Pugal, “the mountain cat,” begins new life after Mt. Pulag rescue

Benguet, Philippines - Pugal, “the mountain cat”, who won the hearts of hikers in Mt. Pulag, begins a new chapter of his life after it was rescued in the mountains.  

In a report on June 17, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—Cordillera said Pugal was taken to his new home on May 16 and is generally healthy.  

Pugal is a male ginger tabby cat who became a beloved fixture at the summit campsites of Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon, located on the border of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Viscaya.  

The cat often approached trekkers in said mountain without fear, curling up beside tired climbers and even sharing warmth in their tents.  

The cat’s gentle behavior, paired with the quiet mystery of how he ended up so high on the mountain, made him famous to climbers and on social media.  

Pugal taken out of Mt. Pulag  

Despite becoming popular, Pugal needs to be taken out of the mountain because staying there for a long time poses health risks to the cat and ecological risks for Mt. Pulag’s delicate environment.  

Factors considered include the freezing nighttime temperatures, unpredictable weather, and limited food sources that may cause Pugal to become malnourished or sustain illness or injury.  

For said reasons, Pugal was brought down from the mountain on May 16, after coordination among concerned citizens and the DENR. 

DENR-CAR said Dr. Mennie Alicap checked on Pugal soon after he was rescued and verified that the  cat is healthy and acclimating well to his new environment.

At 3 kilograms and with a body condition score of 4 out of 9, Pugal was assessed as overall healthy, exhibiting clear eyes, clean teeth, and showing no indications of pain or parasites. The agency added that he now shares space peacefully with two big outdoor dogs.