There is a cat in South Surrey, British Columbia, who seems completely unfazed by one of the most closely watched borders in North America.
On Zero Avenue, Louis Vuitton has become a local legend for casually hopping back and forth across the Canada-U.S. border, according to his owner, Deb Tate.
Each day, the cat leaps over a narrow ditch that runs along the border line. On one side is a row of homes on Canadian soil, including his own. On the other are the green fields of Peace Arch Historical State Park in the United States.
“There aren’t any fences, just a street in between and a shallow divide,” the source article says.
Tate told CBC Radio’s As It Happens that Louis has no interest in staying on one side.
“He hasn’t always been such a rebel, but he is extremely friendly,” Deb Tate, Louis’ owner, told As It Happens host Nil Koksal.
Tate said that is what keeps drawing him across the line.
“He just loves people,” says Tate, and he doesn’t care what side of the border they’re on.
“He will walk up, greet people, get his pats and belly rubs and then continue on when he’s done.”
According to Tate, the area is heavily watched.
“There are plenty of cameras and hawk-eyed border guards patrolling nearby, ready to pounce on illegal crossers,” the source article says.
Louis, however, does not appear bothered by any of it.
“But none of that seems to concern Louis, who trapezes across whenever he wants, with the air of someone who knows the rules, and chooses to ignore them,” the source article says.
The free-roaming cat has now picked up a much bigger audience online. Tate said locals had already taken notice, but Louis went viral after Instagram user @pnwdaily360 posted a video about what the account called “the border-hopping kitty.”
In the video, the user says: “There’s a cat that doesn’t really give a f–k about borders.”
“And he comes over and hunts in the ditch. There he is. What’s up buddy?”
The post has since drawn more than 220,000 likes and three million views on Instagram, according to the source article.
Louis is due to turn six on Canada Day.
Tate said the cat’s cross-border trips are not the only thing that have made him memorable.
“He’s been known to bring home a treat or two from his adventures,” said Tate.
“We’ve received everything from snakes and mice and squirrels, much to my chagrin.”
Tate also explained how Louis got his designer name.
“As for his name, Tate says it wasn’t given to him because he has a penchant for luxury goods at duty-free prices,” the source article says.
“He’s a rescue kitty, and we decided that coming from humble beginnings, he deserved a designer name,” said Tate.
“We just named him Louis and … he has just grown in to fill the personality, and more.”
So far, Tate said there has been no response from the actual Louis Vuitton fashion house.
“Who knows what the coming days and weeks will bring, but for now, [Louis is] completely oblivious and just loving life,” said Tate.
