Walking The Cat

[kareng]

Has anyone tried to walk thier cat on a leash? Or put her in the yard on a long lead? (while you are outside with her, of course).

Cooper would like to take his cat out in the yard.

[mushroom]

HaHaHaHa. Let Cooper put the leash on Any cat of mine has just rolled over and played dead when harnessed However, they did like to come for walks with the dog... sometimes took forever to shoo them back home.

[GottaSki]

Our little girlie travels with us. The only time we used a very long/very thin leash was when we were camping and worried she would wander too far. She was not pleased, but got over it. Shelby does often follow along when we walk our dog - no leash - she just tags along.

Gracie will likely just hang out if let outside. Most cats don't wander far from their food supply and I've never known one to get lost the way our dogs have when they have gone wandering.

[kareng]

I don't want to chance her getting out and staying out. there have been several cats that appear to have been eaten by a coyote in the last few weeks. Gracie loves the screened porch. One corner puts her over the bird bath and near the bird feeder.

[GottaSki]

The long thin leash we had worked well - it was really lightweight so she wasn't really hampered by it - it was about 15' long so she could investigate w/out wandering. As long as someone is hanging with her or there is nothing to get caught on - should work fine - combined with a breakaway kitty collar.

[Jestgar]

I had a SIL who would put some of her cats on a long leash clipped onto a clothesline. They were happy to be outside, and she'd go out and untangle them periodically. The neighborhood was safe from predators, and she had a fenced yard, but the cats were damaged (one deaf, one brain damaged, one missing a limb or something) and she didn't want to risk them getting out of the yard.

She had other kitties that she used a collar and invisible fence on, and other kitties that were indoor only.

[Jestgar]

Also knew a woman with indoor cats that she would put harnesses on, load into the car, and take for walks in the state parks (no dogs allowed).

She said they loved it...

[ravenwoodglass]

While I have never done it I have seen people walking their kitties on a lead or on a line sitting on their porch so it can be done.

One thing I would caution you about is entanglement if Cooper and his kitty play a lot together. When those thin leads get tangled around another animal it can happen quick and have deadly consequences. We had a big lab once that we put out on a line attached to a clothes line. Another dog came in the yard and they began playing and the line got wrapped around the other dog. He was in a great deal of pain and bit me when I tried to get him free. We had to call the animal control officer who snared him and cut the line free. Unfortunately he called us the next day and the dog had expired due to internal injuries. Not trying to scare you but I would hate to see your lovely lab accidently get hurt while he and his kitty are wrestling.

You could try to train the kitty to come when called. Not as hard as one might think but not all kitties are trainable. The one kitty we have left, Frankie, comes instantly when called. Big Boy, who passed a couple of weeks ago, wouldn't come for anything, even food. If your kitty is trainable you could let them both be free in the yard under supervision and be reasonably certain that kitty would come in when asked.

[mushroom]

So sorry to hear about Big Boy

[kareng]

Sorry about Big Boy.

Cooper and Gracie don't play together. But I'll make sure we keep Coop away. Gracie does come when called about 75% of the time! Better percentage than teenagers! Though, like teenage boys, she does come 100% of the time if she hears the refridgerator door open and then is called.

Maybe I'm on to something & go on Shark Tank?

[jerseyangel]

Yes, Shark Tank!! I'm addicted to that show:). But I digress....we have had many cats over the years. Our very first, Hudson, loved to go outside with us and didn't mind a leash at all. We used to take him visiting with us, too. Loved to ride in the car:)

Tyler, our present lil guy would not stand for it. He was a ferel and has a completely different personality.

I'd say try it with Gracie. I think it's nice for an indoor cat to get out in the fresh air once in a while (with a leash, etc).

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for your kind words about Big Boy. He was a big lovable lump who got to enjoy being the 'top cat' for a year or so after King Ricki passed. He suddenly lost weight and one morning I noticed he seemed to have labored breathing. I took him in to the vet she took x-rays and we found he had a large tumor. The vet said there was nothing that could be done. He had a good long life as Lexi and Ricki did before him.

Unfortunately we are only loaned the angels we get to have in our lives. The rainbow bridge will be very crowded the day I join all of mine.