Do you have any tips for me?

Question

I want to teach my cat to walk on a leash. He is 14 months old and slightly obese. I have a leash.

Answer 1

Hi there...here are instructions leash train a cat:
http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/ht/leashtrain.htm

Answer 2

My cats walk with me wearing halter and leash. You need to get a halter specifically for cats or since your cat is big, he may be a bit more comfortable with a halter made for a small dog. Attaching the leash to a cat collar is NOT a good idea - the cat can get seriously hurt. Anyway, make sure that halter can fit the cat snugly but not too tight. Here what you do:

1) Put the halter on the cat - adjust fit. Your cat will most likely fall on his side at this point and refuse t stand or walk. That's OK - almost all cats will do this at first.

2) Let him wear the halter for 10 mins each day until he shows that he will stand or walk with it on. Most cats will realize that they can walk comfortable with the halter on by the second or third day.

3) Once the cat can walk around with the halter on, attach the leash and let him walk around with it trailing behind him. He'll be a bit spooked but will realize its harmless.

4) If he is walking with halter and leash attached, then its time to hold on to the end of the leash and walk with him. Let him lead. Cats will not "heal" at command. When you want the cat to stop walking, hold the leash firmly but do not tug. The cat will stop. You will discover that you have better control of the cat when you inch your hand along the length of the leash and shorten the cat's reach. I do this when I know we are some place that may have things that will spook the cat.

5) When your cat is comfy walking with halter and leash, you can go take him outside. But try the backyard first. You and your cat need to be a little more experienced to try the sidewalks.

6) Enjoy!

Answer 3

It's admirable that you're trying to help your feline buddy lose weight and stimulate him with walks. You may or may not be able to teach him how to walk on a leash. Your cat's ability to walk on a leash will in part be determined by his personality. If he is a confident or bold cat, your chances are good that he will learn. If he is skittish or shy, he may be too frightened outdoors to walk comfortably on a leash.
The other factor that will determine how well he takes to a leash is the method that you use to teach him. If his first experiences with the leash and harness are frightening or upsetting, you'll have more trouble in future attempts. Keep the training sessions very short and upbeat. Use lots of food that he really likes (this won't help with his weight problem, so cut back on his regular food) until he learns how much fun being outdoors on a leash can be.
Clicker training would probably work best to teach a cat leash walking. Clicker training involves using operant conditioning to teach an animal a specific behavior. Most information on clicker training that is available today relates to using clickers to train dogs. But clicker training also works for horses, dolphins, fish, cats, etc. Check your library or bookstore for a good book about this effective training method.

Answer 4

It will be challenging at first, but begin by putting a harness on your cat and let him get use to the feel of it. once he is use to the feel, clip the leash on and let him drag it around the house for a while. Once he's use to that take hold of the leash and apply some pulling pressure, not too much, just so kitty knows you are in control. Keep this up in baby steps and you should be walking your cat in no time!

Oh, and please use a dog harness, collars slip off way tooooo easy, and your cat may bolt.

Answer 5

i had a leash for my cat. i put the harness on the cat and left it on for a while at first. the cat eventually decided she could live with it and not want to destroy it. then i took the cat outside on the leash... she was very happy to be outside...

but then she climbed up the side of my house and sat on the roof.

the next few times i tied the leash to something sturdy... like the porch post or a tree (looping leash through handle before attaching to harness). she liked that. make sure she can't get out of the leash.

i don't have an outdoor cat. cat is indoor cat only. was only outside on leash.

i'm not sure if that would help you with exercise though.

she hates wearing the leash and refuses to walk with me...

but when she sees the leash, she get visibally excited and seems to know going outside is involved.

perhaps get a laser pointer? make sure it is under 1mw in strength so as to not fry the eyeballs (retinas), and of course don't shine it in the eyes anyway.

good luck.

Answer 6

Get a harness, put it on the cat let the cat get used to wearing it. Then put the leash on the harness. Try walking around inside first then in your yard. Pick as quiet a place as you can. make sure harness is secure. and let cat walk you.

Answer 7

Cats are quite trainable with a lot of patience. They will walk on leashes. Just remember they have a different sense of humor than dogs.

Answer 8

Any tips???? Yeees!

Take it in the *** hole!