Walkin’ the Cat

Nobody thinks twice about walking the dog —but the cat?

Now that’s another story!

 

Anyone who knows cats well will admit that cats are not the most trainable of all animals. But with a little practice, your cat can learn to enjoy leash walks! Really!

 

Cats are trainable, but the methods used for training have to be carefully adjusted to allow for that famous regal independent streak our cats enjoy. No use trying to force a cat to do something. It has been said that they have better luck training us, than us them. It is important to have a load of patience! Be ready to reward little steps forward (literally).

Most cats enjoy a short walk about town, but some cats, especially older ones may not readily take to walking on a leash. Best to introduce leash training while she is still a kitten where possible. If you thought it was hard teaching an old dog new tricks, try old cats….though perhaps we should not generalize since cats are not little dogs- are they !

Teaching cats any special skill requires the use of very short training sessions. With a very short attention span, walkies will definitely be on the short side during the learning curve. Consider up and down the driveway a monster walk for starters. Cats respond well to praise—never get tough if Kitty doesn’t cooperate—yelling, pulling the leash or other harsh feedback will instill a clear aversion to walking on the leash in her mind, likely forever—so don’t forget to praise anything reasonably close to good behavior and move past uncooperative behavior!

First, ensure that your harness and leash are at hand. A harness (not a collar) should always be your first choice for cats. The harness should be snug fitting, not tight. Make sure the harness is not loose or Kitty will slither through pretty quickly and be off! Leashes should be long enough that Kitty can wander a bit, but avoid the long leash on retractable string that we use for dogs. Use cat leashes, which are lighter in weight than dog leashes. Keep Kitty on a taut or lightly looped leash. Avoid letting long sections drag on the ground because if she becomes scared or decides to go chase a squirrel or bird suddenly, she may be hurt. A sudden dash will lead to a sudden stop when the long loop becomes taut and this can jar her chest and neck.

Acclimate cat to wearing the harness first before attaching the leash and going outside.  Let her wear it for short periods of time (10 minutes several times a day) around the house. Praise her for wearing it.  After she is comfortable with the harness, then attach the leash and again work in the confines of the home at first.  Offer treats or favorite food while leash and harness are attached.

Reward even a few steps taken along with you! If Kitty appears tired or bored, you may need to pick her up and carry her home until she gets the gist. If you normally walk your family dog, you can try having her come along, with another family member holding her leash—don’t try to manage both animals yourself especially if she is still learning or Puppy is active. This only works of course if they are best buddies—otherwise they will want to walk in opposite directions—fast!

Don’t let the cat eat lawn grass on walks because grass may be treated with pesticides or chemicals.

Remember to keep Kitty’s vaccinations and worming treatments/ flea and tick control measures up-to-date!

A walk with a cat is a slow leisurely walk! You cannot train a cat to heel snug by your side as with a dog. Do your power walking when the cat is not around…..

Any cat taken outdoors should have permanent identification, preferably a microchip. A breakaway collar with ID tags is an OK option, but if she slips her collar, the ID goes with it into the bushes!

Happy walkies!

 

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