Trouble with leash training. (weight, throw, collar, natural)

[korkow]

I've been gradually leash training my cat, and he seems to be comfortable with most aspects of it now, except for one critical problem...

EVERY time that he gets to the end of the leash (when it gets pulled taught), he just FREEZES indefinitely until the slack is loosened. Like, he will not try to back up at all, or try to go forward for upwards of several minutes. It's as if he's thinking "My neck hurts! Something's wrong with my neck! I better stand absolutely still until this goes away!". I've been letting him out on a leash for several months now, and he still has yet to ever EVER try backing up when the leash becomes taught.

Granted, he's definitely not the sharpest nail in the box, and is generally pretty clumsy and stupid compared to most cats. But is there anyway I might be able to get him to try backing up? He doesn't really have any interest in treats (he even ignores fresh fish!), so I don't have any easy way to coerce him.

Thanks!

[catdad7x]

By no means am I an expert on leash training, but I do have a question. Are you using a harness, or just attaching a leash to the collar. If you aren't using a harness, you might try that. Others here may have a better suggestion.

[Hopes]

I'd love to train Bobbles to walk on a leash, but my friend tells me cats throw themselves on the ground and become dead weight. Since Bobble fears mere visitors, I doubt she'd be interested in the GREAT OUTDOORS.

OP, are you walking the cat or have it tied up outside. With walking, the leash would naturally loosen when you stepped closer. If your cat is tied up outside, I agree you should switch to a harness. It would be much safer, and it would eliminate that pull feeling around the neck.