Photos of cats walking or even traveling are becoming increasingly common on social networks. Many people wonder: is it necessary to walk a cat? Is it safe? We answer: it is not necessary to walk with your cat. But if you have such an opportunity, and the cat shows interest in the outside world, then you can go for a walk. The main condition is that it must be safe.
What are the benefits of walking with your cat?
Walking your cat greatly enriches your pet's life.
- A change of environment stimulates mental activity.
- The pet smells new smells and hears new sounds. All this gives him new impressions.
- Walking helps increase physical activity and expend energy.
- Walking helps relieve cat boredom.
- You strengthen your bond with your pet.
- Your pet will be less nervous during trips to the veterinarian.
Walking is a great way to enrich your cat's life. Especially if the pet is actively interested in what is happening outside the window.
Walking can help solve behavior problems. Hyperactive cats become calmer after a walk
Can all cats go for walks?
Cats are different, just like people. Some people like long walks, while others prefer to sleep at home.
Before you start walking your cat, determine whether it will be interested in it. If the pet
- often sits at the front door,
- actively interested in what is happening outside the window,
- is not afraid of sharp sounds and strangers,
he will most likely really enjoy going for walks.
If the cat is not interested in the front door, hides when guests arrive and generally shows no interest in the outside world, then walks will become a source of stress for her. And this is normal: not all cats want to go outside. For some, the entertainment available at home is enough.
How to prepare a cat for a walk
If you decide to take your cat for walks, purchase an anti-flea collar and a cat harness at the pet store (for kittens and miniature cats, you can use a rabbit harness). Cats have weak neck muscles, so a dog collar cannot be used. A leash, however, is a prerequisite for a walk “without consequences”: cats react quite violently to sharp sounds and perceived threats. And the slightest fear can lead to a rapid flight or attempt to climb a tree.
Before you go for a walk for the first time, accustom your cat to a harness - first put the “harness” on him and let him get used to it. Then attach the leash and walk around the apartment with the cat. After the animal stops getting nervous and trying to rip off its harness, you can try to go outside with it.
It's safe to walk with your cat
If you decide to walk with your cat, you need to take care of its safety.
Self-walking is dangerous for many reasons. Pet can
- fight with other cats or dogs;
- get hit by a car
- to be poisoned by something,
- catch an infection
- fall into the hands of flayers,
- just get lost.
For walks you need to use a harness with a leash. This way you can control the situation and your pet will not run away.
Before you start walking your cat, make sure that it is healthy and that it has received the necessary vaccinations.
To give you peace of mind, you can microchip your cat. If she gets lost, the chance of finding a microchipped animal is higher than an unchipped one.
Preparing for the walk
To ensure that the first and all other walks go smoothly and do not harm the animal, you need to do some preparatory work.
Firstly, before going outside, the cat must have all the necessary vaccinations. This includes vaccination against rabies, because possible contacts with other animals can be dangerous. And then serious illness and death will threaten not only the pet, but also the people in contact with it. You should not rely on chance in this matter.
It is also necessary to take care of protection against skin parasites. Ticks and fleas, which are abundant on the street, can cause a lot of trouble for an animal. And those brought home on his wool - and to the inhabitants of the apartment. But the bites of annoying insects are not as terrible as the diseases that the same ticks carry. Therefore, you need to get vaccinated or use some external means, collars against such parasites. Without this protection, it is very dangerous to take cats outside.
It is necessary to select a cat harness. It is naive to hope that you can walk a cat just like that, in your arms or next to you, and it will not run away. Somehow he will run away, out of curiosity or fear. Therefore, a leash and harness are mandatory items for walking.
Ø Important! Cats have rather weak necks and small heads, so collars are strictly contraindicated for them! They can remove the collar over the head, and if they are tightened too tightly, there is a very high risk of injury. For walking, you can only use harnesses that are fixed not on the neck, but on the entire body of the animal.
How to walk a cat?
If you decide to walk your cat, this does not mean that you can immediately put on a harness and go to the park. This is exactly what happens with some pets. But for others, even a harness is already a small test. The cat doesn’t understand why this is necessary, so it may experience stress. To make walking enjoyable, you need to act gradually.
