Hiking and Solo Adventures with a Cat – with Kaylin Meyer

From Utah’s red rock canyons to alpine dreams in the mountains, Kaylin Meyer, better known as Always Choose Happy, is proving that adventure doesn’t have to be a solo journey, even when you’re on your own. With her fearless feline, Maxine by her side, Kaytlin shares a daily dose of outdoor magic: backpacking and camping with a cat, part-time van life, and inspiring stories of finding confidence in the wild. We asked her how adventure with paws on the trail became her way of life.

You take your cat, Maxine, on some truly amazing adventures. What inspired you to start bringing her along?

Maxine was destined to adopt my adventurous lifestyle and love for the great outdoors. Ever since I stumbled upon Suki Cat's Instagram page years ago (the OG of adventure cats), I knew that my next cat would be an adventure cat. Since welcoming Adventure Cat Max in 2021, she has been on countless 30+ mile backpacking trips, a dozen car-camping road trips, and a gazillion day hikes.

A couple of years ago, when I became uncoupled from a long-term relationship, Max and I went on our first solo backpacking trip—just me, myself, and my cat. It was an incredibly empowering experience, and I have been overwhelmed with joy to see the number of people who have found their own confidence to embrace solo adventures as well. Now, I am on a mission to inspire people to get outside, whether or not they have someone to join them, and to bring their cat with them instead—because you’re never really alone when you’re with your cat. 

You seem to love being out in nature. Can you share a special memory from a hike or overnight trip where you felt extra grateful to have Maxine by your side?

Bringing her with me gives me the confidence I need in the backcountry—especially when I’m solo backpacking. She reminds me that even in the most remote places, I’m never truly alone. My cat is always by my side, sharing in the adventure and making the experience richer. She also slows me down, reminding me to pause, breathe, and take in the views instead of rushing through them.

I felt especially grateful for her on my very first solo backpacking trip in southern Utah. The trail was eight miles round trip, and my plan was to hike in about four miles and set up camp. What I didn’t expect were the slot canyons—something I had never hiked before. To be honest, I got scared not knowing how long the shoulder-to-shoulder narrow passages would last. Over and over, I had to take off my pack and hold it above my head just to squeeze through. It was exhausting, completely different from my usual backpacking trips.

But through it all, I was so thankful little Max was with me. Just hearing her heartbeat was enough to remind me I was safe and protected. She’s my literal spirit animal—and I like to say, she keeps me safe, and I keep her wild.

What are your top tips for making travel smooth and comfortable when you’re bringing Maxine, both in terms of packing and emotional comfort?

First, harness-train your cat. Before going outside or taking your cat on an adventure of any kind, get them used to wearing the harness indoors. It is a 5-7 day training process for most cats. Just like when dogs wear shoes for the first time and they forget how to walk, a cat with a harness on for the first few times will play dead, act drunk, and be all around super ridiculous. BUT they WILL get the hang of it. Gradually increase the time they wear the harness every day for a week straight. By day 5, they’ll be a harness pro!

Here are five tips for smooth travel, especially when camping or adventuring outside with a cat. 

1. Keep your cat on a leash and harness at all times. While cats are known for their independence, it's essential to keep them on a leash or harness during outdoor activities, especially in the backcountry. This will prevent them from running off, getting lost, or encountering wildlife that may pose a danger to them. 

2. Bring all the necessary items for your cat's comfort and well-being. This includes TREATSSSS, enough cat food, and water for the duration of your trip. I generally bring 1.5X the amount of food my cat normally eats per day for each day of our trip. Don’t forget the food and water bowls! 

3. Make sure they have a comfy zone! Whether you bring your pet carrier or you make a flat spot at the top of your backpacking pack like I do, make sure you have a designated comfy zone for your cat to rest—or hide from the world—while you carry them. 

4. Don't forget to pack a first aid kit with supplies for both humans and pets. Band-Aids, tweezers, extra leash, hand sanitizer—just to name a few. 

5. Make sure your cat has had their tick and flea medicine before adventuring outside! You can get an over-the-counter topical at the grocery store and put it on your cat once a month. 

What advice would you give someone who’s curious about solo travel or backpacking but feels intimidated by starting?

If you’re thinking about starting solo backpacking, my biggest advice is to make sure you have the skills first. Learn everything you can—take a course, read, watch videos, or go with experienced friends. Then, go on plenty of trips with other people so you really know how to use your gear and what to do in different scenarios.

