Walking your Cat
If you have an indoors-only cat, no doubt that there have been times when you’ve watched her stare longingly out a window and felt a pang of guilt at depriving her of the marvels of the great outdoors. In many cases, allowing a cat outside isn’t feasible or even responsible. But there is an option – taking your kitty for a walk. Cats usually aren’t happy with a collar-and-leash scenario at first, but they can get used it, even enjoy it, when they come to realize that it means they get to play in the grass. Here are some tips for getting your cat leash-ready:
- Purchase a harness to walk her on, not a collar. Most cats will object to being pulled around by the neck, so a body harness is a lot more comfortable. The harness should fit snugly, but not be tight. If it’s too loose, your cat will easily squirm out of it.
- Purchase a thin 6-foot leash. Rolled woven nylon is a good choice. You can even try a 10-foot leash, but make sure that she doesn’t jump over a fence with you holding the other end.
- Any time you take a cat outdoors, make sure she has her collar and ID tags on, and make sure she’s microchipped and registered with Home Again.
- While still indoors, offer Kitty her favorite treats or some catnip and then show her the harness. Let her play with it and leave it around the house for a few days so that she can get used to it.
- Once she sees the harness as part of the household, offer her some treats and place it on her while praising and petting her. Give her more treats once it’s on. Take it off if she gets upset about having it on. Keep working in this way, little by little, to get her used to it.
- Once she’s used to the harness, clip on the leash and put some pressure on it, all the while petting and praising her and giving her treats.
- Leave the harness and leash on Kitty and play with her, letting her get used to both of the items.
- When you think she’s ready, scoop her up and take her outside in your arms, staying close to the house. Show her around the yard and surrounding area. Don’t take her too far or expose her to loud noises. Make this initial trip very pleasant and short.
- Next, make the duration of your walks longer and find a quiet, safe place to put Kitty down and let her explore. After some conditioning, she will come to like these walks, especially if you make them fun. If Kitty has a traumatic experience outside or becomes frightened, she may not want to go on any more walks.
- Never, ever leave Kitty unattended.
- Remember, if you’re putting Kitty in grassy areas, always use flea and heartworm protection as advised by your veterinarian.
Nikki Moustaki, MA, MFA, is a dog trainer, bird care and behavior consultant, and a freelance writer in New York City. She is the author of more than 26 books on pet care and training and is the host of www.dogfessions.com.