The cat should be comfortable in the harness. It is better to buy a harness made of soft material in the form of a vest. If the cat jerks suddenly, the soft harness will not hit the throat
Step 1: Train your cat to wear a harness
There is no need to go outside at this stage. First, help your pet get used to the harness. Some cats are comfortable right away. Some people need more time to adapt. If your cat is anxious about the harness, use positive reinforcement. Use a favorite treat to create a good association with the harness.
- Place the harness next to the cat. Let her smell the object and touch it with her paw. When your pet shows interest in the harness, treat him with a treat.
- When the cat gets used to the look of the harness, try putting it on, but do not fasten it. Act calmly. If the cat struggles, release it and try again later. When your cat allows you to put on the harness, give her a treat.
If your cat is not bothered by the harness, you can try fastening it straight away. Don’t forget to give your pet a treat for this.
If you see that the cat does not feel entirely comfortable, do not fasten the harness. For a couple of days, put it on your pet and treat him with a treat every time. Once your cat feels more confident in the harness, try fastening it.
- Once your cat gets used to the harness, allow her to wear it around the house for a while. This way your pet will get used to the fact that the harness can be worn for a long time. Don't forget to reward successes with treats.
- Still not going outside, try attaching a leash to your harness. This may come as a surprise to some cats. Let your pet know that in addition to the harness there is also a leash.
Step 2: Start with short walks
When the cat feels confident in the harness and leash, you can go out for a walk. The first walk is a very responsible matter. There are many new smells and sounds outside. We recommend choosing quiet, uninhabited places for your first walks. This could be the nearest park during less crowded hours or a quiet courtyard. The less stress a cat experiences during its first walk, the higher the likelihood that it will quickly get used to the street and feel confident outside the home.
It is best to take your pet outside in a carrier or in a special backpack. Firstly, this way your pet will experience less stress. Secondly, he can hide if he gets scared.
When walking, do not rush your cat. Let her learn on her own, at a pace that is convenient for her. Most likely, during the first walk, the cat will walk a little, sniff and feel insecure. But with each next walk, your pet will begin to feel more confident and will be happy to explore the world around him. Also take a treat for walks and reward your cat for her courage.
If your cat is very stressed, nervous and afraid during every walk, it means that she does not like walking. This is fine. This means that your cat prefers the walls of her home. Don't force your pet to do things that scare him.
Step 3: Keep Walking
The more confident a cat feels outside, the longer she can walk. Gradually increase the duration and distance of your walks. Walks should be regular. You can walk every day, or two or three times a week. The main thing is not to interrupt walks for a long time, because the pet will lose the habit and will have to be retrained.
Training a cat to wear a harness
For cats, any restriction of their freedom can cause a protest, so it’s not enough to put on a harness; you also need to do some preparatory work. How to accustom your pet to this subject? It is easiest for kittens to get used to a harness. They are curious and playful, so they are likely to see a harness as a new form of fun. You can put your pet in a harness from 8-12 weeks.
You shouldn’t be assertive and immediately start putting the straps on your pet. After all, if the cat gets scared, the process of adaptation will drag on. Initially, you need to let the pet get used to the new object, come up and sniff. This is how the first acquaintance should happen. Afterwards, you don’t need to clean it up, but put it in the cat’s favorite place - near the bed, house, food bowl, etc.
When the animal stops paying attention to the harness, you can try putting it on the cat, but unfastening the leash. Sometimes cats are quite calm about ammunition, but more often it causes them anxiety or even aggression. Then they begin to break out of their hands and try in every way to get rid of the “new thing”.
First of all, you should not be upset and scold your pet, this will further strengthen his desire to remove the harness. On the contrary, you need to show patience and affection, feed him or play with him. If such actions do not help, then the best thing to do is to postpone training and remove the accessory.
For the first time, 7-10 minutes of wearing is enough, then you need to increase the duration of wearing daily. But put on a harness only when the pet is calm and in a good mood. It is advisable to associate this process with something pleasant for the animal - games or feeding. Then, putting it on, the cat will look forward to a pleasant event. Eventually, the cat will get used to it and stop reacting to the presence of the harness.
What should you remember while walking?
The cat must always be on a leash. A beetle flying by can awaken your pet's inner predator, which will chase its prey. So the cat can run away in an unknown direction and get lost. In addition, when the cat is on a leash, you can always make sure that it does not eat anything from the ground.
