Cats on Leashes

[VRBeauty]

Last night my older cat was totally annoyingly restless all evening. He may be 19/90 and fixed, but it seems he still gets a touch of spring fever!

I went out back with him once or twice but each time he''d go to one of the side yards and escape. He doesn''t go fast or far (down one or two houses) but now that he''s deaf, I don''t like him to be outside of the yard on his own. FInally late at night -- when I was trying to talk on the phone while he was pacing the room meowing loudly -- I got fed up with his whining, put a harness on him, and went out front. At first he just stood there, and I had to walk one or two steps at a time and wait for him to follow me. Eventually he did get the idea that we could take a walk with this arrangement. He couldn''t get as far into peoples yards as he wanted to since I had to stay on the sidewalk, but he still seemed to like it. In any event, it took care of his whining! I''m going to see if we can make a habit of this.

My only concern is that I might be expanding his comfort zone by taking him further into the neighborhood, and that he might wander farther when he is let out back on his own for a while. (When I can''t stay with the cats while they''re out back I check on him every few minutes and usually this is sufficient. The back yard is fenced in, but there are spots where he can squeeze out.) On the other hand, he does seem to be aware that a part of his defense system is compromised. Maybe if he gets used to walks on the leash, he''ll come to look our walks and not try to get out on his own?

Anyhow, I''d appreciate hearing from anyone who''s been successful in training a cat to walk on a leash, and from those who tried and gave up!

To add a bit of inspiration, check out the adorable video in this ad below (originally included in Amadine''s response to a question posed in the family and home forum.)

Come With Me Kitty Harness.

 

[laine]

I wouldn''t necessarily call what my cat does "walking on a leash" but he loves to go outside with it. He''ll stand by the door while I get the leash, push his head into the harness, lift his leg through when I tap it, then sit down and wait for me to hook it closed and attach the leash. It''s pretty adorable. When outside he explores where he wants and I have to follow. He loves it, and its fun to watch him (I grew up with outside cats and wish he could be one, but we''re a little too close to the road for comfort, plus alot of other animals run free in the neighborhood).

While he loves going out on the leash, he still likes to try to get out at other times, so the leash certainly hasn''t solved that--in fact, it may actually make it worse, since he knows what he''s missing out there. Still, I like taking him out, so I''ll keep doing it. My other cat, however, wants nothing to do with the harness, so he stays inside.

 

[Blackpaw]

that video

im sorry, no advice, but thanks for posting the vid!

 

[lyra]

You could try the sandbag from Kenny's pet product post: (I am just kidding, I don't know anything about cats)

 

[Lynnie]

I would let my cat out on the leash if he could tolerate it! He''s always itching to go out, but the last time I tried the leash, a loud noise spooked him, he ran, and got all tangled under a chair!!

 

[yssie]

We walk ours on a leash (well, Garet is the only one who likes to go outside, both Greta and Mina are terrified of the outdoors

).


He acts like we''ve broken his back for the first few minutes - slinking around hugging the ground - then it''s like he just forgets about it and trots quite happily out the door.


The neighbours probably think we''re strange to be walking a big black cat, but he likes his outside time and we''re not about to let him loose, so..

 

[katamari]

I cannot believe so many of you have luck with it. One of my cats will just stand there, but the other is totally like Mike Myers in the harness SNL skit. There is just no hope for them.

My mom has a Kittywalk system that we call the cat-a-trail. She has the gazebo and some tunnels connected to their cat door. She lives in a much quieter neighborhood than I do, though, and has a lot of yard space. It wouldn''t be possible in our itty bity city lot.

 

[zoebartlett]

Before we moved last year, we bought leashes and harnesses just in case we decided to use them for our two cats (who don''t go outdoors). We were so nervous about moving such a long distance, even though they were in a crate most of the time. So we got the harnesses and leashes home and tried one out on our less skittish female cat. She took a little while to warm up to the idea but she was okay. Our male cat, however, was NOT having it. It freaked him out so much that he actually threw himself against the wall, howling, and he magically got himself out. I still don''t know how he did it. He was so scared and it took him a long time for him to come out from hiding. We ended up not using the leashes or harnesses at all.

You may have better luck though. Another thought -- have you checked out Kenny''s "20 pet products" thread? There''s a stroller made for pets that you might find useful.

