- Everything to Know About Walking Your Cat
Did you know that walking a pet isn't just reserved for dogs? Cats can also partake in the activity and receive the same satisfaction as their dog counterparts. Especially with people doing outdoor activities more often, don't be surprised if you see your neighbor with their cat on a harness and leash! We'll talk about leasing training and harness training in regards to indoor cats. Most cats remain indoors, but many of their owners don't realize that they can give their cats the best of both worlds in a safe and controlled manner! That's when we can turn to leash training!
Once you've decided the fate of your cat, start by looking for the right harness. The harness can make or break your quest to walk your cat, so choosing the right one is very important. Do not use the regular, break-away collars you may already have! Break-away collars are designed for instances where your cat may jump somewhere and their collar gets snagged on something. To prevent injuries, these collars unclasp or break-away easily. These collars aren't suitable for walking your cat since you want to have as much control and security as possible.
When choosing the right harness, you want to make sure it's snug but not too tight on your cat. An easy way to check the harness is to slide two fingers between the harness and your cat. If it slides through, it fits well. The harness shouldn't be too loose and more than two fingers should not be able to slide through. There are some harnesses that are specifically designed for cats. Those ones are made out of softer material and are designed to allow more mobility for cats compared to regular dog harnesses. These specially-made harnesses are the best option to ensure your cat has maximum comfort. But if you find that a dog harness works, then that is also fine!
Feel free to try on different harnesses for your cat. But to be honest, most cats who get strapped in a harness for the first time do not enjoy it. You may witness them falling over, wiggling, or frozen in place when you put on their first harness. This is normal since they are not used to the new weight or pressure on them. Put the harness on them for short periods of time, gradually increasing as they seem fit. Allow time for your cat to get used to it and use treats to enforce a positive association with it! There's a reason why harness training and leash training are two separate processes. Depending on the cat, it could take hours to days to just get used to the harness itself. You must be patient and work your way up to the point where your cat is walking normally with the harness on. Only until then can you move onto leash training.
Lia is a second-year student studying Journalism and minoring in Film Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is grateful to be able to write for Catbuddy and looks forward to developing her career in digital media. She has two cats and three dogs back at home, so you might call her an animal-lover. Lastly, Lia hopes for her content to be an enjoyable read to all audiences!