Indeed, he exudes much the same vibe as many a Tellurider. He first arrived back in 2014 as an occasional visitor that would show up on the property in search of a warm place to find refuge, a bite to eat and even a few pets. It soon became obvious that this dude was not a feral cat and that a little bit of lovin’ would go a long way for him during the harsh winters of T-ride.
Somehow he knew that Mountain Lodge–where cat lovers abound–was the right place for him. With the help of a heating pad and heat lamp, the wood storage bin in the back of the main lodge was transformed into a cozy kitty condo. Mario knew that he could always find safety there and also fresh water and tasty eats. Being the big-hearted feline that he is, he even allowed another stray cat or two to enter his domain at various intervals back in the day.
His first vet visit organized by the Lodge revealed that he was chipped and that his owners had actually lived in Ophir, a high mountain hamlet about a fifteen-minute drive from Mountain Village. They had moved to Basalt and passed on taking him back. That’s when we learned that his name was Mario, very fitting since Stefano Togni, or Steve, the General Manager of Mountain Lodge, was born in Italy. First named Lodge Kitty, this guy came into his own once everyone recognized him as the kind-hearted yet macho Mario that he is. How else could he have found his way across the mountains some ten miles away?
Today, Mario lives an increasingly mellow life within the Lodge. He’s fourteen now and although he’s free to come and go as he pleases, he prefers to spend big chunks of time curled up in his heated cat bed within the GM’s office. He does, however, make an appearance out front once in a while as if to survey the scene. Despite his skittishness, Mario enjoys saying hello to certain guests. (He sometimes even sniffs out a devoted cat lover from afar.) Give him a head scratch and a contented hand bump will be your reward.
Recognition and love from a thick-coated tabby that has survived hard times only to find himself in the lap of luxury surely brings good luck. If we all could fare as well on our life’s journey, we’d be one happy cat. A stay at Mountain Lodge Telluride within the splendor of the Rocky Mountains brings us one step closer to that reality.
