Walk Your
Cat on a Leash... Always!
by Susan Nelson
Hopkins
 Take your cat for a
leisurely stroll... it will do you both a world of good!
If your feline buddy is an
indoor cat, don't assume that he longs to go outside. Yes, cats are
all about independence... but that independence is born of a
sense of security. When he feels safe, he is comfortably
independent.
Now, if your buddy is
outdoors all or most of the time, he may follow you out of
curiosity. By the time he gets bored, you could be quite a distance
from home... in unfamiliar territory. If you're not careful, he
could run away from you to seek shelter and hide.
Unless you or your cat are
medically restricted, or your environment is too dangerous, a
leisurely stroll around the neighborhood is extremely beneficial to
you both.
Besides the obvious low-impact exercise, walking
with your cat nurtures a camaraderie between you and your feline
buddy.
(If you want to
train your cat to travel with you in the car, check out
The Only Way to Travel with Your Cat is to Con Him into
It.)
If you decide to
walk your cat, you MUST,
MUST,
MUST
use a leash and some sort of harness.
In fact, your city's leash
law may extend to cats. If not, it will soon because cat walking has
become very popular.
Here's what you do:
- Purchase a leash and harness...
- Purchase a
leash made specifically for cats, or for
small dogs.
- Purchase a
harness, or a body jacket with a leash
attachment. Do NOT attach a leash to your cat's collar
because the pressure around his neck will send him into a
panic.
- To ensure a proper fit, just make sure that you can
place two fingers between the harness and your cat.
- The leash should attach to the harness, or body jacket,
along the back and not at the neck.
- Both the harness and the leash should be strong, but
light weight. Your buddy won't enjoy packing weighty gear.
- Introduce them to your cat slowly...
- Place the harness and leash in your buddy's sleeping
area, or next to his food dish. This gets him used to the
sight and smell of them.
- After a couple of days, put the harness on him for a
little while. Here's a tip... do this just before you feed
him so he thinks he's being rewarded for wearing the
harness.
- When he feels comfortable with the harness, add the
leash and let him drag it around the house. Continue this
for a day or two... maybe about an hour each day.
- Practice walking with your cat indoors...
- Next, pick up the leash and walk through the house with
him until he becomes accustomed to having you walk close to
him.
- Introduce him to walking next to you rather than ahead
or away from you... give the leash a gentle tug.
- Now you and your cat are ready to go for a walk outdoors...
- If your buddy is an indoor cat, go slowly and reassure
him. In fact, your first walk may be in your own backyard
until he's used to experiencing the outdoors.
- If you have an outdoor cat, or if he's used to being
outdoors sometimes, stay in his territory... perhaps your
own block or a circumference of several houses (on either
side, across the street, and behind you).
As your buddy feels safer
with you by his side, he will relax and enjoy himself. He'll still
be on the alert, but his feline nature and instincts will kick in,
and you'll have one happy feline friend!
By the way, it's very IN to
walk a cat!
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