Many people who own a dog love the fact that they can put a leash on the dog, walk outside and take a nice, brisk walk around the block or through the woods. For those that own a cat, they often find that they are leaving the cat at home while they go out to enjoy the great outdoors. In reality, you can take your cat with you and with a little bit of work on your part, you can leash train a cat so that they walk quite nicely by your side.
There are many benefits to leash training a cat and those benefits are not only for you, they are for your cats as well. Walking your cat is great exercise and they will be healthier, as will you. In addition, it gives your cat the opportunity to get outdoors and to see what is actually taking place in the world around them. Unfortunately, many cats are stuck indoors and they never have the opportunity to see the outside for themselves.
If you do want to teach your cat how to walk on a leash, you need to have something more than a leash on and a collar. You need a harness that is designed specifically for cats. Don’t expect that you will simply put it on your cat and they will start walking immediately. It is going to take some time for them to grow accustomed to it so allow them to wear it around the home as they are in a supervised position.
It is best if you wait until the cat has grown accustomed to the harness before you take things to the next level. You want them to be comfortable and calm when you take them out on the leash for the first time, so doing it too soon could cause them to be in somewhat of a panic.
It is also important to walk your cat in an area where they are comfortable. It can be stressful for them to walk in the downtown area with all of the traffic and other people walking around. Try to get them out in more of a rural setting, choosing a quiet area where they won’t face the additional stress that could be counterproductive.
Above all, make sure that you work on your cat’s terms until they become fully accustomed to walking on a leash. They may not be comfortable with the process at first but with enough work and time on your part, they will soon be walking along with you, stride for stride.