I've heard that it is actually possible to walk a cat on a leash. Has anyone ever accomplished this? If so, what are the pros/cons? Is it in any way cruel or is it a good and safe way for kitty to get exercise and enjoy the out-doors? Also, where would one find the right kind of leash if it is in no way dangerous or cruel to the cat? And are there any mishaps, pitfalls, dangers, etc. to prepare for and hopefully avoid? I'm THINKING about walking my cat because we live on a busy street and I don't want her bolting out in front of traffic. I would like to let her outside, but safely. But...I insist on doing THOROUGH homework first. I want a well balanced conception of the ethical and physiological/psychological aspects of cat walking. All ideas and opinions would be appreciated.
I have never actualy walked a cat as mine are all indoors.
1st your baby must be Vaccinated for everything, like Rabies Luek etc..
I've heard of people using the harness type colar & leah to walk their babies, but they started them a kittens. You might want to try taking baby in the car 1st to start slowly & see how she/he reacts to that & work your way up from there.
It's too early & I'm having coffee & my Zoo is astir so if I think of anything else I'll add to the post later.
I have a friend who got a rescue kitty, the cat was about 2 when she got him and had been allowed outside in his previous home. As she lived in an apartment there was no way he could go outside, so she bought a harness and would let him out onto the deck with the harness on, he hated the harness but loved being outside, and as cats are very smart he put up with it. She then would take him to the care with the harness and a cat leash on and drive around the block and then bring him home, after a couple of trips she let him walk into the building from the car on the leash and that was it. He was hooked. She said it was like having a dog, they would get home from work and he would be sitting at the door waiting to go out for his walk. Jo
Pretty sad when you have to create Multiple ID's to Shill Chat when somebody doesn't agree with you!! The ID's are both 0 fb LOL! Anyway JO has a great idea.
When I used to show I would take my cat that I was showing in the car so as to get used to the kitty being out & about, made it a little easier when taking kitty up to the Judge.....
I have done this and DO NOT RECOMEND this to anyone.
Ok, here are the events to the best of my novacane numbed mind remembers it.
I also thought taking "kitty" the MONSTER SLASHER CAT for a trip outside was a good idea. So off to the cat leash store I go, Debit Card in hand I can't be stopped. After looking at EVERY LEASH/COLLAR COMBO in the store I left with a nice little Electric Blue Rhinestone harness and matching lead. GERAT! Now to get "kitty" in the harness, Yea Right. 2 HOURS LATER I finally got a hand on the HELL SPAWN I share a pillow with, this feat cost me a really good fish filet. Now outside with us!
However, and this is IMPORTANT.... (the leash..............and Harness.............the one you bought to keep "kitty" close............ Has now gone around your leg 4 times and "kitty" is now removing most of the flesh from your thigh.
Yes, you can train a kitty to a leash. It is not at all cruel, but you must use the proper harness and leash, specifically for cats and fitted properly so there is never any pressure on your cat's throat. Plus cats can wiggle out of things easily, so be certain the harness and leash fit properly. There are many dangers, training must be done slowly and properly, with patience. But you must start training early, and it does depend on the temperment of the individual cat. I mainly advise leash training for kittens or young cats, and it is very good for travel. Your kitty would be in a safe carrier, and harness is for extra safety.
Please, it you live on a busy street, just do keep your kitty indoors!!!! Cats and horses both have very high strung nervous systems. A vet told me they are the most dangerous animals to work with, and it is true. They spook easily. A cat can get frightened, and wrap you and the leash around a tree in a heartbeat. If you are walking your cat in a quiet, safe are, that is one thing. A busy street, please no!!Also, you have to use the right kind of harness, and leash. If you start training early, as a kitten or young cat, you can train the kitty. I have done it, trained cats to walk on leashes.But I do not *ever* advise anyone to walk a cat in a high traffic, or noise area. I feel personally that it is too dangerous to walk your cat on a busy street. I would do it in a quiet area, or keep your cat indoors. Never let your cat out if you live on a busy street. A cat's life is too precious; *please* don't take the chance. Not on busy street. I feel leash training is good, and it is needed if you travel with your kitty. But, in the case you are describing, my instinct just says no. Give your kitty a safe window perch, inside. judy
My cat Oliver "walks" me on a leash and harness specifically made for cats. He will never allow me to walk HIM--we go where he wants to go. I've never seen a cat that will allow this--he just does.
