Walking Your Cat On a Leash, Is It Really Possible?
According to Roslyn McKenna from Petsafe.net, walking your cat on a leash successfully is easier than you think. For some cat owners though, walking around parks and sidewalks with your gorgeous feline might seem like a dream, and the might find themselves limited might to watching cute pictures and funny videos of other cats online happily walking by their owner’s side.
If you have made up your mind and walking out the door with your cat is a must, following these tips might be helpful.
Start early. If you have a kitten at home, you are one of the luckiest ones for the task since kittens as well as puppies might learn almost any trick in the book. Getting used to a daily routine that includes looking out the window, wearing a leash or kitty harness, and daily walks outside of its “comfort zone” might be a breeze. The best thing of starting early is when your kitten is older, it will be looking forward to go out with you every day.
Adapting to the leash. Let’s say you lost your outdoor space because you move somewhere else and the new place does not have a private garden. You still want to go out and take your dear “taffy” with you outside for a walk in the park. Taking up the challenge of training your cat to go outside and actually be by your side without pulling the leash(and beg you to bring him back inside) might be conquered by tips from cat owners/experts who have actually achieved such a challenging task might be helpful.
In the following video, this cat counselor teaches you how to help your cat feel comfortable on a leash https://youtu.be/BUAI8xrnztc (while you’re at it, watch all those funny ones about cats that do not want to be walk on a leash).
Cats love the outdoors. According to Jean Miller, co-author of Walk Your Cat, The Complete Guide, she mentions that “Cats have a real need to go outdoors. They crave the variety and intensity of sights, sounds and smells.” However, keeping your cat indoors might be safer and it is a common recommendation by most vets and shelters since they can pick up parasites that might make them sick. Also because a cat’s life expectancy is higher if it’s kept inside. Still, deciding to take your cat outside safely might be ok if you do it occasionally. After all,the whole point “walking your cat” is enjoying the outdoors together while keeping it safe, isn’t it?
The book’s author also claims that there are instructions in her book that’ll ensures success with a step-by-step method that she has developed. – as long as you’re patient.
Patience is the key. If our cat is showing a clear interest and curiosity to head outdoors -yes, some cats might not be interested in going outside-, make sure you neutered him first. Once your pet is completely settled at the new place and it’s done some window gazing, you can gradually start showing him the outdoor life with the kitty harness. Once you both feel comfortable, deciding to leave him outside without the leash might be the next decision in question.
Older cats living on the same house for years might not be interested in going outside at all. A cozy, comfortable home where they are being fed constantly and have toys to play and things to scratch might be all your pet needs to live a happy life. But if you insist to proudly show your companion to the neighbors and other owners brave enough to adventure in the outdoor challenge, wear comfortable shoes. A lot of things can happen on the first few times!
Click here to enjoy a safe, clean way to clean your cat’s litter box.