Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may appreciate the opportunity to take their cat out on a leash and be sure that their feline companions will enjoy it! However, a leash can be a challenge for many of them. How to overcome this challenge to make outdoor walks enjoyable for both the owner and the cat?
A tool for the city and nature
Cats face the greatest danger especially in cities or agricultural areas with animals that can present a potential threat to cats. That is why walks with a leash may seem like a great choice. However, you should keep in mind that walking on a leash is much harder for a cat than for a dog. One of the reasons is their nature that makes them more stubborn than dogs, which may complicate a nice walk a bit. For that reason, be patient.
Proper equipment
At the beginning of training, selecting the right equipment is key. Aside from the leash itself, a harness will also come in handy, which will make the cat more comfortable. Here you need to test what size is right for your feline friend. The harness should not be too loose to avoid providing the cat with enough room for unwanted movement, nor should it be too tight. In that case, the cat would feel uncomfortable and walking would not be enjoyable for her.
Thorough measurement
It is ideal to measure the cat before buying a harness to avoid possible complications. Some cats are big enough to fit a harness for a smaller dog. In this area, it is good to be open to all possibilities that could best suit your pet. When measuring, measure the cat’s circumference around the chest and neck, as these will be the most important dimensions for the harness.
Good material
Equally important is the material. Today, the market offers a large number of harnesses made of different materials. However, not all of those are good for cats. You can choose between leather, imitation leather or artificial materials such as nylon. The latter gets the best feedback from cat owners. Nylon harnesses are comfortable and leave enough room for movement, while being easy to maintain and clean.
Comfortable leash
When choosing a leash, make sure that it is long and strong enough. It is also important for the leash to be comfortable for your hands. Leashes that are too thin may get especially uncomfortable, so it is better to focus on thicker variants that are comfortable enough.
Getting used to it all
Once you have everything you need, now comes the process of introducing the new accessories to the cat. It is quite possible that this stage will require more time and patience. Try to leave the harness together with the leash close to the cat’s food bowl. The cat will get used to the new objects, and more importantly, she will have them connected to something that brings her joy – feeding.
We will discuss the next stages of getting the cat used to walking outdoors on a leash in the next article.
Did you know that the domestic cat which is now kept as a pet all over the world, is probably a domesticated form of the wild cat, specifically of its subspecies the African wildcat, European wildcat and Asiatic wildcat?
Apart from regular care for the fur and dog’s teeth we should include also the inspection and cleaning of the eyes and ear inspection in the list of everyday tasks. Even though the cats are rather known for cleanliness, it’s important also for a...
Cat is a perfect tool for hunting. It owes it to the dozens of years of evolution. While in dogs, their physical signs have been emphasised or suppressed, cats got to keep, apart from several exceptions, their main anatomical features unchanged. In...
According to various statistics, the number of cats in our country is increasing. Not only dogs, but also cats belong to increasingly more common pets. So, it can happen to us more often, that we'll meet an abandoned cat in the street and we're...
Some dogs take the arrival of a new family member in a hard way. Previously, we described how to prepare them for this situation already before the baby even arrives home and today, we will take a look at the introduction itself.
It's no longer a strange thing when a municipality sets up a dog park or a dog playground. Due to frequent regulation of off-leash movement of dogs, this should, however, often be obligatory. Do you know how to behave in such places so that you...
Another possible sport at which you can play with your dog and exercise with them at the same time, is the Dog Puller. You can practice it with all the dog breeds, no matter the size or age.
Nowadays, cats are increasingly more often becoming members of our households. Cat toilets producers are adapting to this trend as well. They can provide cats with a greater comfort in their daily need. From the perspective of the owners, the producers...
Vacation time is finally here and many of us are planning where they will be headed this year. If you decide to go for an adventure by car and to take your dog friend with you as well, a bit of advice might come in handy on how to provide safety for...
Of course that we won’t talk about how to teach a dog the swimming technique. We want to talk about how to teach the dog to get used to water and how to make swimming a positive experience for it. Since not every one of them trusts water and some are...
If you’re planning to bring a new addition home and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a kitten or an adult cat, it is necessary to prepare the flat for it as well. Do you know what will the animal need and what you shouldn’t forget about or how to choose...
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
