Henry and Baloo have been inseparable since day one.
A rescue cat named Baloo and a rescue dog named Henry were the ideal travel companions for one adventurous couple.
Because they adore the mountains, Cynthia Bennett and Andre Sibilsky relocated to Colorado five years ago. Therefore, they were thrilled to learn that Henry shared their love of hiking when they adopted him in 2014.
“On Henry’s first hike, he immediately went to find the biggest rock around to stand on top of to get a higher view,” Bennett told HuffPost. “Ever since then, we call him our little mountain goat for not only his climbing skills but for his love of the outdoors.”
A calm cat that wasn’t overly timid or reserved was what the couple had been looking for all of last year as they built their adventurous family. They ultimately took in Baloo, a mixed-Siamese cat. Since the beginning, the two animals have been together and have developed a unique friendship.
Henry suffers from separation anxiety and would be anxious the entire time we were away, according to Bennett. We wanted to adopt Henry a companion for this reason, and Baloo has done that for him.
“As for Baloo, his mother abandoned the litter right away, so I think he was looking for an animal to fill that motherly role,” she continued. “Baloo tried to find a teat on Henry’s chest the first time they cuddled. Since then, he has practically assumed the role of a dog and copies whatever Henry does.
Fortunately, Baloo ended up loving the outdoors as much as the couple and Henry did. Baloo starts making noises at the door as if to say, “Hey, don’t forget about me!” if Bennett even lightly touches Henry’s leash.
The crew has hiked, camped, snowshoed and stand-up paddleboarded together in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Texas, California, Oregon and beyond. The couple document their travels on the Instagram account @henrythecoloradodog, where they’ve amassed a huge following.
Fans often ask how the couple ensures that Henry and Baloo don’t run off while exploring nature. According to Bennett, Baloo wears a reflective leash for safety, though they don’t usually hold on to it because he never strays very far. For longer hikes, Baloo hangs out in one of the humans’ backpacks.
“He jumps out of our pack when he wants to walk and meows at us when he wants a ride,” Bennett said.
Henry, on the other hand, enjoys roaming a bit more. He wears a bear bell to not startle any wild animals and will usually act jumpy if he senses one nearby, alerting the couple to turn around.
“Henry doesn’t run away because he is extremely loyal and has separation anxiety, which is why I think he is always aware of where we are at all times,” she said.
