If they’re an indoor cat, buy a cat harness and take them on a walk. Preferably one with a long leash.
Do not try to walk them like a dog; that will never work.
Cats are fiercely independent; try to force them in a particular direction and they’ll protest. Let them lead the way.
If they try to go somewhere dangerous, simply stand in place and do not allow them to progress any further. Do not tug, they will eventually get the message on their own.
Be prepared to spend a half hour minimum outside, ideally an hour or more. Cats like to take their time on a walk.
That was so nice when I got an 8 year old indoor cat. You could see this world of wonder in her eyes, as she didn’t know where to look and where to sniff first.
With time, I could let her run free but supervised in a shared apartment building garden. She always went to the same pine trees and couldn’t get enough sniffing them. Also jumped on the window sill of neighbour cats just to hiss at them from the outside.
When I went to neighbours, for example to pick up a package or talk about something, she trotted next to me through the hallways like a well-trained dog and sat next to me when I talked to a neighbour. The whole stairway and hallways were another great adventure to her, sniffing and clawing doormats etc.
Also be prepared to let the walk take 5 minutes or less if the cat doesn’t feel like it. Or if they find it too scary (but might want to try again a little while later).
If you want this to be successful, you would be wise to devote time to harness training (i.e. getting used to the harness) first. Don’t just put the harness on - it can be a bad experience for the cat and move you further from the goal of a walk.
Yes, the worst was when something startled her (sting from a thistle?) and she dashed for the door full speed, into the harness, did a looping. A good fit is essential, could have cause major injury!
If they’re an indoor cat, buy a cat harness and take them on a walk. Preferably one with a long leash.
Do not try to walk them like a dog; that will never work.
Cats are fiercely independent; try to force them in a particular direction and they’ll protest. Let them lead the way.
If they try to go somewhere dangerous, simply stand in place and do not allow them to progress any further. Do not tug, they will eventually get the message on their own.
Be prepared to spend a half hour minimum outside, ideally an hour or more. Cats like to take their time on a walk.
That was so nice when I got an 8 year old indoor cat. You could see this world of wonder in her eyes, as she didn’t know where to look and where to sniff first.
With time, I could let her run free but supervised in a shared apartment building garden. She always went to the same pine trees and couldn’t get enough sniffing them. Also jumped on the window sill of neighbour cats just to hiss at them from the outside.
When I went to neighbours, for example to pick up a package or talk about something, she trotted next to me through the hallways like a well-trained dog and sat next to me when I talked to a neighbour. The whole stairway and hallways were another great adventure to her, sniffing and clawing doormats etc.
Also be prepared to let the walk take 5 minutes or less if the cat doesn’t feel like it. Or if they find it too scary (but might want to try again a little while later).
If you want this to be successful, you would be wise to devote time to harness training (i.e. getting used to the harness) first. Don’t just put the harness on - it can be a bad experience for the cat and move you further from the goal of a walk.
Yes, the worst was when something startled her (sting from a thistle?) and she dashed for the door full speed, into the harness, did a looping. A good fit is essential, could have cause major injury!