Cats and Leashes
A leash and harness can be a cheap way to let your cat enjoy the outdoors, and it could be a great help in any emergency. A leash can add a whole new dimension to your indoor cat’s life.
I had unrealistic expectations that I would be taking my cats for a walk, thinking that we might walk down to the corner to mail a letter, perhaps. No way. The cat is taking you for a walk. This is not a brisk romp, such as a dog would lead you on. We’ll walk a foot or two, then stop to observe flora and fauna. After a few minutes, we’ll walk on a ways, and so on. Occasional brisk strolls may punctuate the excursion, but we do not go from Point A to Point B. If you need to walk somewhere, don’t bring the cat.
Most cats will not want to wander very far. There is no point in forcing them to do so. The point of the expedition is your cat’s mental health, not exercise for you. One cat barely left the porch – she was scared and unhappy as a stray cat. Two of my other cats were masters of the universe when they lived outside. These two, one male, one female, would stride right up the center of the sidewalk. We often made it almost completely around the block, before the cat would decide to take a shortcut through the yards, where I can’t go. Then I point them back towards home.
If your indoor cat is afraid to go out at all, don’t force them. However, you still should get them used to wearing a harness. In the event of an emergency, you may not have a carrying case to put him or her in, or you may need to take the cat out of the case in public. (With increased security at airports and elsewhere, you may very well have to remove your cat from the case at the security checkpoint.) With a harness, it will be much easier to hold onto your friend.
A few other points that I’ve learned:
- Your cat will love nighttime walks.
- Don’t try to walk more than one cat at a time
- Always attach the leash to a harness, not a collar.
- The best result has been the end of my cats’ obsession with GETTING OUT.
