There’s nothing strange about taking a dog for a walk, but taking a cat, well that’s a whole new ballgame. Though taking a cat for a walk is not as difficult as it may seem. With a little patience and a very secure cat harness, it is possible.
Many people believe that cats should be kept indoor at all times, so our precious wildlife is protected. Cats can be notorious killers of small animals, and keeping them indoors is a great way to keep them under control.
But do we know if cats are capable of missing the outdoors? Are we depriving them of some inbuilt instinct to hunt and capture their prey?
An easy way to overcome this is to let our cats outdoors, but only if they are fully under control. There are a few steps to take that will eventually allow you to take your cat outdoors, in a safe and secure manner.
Start by purchasing a cat harness and lead. These are available from your local veterinary surgery or pet supply store.
If they don’t have any in stock you can also use a very small dog harness, the size that is appropriate for a Chihuahua.
Introduce the harness to the cat slowly, leaving it near its bed and food bowls on a regular basis, over a period of days. Attempt to put the harness on the cat when it no longer appears interested in it.
Continue putting the harness on for a two week period, until the cat accepts the harness as part of the daily routine.
The final step is to lead the cat outside, in small bursts only, for just a few seconds at a time. Each day, increase the amount of time spent outside.
After a week or two of this, your cat should be very comfortable with the harness and with being outside.
If you have reached this step, congratulations. You can now start to slowly walk your cat for short distances. Soon enough your cat will be sitting at the front door waiting for you to take it for a walk.
Walking your cat is a great way to relieve their boredom and give them some exercise at the same time. It can stimulate their senses, exercise their body, and hopefully save some of your household furniture from scratches. Give it a go, your cat will thank you for it.