 

[Matata]

 

[Matata]

These jackets are made with velcro attachments around neck and around chest. Very comfortable & escape proof. Made by Anita at joykatz.net

To get my guy used to walking, I used a feather wand & laser light to tempt down the sidewalk. Took him a few days to get used to the whole adventure and now he trots alongside me just like a dog.

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 4/24/2010 8:29:50 PM
Author: Matata

These jackets are made with velcro attachments around neck and around chest. Very comfortable & escape proof. Made by Anita at joykatz.net


To get my guy used to walking, I used a feather wand & laser light to tempt down the sidewalk. Took him a few days to get used to the whole adventure and now he trots alongside me just like a dog.

Love your exotic kitty all dressed up in an exotic print!

Thanks for the "carrots" suggestion... I''ll give that a try!

 

[PumpkinPie]

I used to take my bunny for walks on a leash, so I think walking cats makes a lot of sense

 

[Smurfysmiles]

We once had a leash for our cat and we tried to take him for a walk. I ended up carrying him home and he ended up getting so scared that he started pooping on my favorite tank top. That was the end of that lol

 

[Steel]

Let me preface this by saying, I love cats and have 4 of the furry wailing purr-monsters and I totally get that I am lucky to live in the rural countryside where my kitties are predominately safe outside and if I lived in the city, I would have to keep them inside for their own safety.

But I would die laughing if I saw IRL a cat on a kitty lead.

As far as being helpful goes, I trained our cats to respond to the rattling/crinkling of their favourite treat wrapper so I could get them inside when I wanted. This may be helpful if the lead training goes south and you just want to get him inside before he makes a run for freedom under the fence.

 

[portia]

Date: 4/24/2010 8:29:50 PM
Author: Matata

These jackets are made with velcro attachments around neck and around chest. Very comfortable & escape proof. Made by Anita at joykatz.net

To get my guy used to walking, I used a feather wand & laser light to tempt down the sidewalk. Took him a few days to get used to the whole adventure and now he trots alongside me just like a dog.

I was thinking of getting one of these for our savannah. What size do you have on Juba? Did you train him while he was a kitten? Those walking jackets look like they would be comfortable. I''ve tried other harnesses on Zoe and she looks so uncomfortable and just flops around.

 

[bee*]

I put Manolo on a harness and leash all the time. He''s mainly an indoor kitty only but he loves going out into our back garden and watching the birds. If I can''t go out with him, I attach his lead to Amber''s collar and the two of them potter around the garden together.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

That is incredibly adorable Bee*!!!!!!

I have a leash and harness for our two boys but dont use it that often as we have a cat cage (old bird cage) set up outside that they stay in during the day. If my daughter decides to take them for a walk it is more like they are walking her.. she has to stop and go at their pace.

My mum tethers (sp?) her cat to the back lawn when the weather is nice. He is in a harness and on a long lead so he can lie under the bushes in the shade and he loves it.

 

[Haven]

OH MY GOSH bee*, that's adorable. And pretty awesome.

I've tried to put a leash on our one kitty, Vince, who really wants to go outside most of the time. He hated it. He kept throwing himself onto the ground and rubbing his neck, it was pretty awful to watch. Perhaps a harness like Matata's would work better.

I've told this story on here before, but it's too hilarious to keep to myself. A friend of mine tried to put a harness on her kitty, Arlo, because he was always trying to escape. She lived in an apartment, so she went into the hallway with Arlo and put him in the harness. Well, Arlo apparently believed that wearing the harness paralyzed him, and he immediately dropped to the floor and stayed on his side, completely still. My friend figured she would just go back into the apartment and he'd follow her in, eventually.

Well, after some time she peeked out into the hall to see Arlo stretched out on his belly, reaching one front paw out at a time, clamping his claws into the carpet, and dragging himself toward the apartment. One arm length at a time. His back legs were just sticking straight out behind him as clawed his way home. Hilarious. Or sad. I'm not sure.

Anyway, I wish our kitties would enjoy a walk on a lead, but they are so not having it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/26/2010 6:20:09 AM
Author: bee*
I put Manolo on a harness and leash all the time. He''s mainly an indoor kitty only but he loves going out into our back garden and watching the birds. If I can''t go out with him, I attach his lead to Amber''s collar and the two of them potter around the garden together.

