For some pet parents, the thought of letting their beloved cat outside is enough to send shivers through their body, meanwhile, other folks feel it’s a feline’s right to roam free and untethered. Fortunately, there’s a middle ground for those who want to let their cat explore the outdoors in a safe, controlled environment: walking on a leash.
Learn how to teach a cat to walk on a leash, below:
Know Your Cat
Most cats, especially kittens, can be taught to walk on a leash. However, some older felines may never warm up to the idea of leash walking. You’ll need to understand your cat’s personality to determine whether or not they’ll enjoy walking on a leash. If your cat is set in her ways and hates new situations, then she most likely will not be receptive to the idea of being walked on a leash.
Get the Right Equipment
For the safety of your cat or kitten, use a cat harness, not a collar, when teaching her to walk on a leash.
Harnesses made specifically for cats offer several advantages: a better fit, more control and less pressure on the throat, which reduces stress. And unlike a cat collar, a cat harness won’t break away when tugged on (a feature most cat collars have to prevent a cat from being strangled if the collar is caught on an object).
Before you try to put the harness on, leave it near your cat’s food dish for a few days so that she can get used to the sight and smell of it. Try putting a few high-value treats in or near the harness while it’s on the floor to create good associations.
Set Realistic Expectations
Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows that they’re independent creatures with very definite opinions, so you’ll need to have realistic expectations when trying to teach a cat to walk on a leash.
Your cat will most likely not want anything to do with this strange apparatus and may even kick, roll or try to get away when you embark on the challenge of fitting her with the harness for the first time. This is perfectly normal, so have patience and cat treats ready.
Use Positive Reward-Based Training
Food-based rewards work well for most cats, especially when they’re hungry. With this in mind, do short training sessions with your cat before she eats a meal. And don’t forget to make those treats stinky and high value, as most cats won’t work for just kibble.
Start leash training by putting the harness on your cat in the house once she’s accustomed to being around it. Make sure it is snug, but not too tight as to be uncomfortable. Once you have the harness on, give your cat a treat and plenty of praise, then let her go.
If your cat begins moving around in the harness, continue to give her treats and praise. If she immediately drops to the floor, wait to see if she will move and if she does, reward her with treats and praise. If she doesn’t move at all or tries to run away, remove the harness and end the training session.
Add the Leash
Once your cat is used to the harness (it may take a while), attach a light leash and let her walk around the home with the leash on for a few training sessions so that she can get used to the extra weight. You can attach a regular-sized leash when you’re ready to start holding it while walking.
Depending on the cat, you may have to practice indoors for days before your cat is comfortable wearing the harness and leash. As your cat learns to tolerate the harness and leash for longer periods of time, be sure to continue giving her praise and treats.
If at any time she drops or her demeanor changes, immediately remove the harness and leash, give her a treat and try again later. It’s best to end the session before your cat starts getting upset; you always want to end training periods on a positive note.
Tips for Walking Your Cat Outdoors
Once your cat is used to the harness and leash, it’s time to embark on the adventure of the great outdoors. Depending on your cat’s temperament, you could spend weeks just getting down your front steps or you could be going for real walks in a matter of minutes.
Most likely, your cat will want to drop and roll around on the soft grass, so give her the time she needs to take in her surroundings. Try to view the environment through your cat’s eyes. Is it noisy with lots of traffic, barking dogs and other distractions? These may be viewed as threatening to a newly-outdoor cat, so take her to a quieter place where she will feel less exposed until she feels comfortable.
Cats on leash can spook easily, so an area that was okay yesterday may terrify your cat today. If this happens, go back to the last place she felt comfortable and start again. And unless your cat is in harm’s way, try to resist the urge to pick her up and soothe her. Cats learn confidence while working through a situation, so let her be.
Keeping Your Cat Safe on a Leash
While your cat is exploring, be sure to watch her closely so she doesn’t lick, chew or swallow something that could be poisonous or dangerous for cats. Don’t let your cat run up a tree and never leave her tied up and unattended outside.
Finally, do not let your cat chase birds or other animals while you’re outside; remember that it’s not a fun game for wildlife to be attacked by predators, whether they are on leash or not.
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