The Beach, Pip When Cat appeared on a doorstep in Berlin, Maryland in September 2018, he was a young, ailing kitten seeking to exchange the comforts of his savage family for a human home. He came just after a thunderstorm, maybe hinting at his bravery around water, which cats are renowned for hating.
In Berlin, Pip had found a grandmother who was house-sitting for her family, and she began feeding the tiny kitten. Unfortunately, her family could not take him in when they returned and the elderly woman was moving, so Laura Meadows — a high school student and friend of the family — volunteered to take him despite the fact she had not discussed it with her family.
When Meadows’ family declined to let her keep Pip, Laura’s older sister Emily Meadows and her husband offered to take him for a while.
“My sister begged me to take him and we were just watching him, assuming we would take him to the humane society,” Emily Meadows told The Dodo. “But then the humane society was full and we had to keep him, so that’s how it all started.”
It wasn’t long before Meadows saw just how unique and special Pip was, but her first task was to get him healthy. His eyes were nearly swollen shut and he was described as “very, very dirty.”
He was even thought to be deaf because he never looked at Meadows or her husband when they made noises or called his name. A good ear cleaning at the vet proved that to be untrue and now he hears everything, according to Meadows.
Once Pip was feeling healthy, he turned out to be quite the energetic little troublemaker. He spent his days climbing window screens, knocking over water glasses and anything else that wasn’t nailed down, scattering food all over the floor and terrorizing his new cat siblings Natty and Mowgli. He especially enjoyed waking them up by jumping on their heads.
“It was Pip’s world,” Meadows said. “We were just living in it.”
Pip’s preference to use houseplants as his litter box had Meadows and her husband at their wits’ end, so they decided to try something unconventional. “The house needed a break,” Meadows said. “Natty and Mowgli definitely needed a break. And that’s when the idea came to us: Why not take Pip outside for a walk?”
Meadows and her husband decided to take Pip to the beach because they reside in Ocean City, Maryland, to see whether returning to his outdoor roots would help Pip release some of his energy. In the end, Pip was a huge fan!
Pip rapidly shown a preference for digging in the sand, racing about, chasing seagull feathers, playing with toys and shells, hiding under beach chairs, and eventually taking naps in the sun with his owners. He looked to be in his element, and he started going to the beach frequently with Meadows and her husband.
One day, when the tide was low and the waves were calm, Meadows allowed Pip to explore the water. “It didn’t bother him at all,” Meadows said.
Meadows attempted placing Pip on a boogie board since Pip was so entranced by the water. He got a little wave and managed to stay on the board, according to Meadows. “He stepped off the board as it struck the sand and continued to stroll along the beach as if nothing had happened. At that point, we realized Pip was a pretty unique cat.
He even turned out to be a strong swimmer who enjoyed splashing around in the shallows.
A rising number of followers paid Pip a lot of attention because to his antics. After repeated excursions to the beach, Pip began to be filmed and taken pictures by locals and visitors, according to Meadows. The local news station was shown a video, and Meadows was approached to write a report on Pip.
Luckily, the beach wasn’t the only place in Pip’s hometown for him to explore. There was the boardwalk the arcade pet-friendly bars and restaurants local attractions and special events.
When Pip wasn’t going to be permitted at some fundraisers or events, there was a tremendous outpouring of support from the neighborhood, Meadows said. “We had many of businesses embrace Pip with wide arms and say he is allowed on their ‘private properties’ on the boardwalk anytime he wants.”
In fact, Pip recently “wrote” and published a book of his very own about all the places he likes to explore in his hometown and the adventures he has.
