Cohousing-L Mailing List: Cats on leashes

[Dahako (Dahako]

Hi all -

The only thing I have to add is that I have three happy indoor cats, one of 
whom loves to walk on a leash.  Over the years, I have trained several cats to 
walk on leashes and I have come to the following conclusions:

1) Use a dog harness, about Chihuahua size.  The collars and harnesses made for 
cats are generally much less comfortable and the cats can get out of them 
easily. Also, use a very lightweight leash.

2) Start young.  I have never been able to get a cat who's more than a year old 
to really understand the concept.  Leash training can be done later, but the 
cat will always walk you.

3) Walking a cat is not like walking a dog.  Direction and speed will be 
selected by the cat or by mutual consent.  According to the book Adam's Task by 
Vicki Hearne, a cat's job in the household is to keep anyone from doing 
anything in a straight line.  In my experience, this is never more true than 
when one is walking a cat on a leash -- unless it is when one is trying to 
train a puppy in the presence of a cat.

4) If you are likely to come across dogs in your walk, wear sturdy clothes - 
the cat will climb you if no trees are available.

For the record, I have multiple reasons (predation effects, improved pet 
health, aversion to fleas and ticks) for advocating and practicing keeping 
companion cats indoors. 

Jessie Handforth Kome
Eno Commons
Durham, NC
Where pets are a perennial hot button topic that causes much character and 
community building practice.


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