I have 2 indoor cats, they are both one and I had them from kittens. Part of the rehoming agreement is that they are kept as indoor cats due to the busy road I live on. Just recently one has been meowing at the window and I think she may have seen other cats and want to go out. There are always cats going missing and being run over, so I really don't want to let them out, but I've seen cat leads in the shops and wondered whether anyone acutally walks there cats?
2007-02-20 07:02:34 · 25 answers · asked by susan c 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
No, but i try to give mine as much quality playing time as i can. I use toys that require a lot of moving around, like those mechanic mice that you wind them up and then they run away.
I also have a string and my cat loves to play tugowar with it.
2007-02-20 07:11:22 · answer #1 · answered by Ymmo the Heathen 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I lived in town I used to walk my cat on the city hiking trail all the time. Everyone thought it was cool. I wouldn't walk a cat near traffic even if on a leash. When they spook they will hit the end of the leash at full speed which can break the collar or pull it out of your hand.
Do you have a porch? A screen porch is great for cats, just use extra screen or heavy metal screen around the bottom to prevent anything from getting in to kill the cats. Also put in a shelf or two so they can jump up if they feel threatened. (We have fox, wolves, etc here.) Mine sit out there for hours at a time.
You could also build a window box that was screened in. Open the window and slide it out. Sorta like an air conditioner setup. Sunlight is critical for all of us, cats included. A little sun is great, getting run over by a car or eaten by wolves isn't.
2007-02-20 07:32:11 · answer #2 · answered by aGhost2u 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have wanted to but it seems I don't have or take the time to train my cats. Actually I've started on the one that seems easiest to train, Ulysses, but haven't followed through all the way yet.
I bought a harness and put it on him. It was the kind that goes over the head...that is NOT a good idea by the way...at least for my cat...too much wrestling to get it on him. He's a very large cat and I had to get a small dog harness because none of the cat harnesses were large enough for him. I wrestled and wrestled with him and after much growling and spitting and more wrestling, I finally got it on him. Then, he was embarrassed and kept hiding his face.
He isn't embarrassed anymore though and not only will wear his harness proudly but will also wear a t-shirt or a bandana and he thinks he's soooo cute! (Maybe because we made over him so much with petting and telling him how "handsome" he was when we finally got it on him...:) )
Later, I searched and finally found a well-fitted harness that fastens at both the neck and the belly. I guess I'm leary of having my cat get scared and slip his head out of a collar and get away. And make sure it doesn't have a break-away clasp like the regular cat collars do.
I received this article on one of my favorite emails "Cats and Dogs" and I was trying to follow their steps to train my big ol' Ulysses. Maybe it will help you.
2007-02-20 08:21:15 · answer #3 · answered by rugbee 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This question made me laugh!! That's a good thing tho I do walk my cat. Well attempt to, About 3 weeks ago I went and bought a harness and lead for cats and began training my cat to walk on it. I believe it is a good thing. Do not get me wrong it was very difficult at first. He wanted outside but was scared of the harness and leash at first. With a little work and patients it will work. We also have 2 rotties and when we go for walks and leave the kitten at home as we leave and as we come back the kitten sits in the window and meows. So I decided to try it. I also have a neighbor that walks their cat too. It just takes a little time for them to adjust, but they do. It is fun once they get the hang of it, to be honest a lot of people actually wanted to know how to train their cat on how to walk on a leash, if you decide to do it be prepared for people that think you are nuts, and people that think wow she really loves her cat to take the time to teach them to walk on a leash!!!!!Good luck!
2007-02-20 08:52:01 · answer #4 · answered by totallyserious29 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope.I let her out on her own.
If you live by a busy road where it's unsafe for a cat to be then you were irresponsible and cruel to get a cat as keeping an independent animal like a cat indoors is cruel.
2007-02-20 15:48:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to have 3 cats that I took out on walks on a leash. While the neighbors thought it was weird, the cats loved it. The hard part was getting them used to their harnesses- you can't walk a cat with a leash attached to a collar- they'll slide right out. I would put the harnesses on for a while every day or two when we were in the house until they were used to them.
If your cat is meowing at the window- is she spayed?? If not, it may be time to tend to that. If she goes into heat it will be really hard to keep her inside.
2007-02-20 07:13:40 · answer #6 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have read that not all cats can be trained to walk on a leash. I know Siamese can, but Ihave never taken my cat out.Do you have a garden? Maybe you could let them run a round in the garden, I live in an apartment building, but my cat loves to laze on the terrace.I think walking a cat on a leash is something they need to start to do from a young age.
2007-02-20 07:18:53 · answer #7 · answered by Sherry Baby ( Ethan's Mama ) 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I take my inside cats for walks all the time. I trained them from kittens. I put the harness on them when they were young and let them run around the house with it on to get use to it. My one siamese walks like a dog and follows me whever I go. I put my other 2 cats on the harness too, but they are no as smart, so I just follow them around for a bit. They really love it. They scratch trees and swat at bugs.
2007-02-20 08:12:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've tried to walk my cat, but she's scared of the leash. I'm sure if I used it enough she'd get used to it (just like a new puppy). My friend lives in an apartment complex and one of the residents there has his cat trained to go to the bathroom outside. He walks around with his cat on a leash and brings a boombox outside to play music for his cat while she goes to the bathroom, and then he talks to his cat and she talks back...it's pretty crazy.
2007-02-20 07:34:37 · answer #9 · answered by protege moi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have 3 indoor cats. Have had them from kittens also. Each one has their own collar [fitted to its own neck], with a long nylon lead attached. They love to tied out when the weather permits. They especially like to sit out in the sun. Make sure that they can't jump down or over anything to hang themselves. Don't leave them out without you keeping a eye of them. They may be timid with this at first, but in warm weather, will like it. Eventually they may enjoy a walk with you. Mine have advanced to this stage. Make sure that NO DOGS can get to them.
2007-02-20 07:15:07 · answer #10 · answered by peach 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