Hello! Tasselhoff here ( that is my handsome mug in the pic to the left, btw). I told my pink furless servants to let me address this question. Ahem...I trained them fairly early by letting them put a harness on me. They felt better after my first attempt at having them put it on me, as I did not squirm out of it the second time. Do not get those wierd ones that change shape, and have slip knots......Gack!!! Get a fixed harness like those stupid dogs wear, but in the modest size of a kitty (kind of an H shaped thingie this harness is. It is like two collars, one around your neck, and one around your chest, both adjustable with a buckle, and held together by a fixed distance strip. Make sure you can slide like 2 fingers under the necktie please,,,I am not a dog, and don't choke me!!! I wear my harness always, it is very smart looking, but the darn servants sometimes use it to grap me by (They do not have the hang of what teeth are for, ya know?). Anyway, after a kitty is used to wearing a harness, you can try attaching the leash in the house and practice with it. Gentle tugs by me tell you where to go. My servants don't understand this always, and have trouble wiith going under stuff like, oh...table legs and such. When the servants seem to have the hang of it, you can take them outside for short time periods at first, and work at training them for short periods of time (their attention span is limited), best done at first in a quiet area, not along a busy street. Backyards are good places to start. It takes a while for them to get used to all the sounds and smells and things going on around them. Those pink guys are so easily distracted. Get them to stop and smell the flowers, chew some grass, hack up some hairballs, you get the idea? Anyway I prefer this leash thing that is retractable (it was made for *shudder* small dogs), it is about 15 feet long. It has a button to stop the leash from playing out, and sometimes when I want to go somewhere the pink guys don't want to go...like under bushes, they lock it or retract it. Do it gently or we get really po'd!!! Also , vaccinations are not all that important unless I am gonna cavort with squirrels and other cats, and that is hard to do with a human on the other end of the leash (they can't keep up, ya know?)(although these humans insist on the vaccinations, so I accept it, to make them feel better)..But really important is like a monthly flea/tick spot thingie...we use frontline plus for cats, cause like, I have had hitchhikers of the flea persuasion come in, and boy did my other fellow cat inmates hate me for that!! (still never hear the end of it!!). Anyway, I have my route now that I take and I gently guide my humans where I want to go...exactly 2 and 1/2 houses to the west, and 3 houses to the east, and into the backyard. I really want to walk in the street like I see the feral cats outside do, but everytime I start to, my human has a fit ( I think they are afraid of those things with wheels that I by the way hate to ride in). I have been taking my people out on a leash for 14 years, and I am training my new girlfriend ( a rescued feral from the neighborhood) of 3 years now, how to do it. She is a slow learner, but is getting it. I just don't want to lose my outside time to her!!! Also, check the harness sometimes to make sure buckles are not undone, it can mess up a walk! And a metal necklace with my name and phone number are on my harness in case I should get "loose", and leave by accident. So give your kitties a chance to enjoy the outside world safely! Thanks for reading! Tazzie
I have a cat that I used to walk in a harness and leash almost every day. It took some time for him (about 3 walks) to get used to the harness. I forst put the harness on hm in the house. He did his "cat thing," crouching on his belly, etc. But after about a few hours he was used to it.
Once he got used to the harness it was very easy to walk him on the leash. He didn't pull against it or tug; he just wanted to follw "mommy."
It's not nearly as difficult as you may think it is...cats ae very smart.
Hi! I have two cats, one will tolerate a leash and one loves a leash. First, I have found attaching the leash to a harness works better than a collar. I started by putting the harness on them, immediately rewarding them with a treat, and then taking it off. Gradually I left the harness and leash on longer and longer until they were comfortable. Then I would leave it on and ask them to follow me by calling the same way I do when it is breakfast. When they follow, I would reward them and leave it at that for the day. I gradually worked up their tolerance and now they are pros. Try to always end on a positive note and never try to accomplish too much in one day...cats are the ultimate meditation on patience! Good Luck!
Yes, it is possible. We trained our cats to stay in our yard by taking them out on a leash first. Just get a harness type leash and take them outside. They will freak a little at first and walk low to the ground, which is kind of funny. But after a few minutes, they get use to it and start walking around. After a few days, they know their limits (usually) and stay in the yard. But we live in a very quiet neighborhood with not a lot of cars. If I lived in a busy street, I don't think I would let them out. Good luck but be careful - keep an eye on them!
Kkic2770, I used to take ^Hamlet^ on walks on the deck and around the house. It is possible and some cats actually take to it. You do not use a collar, but a harness. Collars are too easy for cats to get out of. All pet stores carry them. You will need to get the cat used to it first. Leave it out for the cat to see and smell. Then after a few days to a week, loosely put it on her for a few minutes. Give her a treat to help calm her. Then remove it and put it back on the floor. Repeat this daily a few times. After a week or 2 leave it on her for an hour (only while you are there) and talk softly to her and reward her with a treat or 2. Keep this up and then she will get used to having it on. Then hook up the leash and stand with her. Remove it and do it again a few times. Work up to walking a bit in the room and after (if) she accepts it, make sure the harness is on snug and take her on the patio or deck for a few minutes. If she is scared, respect her wish and take her in. Try again later…
Other items to allow her to be outside… Do a search on Kittywalk on ebay or Amazon. I used to sell them and I have a full Towne & Country package for our cats. I let them hang on the deck in it, but only while I am around. God forbid they get out here… eagles and halks snatch cats and small dogs all th time, not to mention the lions, wolves, coyotes and bear.
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