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I want to start taking my new pet cat Maadi on walks. I'm just so excited. I adopted her from the local shelter. She has the nicest sleek,shiny black fur and I sort of want to show her off by walking her on a cute little leash.
We walk one of our cats around our yard only. I pick her up if I see a dog coming. Our dogs are good with our cats, but I know they'd flip if they saw a cat out walking on one of their walks.
We have neighbors who walk their 2 dogs and a cat on the street together, and the cat walks as well as the dogs do! A guy I used to work with took his cat on walks too. So it's a little unusual but not unheard of.
We walk one of our cats around our yard only. I pick her up if I see a dog coming. Our dogs are good with our cats, but I know they'd flip if they saw a cat out walking on one of their walks.
We have neighbors who walk their 2 dogs and a cat on the street together, and the cat walks as well as the dogs do! A guy I used to work with took his cat on walks too. So it's a little unusual but not unheard of.
Ok thanks. I didn't want to look weird walking my cat. I haven't seen it done before though.
the problem with taking a cat for a wak is cats are much more independant and alot harder to teach leash manners..so its usually the ca taking YOU for a walk rather than the other way around.
Go slowly introducing the harness, and when you take her out make sure it is secure.
I had my Pippin since he was 2 days old (abandoned at the vet). I was determined that he would be socialized so I got a harness for him and took him all over the place with me. Despite all that as he became an adult he decided that he was no longer interested in being out of his house. Now he completely freaks out as soon as we pass the front door! I guess I'm just trying to say that not all cats have temperments suited to going on walks.
It all depends on the cat. Mine, after many years, walks me instead of me walking her, like foxy said. That's why we walk in the yard instead of down the street. She really enjoys it though, since she's not allowed to run around loose outside. My neighbor's cat, on the other hand, walks at a heel. I don't know how they taught it.
I walk JJ around the block whenever possible (meaning when it isn't too hot/cold which is frankly most of the year.)
The key is to start them off young inside. First just put the harness on and let them wear it for short periods around the house. Then attach the leash and give a little tug while you show them a bit of food and give a command like 'come' Most people don't actually try to train the cat...they just stick the leash and harness on, which often results in the cat flopping over and refusing to move.
You also want to make sure you get a very secure harness that they can't wiggle out of. I don't like the circle 8 harness- JJ uses an H-style and he's never gotten out of it. Then again, he's never tried very hard either. There are walking jackets that are very hard to get free of if your cat is more of an escape artist.
You also want to socialize the cat for noises like cars, so they don't panic and try to squirm away.
JJ knows 'come', 'step up', 'okay', and 'watch your step'. He's really quite excellent at veering left or right with the slightest leash pressure. He usually stops for a second if something loud goes by like a motorcycle, which is when I give the 'okay' signal and he'll start walking again.
Be very very vigilant about watching for dogs. I'm usually scanning to see where I can put JJ if a dog comes running up, like on top of a car or over a fence. The closest we've come to a bad incident is when our neighbor down the street let his black lab run at us. Of course he said "Oh, he's friendly, he wouldn't hurt your cat!" I told him the dog might be friendly but JJ wasn't, and I'd rather his dog didn't lose an eye.
We do get a lot of comments...including a pack of teen girls who shouted nonsense at me...I guess it's offensive to walk your cat? I don't know, it was too silly to bother about. Sometimes people will roll down their car windows and chat.
I actually don't ever let JJ walk on grass, because we don't use anything like Frontline and I don't want fleas or other parasites. Not that they can't get him on the sidewalk, but it makes me feel better. We also never walk at dusk because of mosquitoes, which can transmit heartworm.
Walking is a great way for kitty to get exercise and enrichment- give it a try! JJ always spends the first few minutes just rolling all over the place and you see the bliss on his face
I actually don't ever let JJ walk on grass, because we don't use anything like Frontline and I don't want fleas or other parasites. Not that they can't get him on the sidewalk, but it makes me feel better. We also never walk at dusk because of mosquitoes, which can transmit heartworm.
Do you not use any kind of heartworm preventative? Both of our cats are indoors with occasional walks outside, but we get mosquitoes inside the house frequently and heartworm is common in our area. We don't bother with flea or tick stuff but we do guard against heartworm for that reason.
It sounds like you walk JJ a lot like I walk Isis!
I would love taking Edgar for a walk but he'll have none of it. When he was a kitten, I tried to get him used to wearing a harness and being leashed. I tried this for several weeks. His response is to flop onto his side and yowl incessantly. He HATES it. Eventually I gave up and he seems happy to stare out the window.
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