Do kittens like leashes?

Question

My son is getting a cat for Christmas and I know he will want to take it outside to show friends or just to play and I am afraid it will run away and he will be devastated or get into our backyard and our Lab eats it. I am just not sure what to do? Help Please!!!

Beacause the Lab is a trained hunting dog and my son will know better than to let the lab inside and the cat will not go close to the backdoor or back windows, but the kitten does not know any better if she runs and climbs over the privacy fence.

The Lab stays outside at all times unless severe or extremely cold weather she stays in the laundry room.

Yes, but Labs are used to cold weather. She goes hunting every weekend during hunting season. An we have shelter provided for her. She is spoiled. She would rather be outside. They like to run and be free.

I am not sure about leave it, but he knows "HUNT". He almost came through the back window after our guinea pig.

About shelter and warmth. I live in Alabama, we have winters in the 70's.

Answer 1

No, mine tore hers up. Cat's are a lot different than dogs. They are very independent.

Answer 2

Animals are not Christmas presents.

Having said that, cats can be trained to walk on a leash and it's safer for them. You just have to be careful because they are nothing like dogs when it comes to leashes - they bolt easily and like to lie down a lot, so you'll need patience. You won't want to take a cat outside immediately after getting it - it'll need to get used to its environment first in a safe way. Taking it outside especially near dogs, is cruel and stressful for the cat.

Hopefully you will rethink buying a pet for Christmas. Pet shops and breeders over-breed at this time of the year and many of the rejected animals who are either just not sold, or not sold because they have lost their "brand-new-baby" appeal, end up being euthanised, or murdered or neglected by new owners who have gotten over the "excitement" of having a kitten all wrapped up with a bow on its head. Wait until after Christmas and if you still both want to get an animal, go to the pound and rescue a Christmas reject.

Answer 3

They really don't, but u can train them to walk on a leash & harness. It's better to start them as kittens, that way when they're full grown, it won't be an issue. Buy the harness & leash, bring it home, lay it down where they can play with it & smell it so that they can get use to it. Put the harness on but on for a little while so they will get use to the feeling of it. From there, u just gradually break them into it, & before u know it, u have a cat that will walk with a leash. Check out the link below for more cat related details. I hope it helps.

Answer 4

I'd say that if you have a lab that eats kittens, maybe your son shouldn't be getting a cat for Christmas. What happens when both the cat and the dog are in the house? Provided the cat can't strangle the dog, I don't think a leash will help him there.

Answer 5

My cat personally does not like his leash, but it is a lot easier to take him to the vet with one. It's a lost easier for me and the vet mainly. We don't have to fight him to get him out of his carrier. However, it does take quite a bit of training to get the cat used to it. Also, I would not allow the cat anywhere near the lab. My cat was used as a chew toy by a lab before I got him, and the dog was just a pup and didn't know any better. Since your lab is a hunting dog, that could be even worse.

Answer 6

I'm not sure whether they like leashes or not (I'd guess not), but there are other possible solutions. If you get a young kitten it's not going to run off too quickly. Just be with your son whenever he takes it outside for a few weeks and let it slowly adjust to the dog. Controlled, short (1-2 min.) visits with someone holding both the cat and the dog would be good.

Answer 7

They won't walk on a leash like a dog will, but it would be good to have a leash if he will be taking the cat outside.

Why aren't you worried about your Lab eating the cat when they are both inside the house?

So your dog is kept outside all the time? I hope that he has proper shelter and warmth.

Labs are not used to cold weather. They are domesticated animals, they're used to warmth and a roof over their heads just like you.

Answer 8

Cats do not like leases. Get a collar on the kitten while it is young and start using the lease right away while it is still very young. Once over a few months old you will NEVER get a leash on a cat. I have seen people who walk their cats just like walking a dog but they had to start while the cat was a very young kitten.

Answer 9

You have to train them to get use to leash. Buy a body harness and not just a collar (they pull out of the collars) Put the harness on (not the whole leash) and let it wander around the house wearing it. This way the cat will get use to having it on. When you do attach the leash, don't expect to walk the cat like a dog. The cat will wander and crawl under bushes and you will just have to be led around by him.

Answer 10

Not so much! Introduce the cat to the dog in a non threatening way (leash the dog, crate the cat), the dog will catch on the the cat is "family" and not a prey animal. You said a TRAINED hunting dog. He will respond to a "leave it" command, won't he? I have a high prey drive dog (pit bull terrier) who will chase anything in the yard but gently herds our two cats about the house and lays with one of them!
DOGS ARE VERY BRIGHT AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS. JUST A LITTLE CARE IN INTRODUCING, YOU'LL BE FINE!

Answer 11

In my experience, if kittens are introduced to collars and leashes at a young age, most will learn to accept them. Please be certain of two things: that the collar is a "break-away" collar, so that if it gets hung up on a bush it won't choke; and that the leash is the type that is a "body" leash. These attach around the neck and body so that, again, the chance of choking decreases. Oh yeah, don't forget the tag! Happy kitten!