Walking a cat is not the same as walking a dog. Of course, a cat can also be trained to walk nearby, for example, using clicker training. But in most cases, it is not the owner who walks the cat, but the cat who walks the owner. Somewhere the pet will stop to smell the flowers, somewhere to look at the bird. At some point, you might want to go hunting for a bug together. Cats rarely walk in the direction indicated by their owner. Usually the opposite happens.
Use a leash to control your cat. You can restrain your pet so that he does not climb into a ditch or sniff other people's feces. Cats are very smart, your pet will quickly understand when you are against some of his actions. Remember that you need to pull it gently so as not to cause discomfort or pain to your pet.
Always be alert. If your pet suddenly freezes and stares somewhere, pay attention to this. What could have caught his attention? Often your cat will hear the threat before you do. The threat could be a car or a dog.
When walking, always look around and try to predict what might scare your pet. Make sure there are no off-leash dogs around. The less stress your cat experiences, the more fun she will get from the walk.
For long walks over long distances, a cat backpack will come in handy. This is both a safe shelter and an opportunity to relax.
When should you not go outside with your kitten?
But no matter how useful it is to walk a cat on a leash, in some situations veterinarians do not recommend taking the animal out:
If your pet has never been outside in its life, then in old age you should not take it out there.
- When the kitten has not received a full course of vaccinations. Ideally, veterinarians advise starting walks after the kitten is 5 months old.
- If the cat is an adult or of old age and has never left the premises before.
- If your pet is recovering after an illness or is still sick, this can worsen the condition.
- When a cat is pregnant, she can get an infection.
- When pets are in heat due to not very appropriate behavior.
- It is not recommended to walk unsterilized cats without the supervision of the owner.
What's the result?
Walking your cat is not necessary, but it can be very helpful. Especially if you have a pet from active breeds, for example, a Bengal or an Abyssinian. For active and inquisitive cats, walks will help them expend energy, satisfy their curiosity and gain new experiences.
If you are thinking about walking your pet regularly, first make sure that he is really interested in it. If a cat is afraid of the street and shows no interest at all in the world outside the apartment, you should not force it to walk. And vice versa, if your pet is actively interested in the street and often sits near the door, he will enjoy walks.
To start walking your cat:
- buy a harness and leash,
- stock up on treats and patience,
- accustom your cat to a harness and leash,
- start with short walks in quiet places,
- Gradually increase the distance and duration of walks.
Did you like the article? Tell your friends:
Comments
Is it worth taking your pet for a walk in an urban environment?
Many people don’t know how to train a cat to go for walks, or whether it’s even possible. If you have decided to walk your domestic cat, you should not immediately run to the store for a harness and leash.
First you need to clarify whether you can walk your pet. So, for example, if a cat lives in a large apartment or a private house, and its owners give it high-quality food and care for the pet’s fur and nails, then there is no need for walks, because the animal gets everything it needs at home.
Do not forget that most cats are extremely curious and after a few walks they may begin to show interest in the “outside world”. They will try at every opportunity to try to slip out of “imprisonment” and explore new territories longer. It also happens that a domestic cat loves walks so much that he asks to go outside.
It is worth accustoming your pet to walks from a young age, but not earlier than five months. For example, taking him out slowly on hot summer days to save the pet from overheating. This should be done in the evening, when it is already a little cooler outside. You can accustom your cat to walks in the country.
Walking domestic cats is especially recommended for animals with increased activity; for them this will be a great opportunity to release their energy. A summer cottage is truly the most ideal place to accustom a cat to the street.
In general, the answer to the question “is it possible to walk a cat?” directly depends on the character of the pet. Sometimes it happens that the cat asks to go for a walk on its own. However, we should not forget that some cats are not recommended to go outside. In order for an animal to be safely taken for a walk, it must have the following qualities:
- A neutered cat can go for a walk; cats must be sterilized before doing so. By the way, it is advisable to castrate a cat without the intention of taking him for walks, since an uncastrated animal can crap in the apartment. If a cat begins to shit, it is necessary to take him for castration. A castrated cat will behave more calmly.
- Adult animals that have received the necessary set of vaccinations.
- Regardless of gender, a pet that does not show aggression can walk outside.
INTERESTING TO KNOW: How catnip affects cats
You should not take pets who have recently suffered a serious illness for a walk. It is also not recommended to walk overly timid animals that the owners have not been able to tame, as this can lead to disastrous consequences.
