Cat Chat and Cat Hacks - How do you walk your cat on a leash?

Lucy leash walking at the Park, January 25, 2017

One of the questions most asked to me by other cat guardians is, "How do you walk your cat on a leash?" Cat owners ask me this on Instagram, Facebook and in person when they see Lucy and me together. They want to know how to get their cats to walk on a leash with them. 

I tell them that I put Lucy on a leash pretty much when I first got her. I put a little collar on her and the leash so that she would not get away if anything startled her. The first full day I had her, we had to go to the service station to replace a flat tire. I couldn't leave her home alone yet, though hours later I did to go to work, had to get the tire replaced so I could go to work. We were an inseparable pair from day one. The 2nd day I had her, I had to take her to the vet for her incoming new kitten well check up. So she was on the leash again. 

Lucy's first leash walking adventure on the Beach, Virginia Beach VA, 

September 2016

She trusted me from the get go. She knew that I would not let anything happen to her. I think she imprinted on me as her new Mama cat or as another bigger, friendly cat of some familial relationship, as she left her Mother and litter-mates and came to live with me at 12 weeks. She follows me around the house, anticipating my moves. Cats understand and easily remember predictive behaviour. 

So I figure most cats treat their humans in similar fashion. They expect us to love and protect them. They like our company and follow us around, except when they need their personal space. So I advise interested cat owners to put a collar, harness and leash on their furry little friends. Be confident, stroking that specific cat in that cat's favorite way, talking happily and confidently. Then stand up and let the cat lead you around the house awhile where she wants to go. If she is not going anywhere, then you walk around a little bit and do normal stuff that the cat would normally accompany you on. 

I usually start out car trips where she is going to ride in her booster seat instead of airplane carrier, with letting her walk around on the leash in the car a bit, getting familiar, making it her space, then putting her in her car seat, and sitting in the car a little while longer in the driveway, while she gets comfy in the car seat in her own time. I then start the car, let her get used to the noise and vibration. Even if you have a very quiet car to human ears, a cat's level of hearing is so much more delicate, they may need a moment of adjustment to the sounds. I then turn on the ventilation and let her get used to the sounds and changes in air flow. And lastly we turn on the radio. We listen to a lot of audio books, but I find that some not too dramatic classical music or jazz is soothing background music for my feline friends. Surely all of you have seen your kitties come look at the television when intriguing theme music is playing.

"C'mon Mom, Let's Go!"
Lucy trying out her new car seat, February 12, 2017

My point is, don't overload your cat's senses, picking her up out of the house, her comfort zone, throwing her in the car and turning on everything full blast, and racing off to the Vet. Your cat may not want to get into the car to go to the Vet or anywhere, just because you want to get there in a hurry. If you can make your cat's first time leash walking or car riding as less stressful and even enjoyable as possible, and have the patience to repeat calming steps until a pattern or habit is established, everyone will be happier. Kindness matters, and it helps to think like your cat. 

Back to leash walking, from my diversion of car seats. Cat psychology is like dealing with some humans; you have to let them think they are having their way, when really you have been giving them the alternative of two of your choices. You do the same thing with leash walking in general. Let your cat lead you around awhile as long as she is not sniffing things she should not, stepping where she should not. Steer her away from possible hazards and pick her up to protect her as necessary. Let her lead you around a bit, and then you walk in the direction you need her to go in. When you have a trusting relationship, your cat will go where you want to go for the most part, but she is still going to want to explore and so plan for that. If there is something that you know scares your cat - dogs, traffic, jets, loud music, too many people, then walk your cat somewhere that she will not encounter what scares her or be prepared to pick her up, make her feel protected and safe. 

Let your cat get acclimated to the feel of the leash and harness. I also put on a collar, because where we live, you must have her tags on you or the pet if off your property. Sometimes I carry the City Tags with me, but not put them on. If she were off leash, the tags would be on the collar, not just in my possession. I also put on the collar, so in case she slipped out of the harness, she would be identifiable as a pet by wearing a collar and easier to catch. Her coat camouflages in all environments, so we wear bright collars and harnesses. You have to weigh the options of break away collars versus buckle collars for your specific pet and conditions. The correct fit of a harness will be safer for your cat's health, no pressure on the neck, windpipe, spine, abdomen or organs. 

If your cat gets away whether on a leash or from your home, nothing is better than than having your cat micro-chipped and registered with up-to-date information. It doesn't cost much, for the return of your cat, priceless. I had Lucy micro-chipped at a Vet Clinic. There was a one time fee for micro-chipping with a (coupon) code to register her with PetLink, at no charge for a lifetime registration. Micro-chipping information can also be transferred if the pet changes owners, so if you do that, make sure the pet's information gets changed with change of ownership. Shop around your town for a Vet or Vet Clinic whose micro-chip offering also includes free or affordable lifetime registration. Some micro-chip registrations have annual fees. The different Vet Clinic we used to register Neptune with was with a different micro-chip registration company, that required an annual fee. I was able to register the other brand chip with PetLink for a reasonable, one time fee of $19.99. So I paid a little more for that micro-chipping, but worth it. 

Leash walking can be fun for both the owner and cat. Enjoy your adventures together and be sure to send us pics or videos. 

Click here to view a video of Neptune on his first leash walk. 

Sunday Afternoon in the Park with Lucy  the World Famous Highlander Kitten Cat. 

A walk in the Park with Lucy, the World Famous Highlander Kitten Cat.
At the end of this video, she is running. That is the regular camera speed. I am running with her and holding her leash as she runs and jumps up the tree.