Can I 'walk' my cat?

Question

This sounds stupid, i know, but could you walk a cat? You know, like you do a dog? I love my 10 month old kitten and i cant let him out cause hes declawed and we have no fence in our back yard. He seems bored all the time. We play with him but he seems disinterested and meows all the time to go out side.

Answer 1

Get one of those collars that goes around the neck, chest and body for your cat. Put it on him and let him wear it around the house all the time to get use to it. Then hook the leash up and let him wear that around too so he'll get use to it. Then take him outside a little at a time.'

Answer 2

Over a cat leash and collar, I'd recommend a cat harness. It's made for walking cats, and your cat won't be choked if it's not a safety collar, and if it's a safety collar your cat is wearing, your cat won't break free from it if it slips out or pulls hard enough.

Just be really patient, because certain cat breeds are easier to train at walking than others. My kitten gets pretty bored often, and the only thing she seems to really enjoy is going outside or picking on the other cats who go outside.

Be very careful though, too, because my kitten gets REALLY scared outside. She's a very timid cat, and the minute she gets scared, she breaks from her collar (I need to buy a cat harness), and goes to hide under our deck. Sometimes she's so afraid she runs to the door to be let in. It just takes a LOT of time for a cat to get used to the outdoors. I'd try to keep it away from things that might scare, such as vehicles or dogs. If your cat does get scared outside, try to distract it with something, like flowers, or pick a plant and wave it around and let your cat attack it :) Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes you can take your cat for a walk. Getting him used to the harness will be the hardest part. Put it on him just for a few minutes, give some treats, then take it off. Do this every day slowly leaving it on for longer periods. Always supervised. They will associate the harness with treats. Then try attaching the leash. Let him wander around a bit. Don't lead him, let him lead you. Again, do this every day. When he's comfortable, take him into the yard & let him sniff around. Don't try to actually walk him yet. Do this every day. My kitties never did like to 'walk' but they like being outside with me. I sit in the back yard reading a book or whatever & hook the leashes onto the chair leg. They are quite content. As far as actually taking them for a walk, I never had much luck with that! Leash training comes in handy for trips to the vet as well.
Congrats on being such a responsible pet owner!

Answer 4

Yes, absolutely. He may not walk just like a dog, but even they have to be trained to the leash. You'll need to train your cat, most likely. A packet of kitty treats should help greatly with this training.

I'd personally recommend a harness instead of a collar when using a leash with a cat, especially one who's not used to it yet. Cats can squirm out of nearly anything but a good harness. Look for one that fits well and goes on easily. Don't let the cat roam outdoors alone with the harness on, of course. They get snagged and caught awfully easily on branches and such.

Answer 5

A cat harness is for walking (or keeping cat from running off at least), a collar won't do. make sure the middle upper part of the harness is long enough. Many are too short for a cat and then the straps bind and pinch kitty's legs. It is a good idea to at least have a breakaway collar on your kitty if it goes outside... WITH a tag with ID on it so it can be returned to you.

Answer 6

When my boy was just a kitty I bought a small puppy harness and leash for him and used to take him out on walks. Eventually he started to wriggle around too much whenever he saw a bird or another animal so II just had to keep him inside. I bought him a windowsill bed so he could look outside. If you really think your kitty wants to go out you can always buy one of those kitty strollers. They're just like a baby one, but they're smaller and they have heavy netting to keep your cat confined.

Answer 7

I doubt it... when I first got my cat I wanted o do the same thing so I got her a leash and collar, and started walking but she wouldn't follow... she just sat there and after dragging her about 10 feet I gave up and brought her back inside. I think cats are just to stubborn to be forced to follow someone especially if they are tied to that person. :)

Answer 8

I have two adult males who walk on leashes. You can buy cat size harness/leash sets at most large pet outlets (Petco). It may take awhile for them to get used to the harness. They may twist around to get out of it. Be patient. You can put the harness on in the house and let them get used to it. And you don't walk them, they walk you. My neighbors are amused by our outings. You do have to keep an eye out for dogs and other potential dangers.

Answer 9

Yes, but you have to let he get used to it. He may fight it at first. But, if he is declawed then it would be better to leave him in. Cats alway acted bored.

Answer 10

yes you can leash train your cat, get a cat harness and leash and start in baby steps, get your cat use to seeing the harness for about a week then put it on him and take it off do this for about a week then lengthen the amount of time.

when he is comfortable with the harness on attach the leash let him wonder around and play with it for about a week or till you think he is comfortable enough with it then pick it up.

I found the best way to get them going is get a string toy and put it infront of them and they will jump for the string toy and run to the string toy. you probably want to do this for a few weeks to a month and then see how he is with out the string toy keeping him going. don't plan on taking him out till you can tell he is comfortable like this, find someplace that is quiet to take him out for his first time. we took our boys to my parents country house with an enclosed pool area. and they did great and so we took them to the park they love to wonder around in the park.

Odds are it is not going to be like walking a dog, for us it is basically just wonder around with them and let them sniff around, chase some squirrles and enjoy some fresh air.