Are you tired of leaving Fluffy at home while you embark on an adventure? In addition to keeping your feline friend in a backpack, walker or cat carrying matter, a leash is the safest way to keep him close to you when you leave the house. You may be wondering if it is possible to teach a cat to walk on a leash. While the answer is yes, it is important to remember that not all cats are suitable for outdoor walking, and you should not push a cat if it feels uncomfortable.
Choosing a collar or harness for training a cat on a leash
Training a cat on a leash is different from training a dog on a leash and requires different equipment. Be sure to use products specifically designed for cats. You should never use dog harnesses, chains or leashes of a flexible type. Also make sure you have plenty of treats to reward the cat for his successes! You should know that walking a cat on a leash will not be a pleasant walk at first, but practice will make it purr.
Choosing the seat belt
You want the strap to be snug, but not too tight. The general rule is that you should be able to get one or two fingers under the seat belt. Once you have the right equipment, you can start training your cat to join you on all kinds of outdoor adventures.
Strap-on training
Step 1. introduce the cat with a harness
Let your cat try on an off-leash harness. The key for the harness to win your cat’s heart is to make a positive experience, that is, to combine it with food. You can start by leaving the leash near your cat’s feeder or pulling on it so that the cat can explore it and then get a reward for the treatment.
New noises can scare some nervous kittens, so practice buckling on the harness or tearing the Velcro to get your cat used to the new sounds. Now that your four-legged friend knows about the seat belt, put it on you, but do not fasten it.
Repeat this process, gradually increasing the time of wearing the seat belt.
Step 2: Make the cat comfortable walking on a leash without tension inside
Once your cat is comfortable with the harness, fasten the leash. Let the cat walk while watching you closely with the leash hanging freely. After a few seconds, remove the harness and leash and repeat this process for a few days until your feline friend relaxes and begins to walk freely.
Step 3: Make the cat comfortable walking on a leash with tension inside.
While watching closely, allow the cat to drag the leash behind him as he moves freely around your house. This will allow your cat to get comfortable with a little traction of the leash. Never leave a leash or leash on your cat unsupervised.
Step 4: Walk your cat on an indoor walk
Put the harness and leash on the cat, and after it has walked a little, try to slowly drive it in the other direction. Motivate your cat with treats when he follows you or walks alone.
Step 5: Exit
Choose a dry day with good weather for your first hike. Start by taking the cat to the door, open it and ask it to come out. You can throw a treat right in front of the door to encourage the cat to get out. If your cat’s body language shows that she is scared or hesitant, don’t force her out. Instead, stop for a day and try again after. Be sure to bring treats to your cat when walking outside. Limit your time outdoors to a few minutes to make sure you end up on a high note!