Before my first true solo trip, I actually did a trial run with my dad (and my cat). Once we got to camp, we set up far enough apart that we couldn’t see or hear each other. After dinner, we went our separate ways, and for the next 12 hours, it was just me, my cat, and the quiet. I remember lying in my tent with my headlamp on, too afraid to turn it off. But eventually, I did. I fell asleep, and when I woke up the next morning, I felt so proud knowing I could sleep in the woods alone and be okay.

A few weeks later, I went again—this time truly solo. Well…solo with my cat. And it felt different. I felt confident. Inspired. Empowered. I knew I could handle it. I’d been backpacking countless times before, but that trial run was the first time I had ever slept in a tent completely alone. And that made all the difference.

So my advice? Take baby steps. Build your skills first, then build your confidence. Do what you need to get prepared, and when the time comes, you’ll know you’re ready.

We love the name “alwayschoosehappy”! What inspired you to choose it, and what does that phrase mean to you?

When I started my Instagram account a million years ago, ‘always choose happy’ was my life mantra. We have the power to choose our thoughts and change our perspectives, so for me, the choice became clear—choose the happier thought-pattern and you’ll live a more fulfilled life.

Once I rescued Adventure Cat Max and started sharing our adventures together, ‘always choose happy’ took on a different meaning—something much bigger and greater than just the happiness in my own life.

When people see that I have a CAT on a hiking trail or deep in the backcountry, the look on their faces is priceless, and the smiles are infectious. Nearly everyone who passes us stops in awe, grinning ear to ear with joy, takes a picture, and asks how to get started with harness training.

I did not realize how many people’s lives I would change by simply bringing my cat everywhere with me. 

Once on a 30-mile backpacking trip in Aspen, a group of male backpackers in their 40s from Kentucky told me they wrote in their friend journal that they saw a cat on the trail, and it’s the best thing that’s happened to them on any of their trips combined. And, once, I overheard a woman say, “That’s the best thing I’ve seen on this trail so far. Not the views. The cat.”

It tickles my soul to think about how many people have told me I made their day after seeing Max in the great outdoors. 

There are a million reasons why I love my adventure cat, but seeing the joy she brings to others in the wilderness is definitely top 10. Spreading smiles for miles is one of the best feelings. 

So, I encourage everyone to choose to stop leaving your cat at home and take them with you on the journey of a lifetime! Because when we do that, we not only change our own lives for the better, but we also have the power to change the world—one human and one cat at a time.

Remember: ALWAYS. CHOOSE. HAPPY.

If you could head off tomorrow to a dream destination, where would you go and what would you be most excited to experience there?

If I could head off tomorrow, I’d take Adventure Cat Max and go straight to the Alps—Switzerland or Austria. Those mountains have been calling my name for a long time, and I’m ready to answer. I’d be most excited to wake up in a tent surrounded by jagged peaks, hike through alpine meadows with Max by my side, and finally experience those landscapes I’ve been dreaming about for years.

I actually visited Austria about a year and a half ago during ski season, and my jaw was on the floor the entire time. The scenery was so stunning I felt like I was having constant “eye orgasms” (if I’m even allowed to say that, haha). Ever since then, I’ve been dying to get back to those mountain monstrosities, and I sincerely cannot wait for the day that moment comes.

How do you like your Astrid Wild Amelia Hiking Pants? Are there any specific features you’ve found especially helpful on your adventures?

The Amelia Hiking Pants are the best hiking pants I’ve ever owned. Best in terms of fit, style, and quality—hands down. They are actually high-rise (thank you), actually long enough (a miracle), and durable AF. The very first time I wore them, I bushwhacked my way to an alpine lake—no trail, just pushing through thick brush, climbing over and under fallen trees, trudging through rain and freezing temps. They didn’t rip, they kept me dry, and they held up like a champ.

To say they’re the best hiking pants of all time would be an understatement.

Kaytlin is wearing Amelia Hiking Pants Camel

We love following Kaytlin Meyer and her fearless feline companion, Maxine, as they inspire us to embrace adventure in all its forms. Huge thanks to her for sharing her story and for reminding us that sometimes the bravest journeys are the ones we take with unexpected companions. Follow Kaytlin’s journey on Instagram here. 

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