A rescue cat who was separated from his mother at just two days old has become a daredevil adventurer, accompanying his owner on mountain hikes.
Part Maine Coon moggy Orion and his owner Katie, 31, formed a close bond when he arrived at the veterinary nurse's shelter almost fresh out of the womb.
Orion and his sister were hand-reared by Katie, who adopted him when he was old enough and took him home with her.
“He's always been a real mummy's boy,” she said.
“He loved being with me constantly. I could only really keep one kitten with the space I had at the time and his sister was more of an independent lady, suited to a different home.
“I just couldn’t let Orion go.”
Already mum to a lurcher called Pongo, Katie wanted her adventurous kitten to have the same opportunities as her dog.
So while he roamed around the house, she decided to put him on a harness at nine weeks old.
She said: "I started putting a harness on him as a kitten and he didn't bat an eyelid. He's such a chilled-out cat. He used to come in to work with me and nothing seemed to bother him.
"So, I thought, 'I take Pongo out on all these adventures why shouldn't Orion be part of that'?
"I started off with putting a harness on him at home so he could get used to it in the house, then I started to attach the lead."
In September 2019, Katie took Orion for his first outing wearing the harness, while Pongo walked dutifully beside them.
The trio explored their local wood, Swinley Forest in Bracknell, and the kitten loved every second.
After his first taste of the outside world, there was no stopping Orion, who jumped at the chance for more adventures with Katie.
Now two-and-a-half years old, not-so-little Orion is a veteran explorer who spends his days accompanying his owner up mountain ranges like Snowdon and Sugar Loaf Mountain in Wales.
“I generally take Pongo and Orion wherever I go,” she said.
“Orion even comes away on holiday. Most of our holidays are either camping or in a van. We just hit the road and off we go.
“He loves being in the van because he can just watch the world from his little domain.
“He's really nosy. When we get a pitch to camp, he likes to sit up on a picnic table and surveys the whole campsite.
“He just adapts so quickly.”
When the trio scaled Snowdon, they attracted attention from hikers who were stunned to see a cat take on the enormous 1,085m trek.
"Wherever we go, people get very excited. They always go, ‘Oh my god, it's a cat'," laughed Katie.
"I did have to carry him some of the way up Snowdon, but we still climbed it together. He did get to do some exploring which was brilliant."
Now he's so used to exploring, little seems to deter Orion from his travels - even strolling by unfazed by loud noises.
"We’ve even been out when the Red Arrows flying team have flown over and, instead of being scared, he’s just sat down and watched them," Katie said.
“We have been into a couple of towns together, too. Most of the time when we're in an urban environment, he'll sit on my shoulders."
There's just one key rule Katie always follows - Orion must be on the lead at all times.
"I do this for his safety, although he still gets up to mischief," she said.
And after one close call at the Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, she's sticking to her rule more closely than ever.
"I let him climb a tree, but he went higher up than I could reach and wouldn’t budge," she explained.
“I spent about 20 minutes waiting for him to decide to come down. He was quite happy to just sit there watching everyone.
"I was having kittens, thinking he wouldn't come back!"
Overall, mountain climbs aren't Orion's favourite expeditions due to difficult weather conditions. In general, he prefers to take leisurely strolls through the woods.
However, the Snowdon trip allowed Katie to take some epic photos with her feline friend, who loves the camera.
Pet food brand ORIJEN reports one in five owners would like to start walking their cats on a lead but don't know how to get the idea off the ground - but Katie has some advice for those who are reluctant.
"I would say just pick up a harness, they are really cheap, and see if your cat accepts it," she said.
"Not every cat is going to wear one, let alone accept a harness with a lead attached to it. But try it at home first and in an environment where the cat is comfortable and just let them get used to it.
“For the first walk I would choose somewhere quiet and just go at your cat's pace. Some cats just aren't going to want to do it, especially if you're starting with an older animal.
"But if your cat enjoys walking it can be an amazing experience. I really encourage feline owners to try it."
Her other top tips are to check hazards before trying out a new route, buying a cat rucksack for your kitty to take shelter in if they get tired, and to go at the cat's pace.