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Every time we go to the desert, as soon as Millie gets out of the truck she rolls around in the dirt taking a dirt bath. I have no idea why, my buddy's cat Kenneth never does it. Must keep her cool or do something good for her coat, like birds do.

Pets

'My climbing partner eats chicken liver': Man hikes, climbs with his cat

While many cats prefer napping in the sun, some love to climb, climb, climb. Here, Craig Armstong chronicles his adventures with Millie, his pet cat and trusty rock-climbing buddy.

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Millie's first trip to a climbing destination, daytrip to Joe's Valley for some bouldering (that's a bouldering pad on my back).

Best buds

Craig Armstong adopted his cat, Millie, from an adoption center in Park City, Utah. Shortly thereafter they started to climb together. He started to document their climbs on Instagram and also wrote about it on backcountry.com. Armstrong shared these photos and captions about his adventures with Millie.

Millie's first trip to a climbing destination, daytrip to Joe's Valley for some bouldering (that's a bouldering pad on my back).

Getting high in Ferguson Canyon Utah. Millie actually got too high on this one, lost her footing and did a flying 180 at me I had to catch her. She just loves to go up and hasn't learned all the times to stop doing that.

Mountain Millie

Getting high in Ferguson Canyon, Utah. Millie actually got too high on this one, lost her footing and did a flying 180 at me (and) I had to catch her. She just loves to go up and hasn't learned (when) to stop doing that.

At the top of 1,000' of Fun (http://www.mountainproject.com/v/1000-of-fun/105718108), it was HOT. Millie catching some shade while Zac set up the belay to start the decent.

Cat nap

At the top of 1,000' of Fun it was HOT. Millie catches some shade while Zac sets up the belay to start the descent.

More Little Wild Horse Canyon exploring.

Canyon cat

Exploring Little Wild Horse Canyon near Goblin Valley in southern Utah.

Every time we go to the desert, as soon as Millie gets out of the truck she rolls around in the dirt taking a dirt bath. I have no idea why, my buddy's cat Kenneth never does it. Must keep her cool or do something good for her coat, like birds do.

It's dusty out here

Every time we go to the desert, as soon as Millie gets out of the truck she rolls around in the dirt taking a dirt bath. I have no idea why, my buddy's cat Kenneth never does it. Must keep her cool or do something good for her coat, like birds do.

Scoping some new lines in the middle of nowhere Idaho.

Nowhere to go but up

Scoping some new lines in the middle of nowhere, Idaho.

Summit reflections at the top of 1,000' of Fun, San Rafael Swell. Southern Utah views are amazing, especially from 1,000' up.

What a view

Summit reflections at the top of 1,000' of Fun, San Rafael Swell. Southern Utah views are amazing, especially from 1,000 feet up.

Exploring Little Wild Horse Canyon near Goblin Valley in southern Utah.

Deep in the canyons

More exploring in Little Wild Horse Canyon.

Chilling under the rope bag at Devil's Golfball.

Tangled up

Chilling under the rope bag at Devil's Golfball.

Fuzzy kitty Millie. Future crag kitty.

Furball

Fuzzy kitty Millie.

Winter attempt to summit a peak on Stansbury Island in the Great Salt Lake.

The great white climb

Winter attempt to summit a peak on Stansbury Island in the Great Salt Lake.

Bouldering in Moe's Valley Utah, downclimbing from the top of a tall boulder.

A leap of faith

Bouldering in Moe's Valley, Utah, downclimbing from the top of a tall boulder.

1-year old portrait.

Happy birthday!

Millie's 1-year old portrait.

Summit of Devil's Golfball, it's an aid climb down near Moab.

To the top!

Summit of Devil's Golfball, an aid climb down near Moab.

Climbing in Idaho. It was cold, and windy. Millie catching some rest under my puffy and getting out of the wind.

Chilly kitty

Climbing in Idaho. It was cold and windy. Millie catching some rest under my puffy and getting out of the wind.

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