In most cases, cats love being in nature and active, so it comes as no surprise that felines living in houses and flats may occasionally want to go out and explore the world. If you have such a cat at home, you may find useful the following tips on how to get her used to a leash. A leash is a great tool when you want to let your cat explore, but don’t want to expose her to dangers that lurk around every corner, especially in cities.
Of course, walking on a leash is preceded by choosing the right equipment. We already described how to choose a leash, what kind of harness should go with it and how to get the cat used to the new tool in one of our previous articles. Today, we will focus on how to teach the cat to walk on the leash so that walks are fun for both of you.
Step by step
Let’s follow where we last left off, in the moment where we acquaint the cat with the leash and the harness through positive associations. This will help the cat understand that this is a pleasant affair. The next step is putting the cat in the harness. Bit by bit, you try to put on her harness so that you always get a little further each day. At the same time, however, you should respect that this is a relatively big change for the cat, so you have to do this step by step. This may take a few days. A good trick is to have a favourite treat on hand, which you can give the cat as a reward.
A process that pays off in the long run
Once you are sure that the cat is used to the harness as well as the entire process, you can proceed to the next, which involves adjusting the size of the harness. The harness should be comfortable to the cat: it should not choke the cat, but should be safe at the same time. At this stage, the cat should last increasingly longer in the harness without getting her favourite treat. This part may take several days, but the patience pays off, especially in the long run.
First few days at home only
If the cat feels comfortable in the harness, attach the leash and let her get used to it. Don’t take her out right away, let her move walk around the room and give her toys to distract her from the leash, which is completely new to her. At this stage, it is good to make sure that the leash doesn’t get caught on anything at home. This could startle the cat and lead her to develop an aversion towards the whole process.
The cat explorer
When you see that the cat doesn’t mind the leash and the harness, take her out, ideally to the garden or somewhere where she can move freely and explore her surroundings. At the same time, you should chose an area where the cat cannot get startled by something unexpected. Try to adjust the length of each step of the process so that the cat is comfortable. Once you see that the cat is ready to explore another area and that she is not bothered by the harness and the leash, it’s time to take her out for a walk.
Heroparkour is a great sport for problem dogs. Since a great part of problem behaviour has roots directly in timidity. Such dog is unable to handle more complex situations of ordinary life due to fear. It doesn’t believe non-standard conditions.
The use of dogs in search and rescue (the so-called SAR) is an integral part of natural disasters, mass accidents or, for example, when search for missing people. Do you know, when the first dog rescuers appeared?
Every dog has its individuality and is unique in its own way, so even the period of growing up can differ significantly in every individual. I know dog owners, who didn’t know what to do with puberty excesses of their otherwise loved four-legged...
A handy assistant not only for dog owners, who need to work on training with their dog, but also for sport cynologists who, on the other hand, are refining the discipline called the “track” with their dogs. The original purpose of the long cord with a...
One dog isn’t enough for you and you’re looking for an excuse that will help you vindicate having a whole pack at home? One option is to become a musher - a dog sled racer. For adrenaline lovers, who’d love to ride through the landscape on a sled using...
Of course there are more apps, we chose only the ones for you that intrigued us the most. Have you tried an app or have you got a favourite one that you could recommend to others?
It’s like a rollercoaster ride with outside temperatures this winter, once you’re up and then back down. All the more attention should we pay to the care for our dogs. Since it’s not only us, people, who don’t take well to the changing temperatures.
Unfortunately, in the life of dog owners, even unpleasant situations occur, which aren’t only an intervention in the life of your dog partner, but also affect your wallet. For example, if the dog gets hit by a car or it is otherwise injured and the...
With changes of the temperatures accompanying the autumn, higher demands are put on the organism and thus its immune system. That’s why it’s not unreasonable to start and boost the immunity already now. Remember, that prevention is always better and...
Before we get to winter sports that you can do with your four-legged buddies it’s good to remember the care that you shouldn’t forget about in this period.
If you’re planning to go abroad, even just for a few days, then definitely don’t forget about the animal’s passport. When you’re packing this dog passport, make sure that you check off-hand, that your four-legged friend has all its vaccinations valid....
Kittens, as well as a number of other animal offspring, are born blind. Their eyes open around the tenth day of their life and only after another week, they are fully functional. Even though the sight in a cat belongs among the best-developed senses,...
