Walking a Cat on a Lead: Pros, Cons & Tips

Walking a cat on a lead is a recent trend for the felines. Gone are the days of cats laying around the house. It seems some cats want to be active with their families. For example, cat hiking has become wildly popular and walking a cat on a lead allows for kitties to be out in nature adventuring with their families. Certainly, free-roaming cats and the idea of walking a cat on a lead are two very distinct concepts. We sat down with the Trupanion pet program team to find out if it’s possible to successfully walk a cat.

Tips for walking a cat on a lead

Start young

If you’re going to commit to the task of walking a cat on a lead, it’s incredibly important idea to consider your cat’s age. “The younger you start walking your cat on a lead, the easier it will be to train the cat,” states the Trupanion pet program team. Also, the younger the cat, the easier it is to establish a routine and create a pack mentality with your independent feline. Walking a kitten is definitely a different experience than walking an older cat on a lead.

Know the difference between a harness vs. collar

Walking a cat on a lead is more likely to be successful if you can use a harness. “A harness is a safe and secure option for walking your cat. Also, there’s no way for a cat to slide out of a harness, unlike just using a collar,” points out Marmol. Certainly, the use of a lead, harness, and identification collar adds an extra measure of safety while walking your cat on a lead—just in case your kitty gets loose.

Invest in a good cat lead

Walking a cat on a lead can be a different experience than using a dog lead, due to the different style. Essentially, a cat lead is typically looser than a dog’s providing opportunities for your cat to explore their space. In addition, with the lead being looser, it can be less control for the walker. It definitely gives you the chance to keep tabs on that kitty, especially if they want to prowl on their own.

Walking a cat on a lead depends on personality

Finding the right furry companion for walking a cat on a lead can be rare. Certainly, personality plays a part in the equation for success, as do breed, age and gender. If your feline friend doesn’t take well to walking a cat on a lead, “it could just be that your cat does not want to walk on a lead, and that is completely fine,” cites Marmol. Instead of forcing outings upon your furry friend, give them the option to roam or explore their own space. Take it day by day and see where that leads.

Routine

If walking a cat on a lead is incorporated into your pet’s daily routine at a young age, you might see a lifelong habit form. Certainly, your best mate will become accustomed to the routine of the family activity and it will become familiar to them.

Trust

There is a level of trust that comes with walking pets. For example, when you walk your dog, they eventually learn to stay next to you, and pick up on what your other walking expectations are. In contrast, cats are naturally more skittish, and the act of walking a cat on a lead might be a scary experience for them at the start. In addition, cats are also independent and headstrong. For example, they might not trust the person they are walking with, so there should be a level of trust in order for walking a cat on a lead to be successful. It’s a good idea to build trust over time with familiar places and short outings, and let your cat lead the way.

Patience

Walking a cat on a lead requires an incredible amount of patience for the cat walker. Whether you are walking pets professionally or are a loving cat owner, certainly taking the time and being patient is a step in the right direction. Just remember this is a new experience for your furry friend and yourself. For more cat training tips, click here.