That is the cutest!!!

 

[Po10472]

Awww Bee* that made my heart soar.

Well our putty-tat, Pee-wee, is a big boy. He''s about 11/12 and has always been an indoor cat and he lived with my monster-in-law until we borrowed him last year and I fell in love with him and so kept him. We had a wee furry friend that came to visit down our chimney which sent me into orbit so rather than get traps, we borrowed a cat. Anyhoo, we''ve given our big boy a wonderful home where he''s loved so much that we''ve created a monster, he will not leave us alone, but I love it. But I like to let him out, as long as we''re there with him as we live in a very busy road with lots of cars and there''s also lots of foxes around our place so he has to be accompanied. But he keeps buggering off into the next doors garden or round into our back garden so I bought him a harness.

Talk about taking my life into my own hands, the first time he was having none of it, thrashing his head around and then getting his paw stuck around the neck, so that was no good and I''ve tried repeatedly, but he doesn''t really like it and yes, does the lying down on his side and not moving trick. This one doesn''t help cos I then get a fit of the giggles and it becomes impossible to pick him up.

So...........in the end, I don''t bother, its too much hassle even tho it is really funny. He doesn''t get distressed, its like a game with him tho.

 

[Po10472]

Pee-wee

 

[yssie]

That's precious, bee!!

 

[Po10472]

oops, sorry, didn''t realise it was in ''actual size''

eeek.

 

[jaysonsmom]

Bee* I love that your dog walks the cat!!!!! Too cute.

I used to have 2 Persians who were indoor cats (when I was single), but I used to leash them and walk down to the pool with them on weekends so that I could swim, and they could play in the sun for a bit. I remember them both walking pretty well with leashes. I guess they were so happy to get that once a week outing. My cats were really weird too, they behaved very dog-like, they came to me when I called, and sat when I told them to sit, slept on my bed with me. Just liked being cuddled like babies, did not exibit "independent" behavior at all.

 

[CaliCushion]

A few weeks ago, I saw someone sitting at an outdoor cafe with a cat on a leash. So clearly different cats have different comfort levels regarding the outside world

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 4/26/2010 12:36:27 PM
Author: Haven
OH MY GOSH bee*, that''s adorable. And pretty awesome.

I''ve tried to put a leash on our one kitty, Vince, who really wants to go outside most of the time. He hated it. He kept throwing himself onto the ground and rubbing his neck, it was pretty awful to watch. Perhaps a harness like Matata''s would work better.

My cat would not do the harness AT ALL. The few times I put it on her, she''d slink to the ground while walking along. People walking by me looked at me like I was nuts! lol

 

[VRBeauty]

Love that picture, Bee! What a great arrangement!

Thanks everyone for the input. We''re still experimenting -- I''ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, additional input would be more than welcome!

 

[Blackpaw]

bee*

it doesnt get any cuter than those two

 

[VRBeauty]

Matata: The laser light idea is genius! We just got back from our midnight "walk." We only go a few houses in each direction, with plenty of stops for Squeaky to sniff things out, but... we actually got up to a bit of a senior kitty trot at one point! Squeaky''s not fighting it and he doesn''t put up any resistance when I slip the halter on him, so maybe he''ll even get to where he likes it at some point.

Meanwhile, I''ll leave you with this thought: http://www.craftleftovers.com/blog/archives/774

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 4/24/2010 7:39:27 PM
Author: katamari
I cannot believe so many of you have luck with it. One of my cats will just stand there, but the other is totally like Mike Myers in the harness SNL skit. There is just no hope for them.

My mom has a Kittywalk system that we call the cat-a-trail. She has the gazebo and some tunnels connected to their cat door. She lives in a much quieter neighborhood than I do, though, and has a lot of yard space. It wouldn''t be possible in our itty bity city lot.

LOL - This is exactly how my cat is! She flipped out so badly the few times I tried the leash that I won''t ever try again. My youngest guy actually ran out one night and had me sleeping on the couch fearful I''d never see him again. He came home early the following morning, egar to be let into the house and has shown absolutely no desire to return to the outdoors ever - guess he realized there are no cuddles and treats laying around in the big world.