via Instagram/backpackingkitty
How Simon Became a Backpacking Kitty
Given that the outdoors is full of dangers and predators like Mountain Lions, Yosh started taking Simon on closely supervised hikes. Not wanting to walk on the harness, Yosh carried him on his back, and the cat enjoyed it much more.
“He seemed to be calm being on my back when we’re on a hike, and that is how he became known as Backpacking Kitty,” Yosh explained.
Yosh and Simon on a road trip via Instagram/backpackingkitty
Video via JJ Yosh/ Backpacking Kitty:
Since then, the cat has been on adventures almost daily, and he now has the best life with dad as an extraordinary adventure cat. You can see more on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Video by JJ Yosh and Backpacking Kitty:
