Have you decided to take your cat on a walk for the first time? Or you already tried leash-walking, but things didn’t go great. Keep reading to learn more about taking your indoor cat for a walk.
In this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the practical side of walking your cat. We will sift through common mistakes (I’ve made them all, so you don’t have to) and wrap up with top-notch tips for a safe and enjoyable cat-walking escapade.
Avoiding Common Mistakes When Walking Your Cat
So, you’ve considered all the pros and cons and decided to take your cat for a walk. Time to move to practicalities. But before I tell you how to take your cat for a walk, let’s first check what are the most common mistakes.
Here’s a brief list of things you should avoid when walking your cat. Be better prepared than I was at first and learn from my miscalculations and oversights.
Wrong Expectations and Treating Your Cat as a Dog
I used to believe walking a cat was the same as walking a dog. We could cover a reasonable distance while walking at a reasonable speed, go from point A to point B, and then return. Well, not exactly. Or rather, not at all.
I quickly realised that, unfortunately, walking is certainly not the most critical component of “leash-walking a cat”. With my cats, we could be gone for 45 minutes and walk 500 meters. Instead of walking from point A to B, my cats would zigzag here and there. We would stop every couple of meters as they wanted to sniff something, roll on the ground, or climb on a small tree growing at the edge of the pavement. And obviously, we would have compulsory grass nibbling stops!
But it’s OK. This is the way cats walk. They explore, sniffle, ambush, and just enjoy the time outside. But to avoid disappointments, you need to set your expectations straight. If you’re going for a walk with your cat, it is a time primarily for your cat. And if you like going for long evening walks to think the day through and relax, go on your own instead!
Speeding up the Process
Leash-walking is a process. And as such, it takes time. To be honest, your early leash-walking sessions are unlikely to resemble “walking”. They might not even happen outdoors…
The first reaction of your cat to having some weird stringy object wrapped around them might vary a lot. Of course, you might be lucky to have a cat who is cool about having a harness on. But in most cases, cats get confused or even scared. They might freeze, try to remove the vest, and even get aggressive towards you. These are all normal reactions your cats might display. But, trust me, you want to check how your cat responds before taking them outside for the first time.
My first walk with Oscar was a disaster. The situation was dire (you can read more about the whole story in the previous blog post on the pros and cons of leash-walking), so I decided to go with the flow and skipped the preparatory stage. I ended up with a highly stressed-up and overloaded cat intermittently freezing or lashing out at me. At the same time, it was impossible to carry him back home as a stressed-out cat often means an aggressive cat. It was nasty for him and me. I could have easily avoided the situation if only I had allowed a few more days to get him familiar with the new situation.
Choosing the Wrong Walking Spot
There are several factors to consider while picking up a walking spot for your cat. Ideally, you’d like to take your cat to a quiet place. If you live in the countryside, that’s easily done. But urban dwellers might have it much harder. Still, picking up the right spot is non-negotiable.
High traffic is not only a massive stressor for cats, it’s dangerous. If cats feel threatened, which might happen at any point, they usually attempt to run away – whichever way… This, in turn, might easily lead to tragic accidents. Too many passers-by might also stress out your cat. Not to even mention that you can only answer the question “Is that a cat?” ever so often. Areas frequented by many stray, feral, and outdoor cats might put your kitty at a higher risk of developing issues stemming from territorial insecurity. Lastly, the dogs… While dogs on leashes might not be a pleasant addition to your walk, the real problem is when off-leash dogs run towards you. Even if they have more curiosity than aggression, your cat will likely feel threatened…
Picking up the wrong spot will make your walk miserable, stressful, and potentially dangerous. If there’s no appropriate place in your neighbourhood, it is wise not even to attempt leash-walking your cat. Keeping your card blank and trying when the circumstances improve is better than risking traumatising yourself and the kitty.
Forgetting about a Carrier Bag and a Blanket / Towel
So, you picked up the right spot, and you’re already proudly strolling with your cat. And then, suddenly, something happens. A loud noise, a proud tomcat determined to protect his front yard, a dog running towards you. Or, something as silly as strong wind or some scent in the air you cannot even smell.
Your cat freaks out, and you have to deal with it somehow. Half the trouble if there’s no immediate danger; you can try some distraction techniques first. But it’s only sometimes the case. And then, it quickly becomes a stalemate situation. You’re going into a confrontation with another cat or being approached by a dog. You know that your scared cat will soon become defensive, and the situation will become dire. But if you try to carry your cat away, it will lash out at you instead.
Trust me, situations like that happen, especially in urban settings. I almost lost sight once “rescuing” my freaked-out cat from three friendly yet annoying dogs while their friendly yet annoying owners kept asking me in astonishment whether I was really leash-walking a cat… For situations like this, you have to have a carrier bag. Ideally, having a blanket/towel to block the sight between animals or safely pick up your cat would also be helpful. But a carrier is a must and the bare minimum. You will not use it 99 times out of 100, but you will thank me for this one time when it will save you and your pet.
Walking Your Cat through a Doorstep
Cats are intelligent creatures, but they are not as clever as figuring out why they can walk outside one day but mustn’t do it the day after. Letting your cat ever walk through the doorstep will likely end up with door-dashing incidents. And while it might not be such a huge deal if you live in a building with an indoor staircase, it is undoubtedly a big problem if your flat has just one pair of doors.
In the early days of my leash-walking endeavour, I ignored the importance of carrying the cats outside the flat in a carrier bag. And I regrated it dearly for several months as my cats quickly developed door-dashing issues. While the building I lived in had another pair of front doors, an open staircase led to the roof… We had a dozen stressful and potentially dangerous situations (sometimes involving me walking on the roof of a neighbouring building…). It also almost cost me one of my cats, Kala, who ran away and went missing for several hours. So please, be smarter than I was, and never teach your cat that walking outside flat is acceptable.
Using too Long or Retractable Leash
After a couple of successful walks, it might be tempting to give your cat a little more freedom of movement. A slightly longer leash or, even better, a retractable one? Unfortunately, it is a bad idea.
Firstly, leash-walking should provide your cat with supervised outdoor access. It is hard to talk about supervision and safety if your cat stays 5 metres away. And it’s especially true in urban environments. Secondly, cats are really agile and fast. Faster than you even realise, your cat might end up squeezing in, jumping or climbing somewhere you didn’t want them to be. Getting them out of that place will likely take work, time and effort.
I had a dozen situations where my cat would climb on some tree before I even noticed. In most cases, I would end up standing there for 15 minutes patiently waiting for my cat to go down. But she managed to wrap her leash around some branches a couple of times, making the situation much more challenging. Really, you don’t need to overdo it. If your cat is adventurous, they will love the walk anyway. This 1 or 2 more metres of “freedom” is not worth the stress, risk and hustle.
Step-by-Step Guide to Successful and Safe Leash Walking
Once you’ve read all the horror stories about leash walking, it is time to take a deep breath. It doesn’t have to go wrong. But to make your leash-walking sessions a safe and pleasant experience, you need to know how to approach the topic. So, here we go with the essentials.
Microchip and Tag Your Cat
No harness is 100% escape-proof. Leash-walking will always carry a small risk of your cat running away. For that reason, you should be prepared in advance. If your cat is not microchipped yet, it’s undoubtedly an excellent time to do so. But remember, taking your cat to a vet for a procedure is not enough. You need to register the microchip in a database, too. It is also good to equip your cat with a pet tag. Attaching it might be tricky – cats should not wear collars or bandanas due to the risk of strangulation. However, you should be able to attach it to your cat’s harness. In the worst-case scenario, you can stitch it into your cat vest or use your embroidery talents. Your contact number is the most essential piece of information; the rest of the information is nice to have.
Remember about Parasite Prevention
It might be easy to forget about worms and parasites. After all, you have an indoor cat. But the moment you decide to take your kitty outdoors, you need to remember that they are now as likely to catch something as any outdoor or stray feline. Flee treatment and regular deworming are mandatory to keep your cat healthy and protected. The same goes for vaccination. Some guardians of indoor cats are less strict about taking their cats for regular vaccination, and some might even believe it is unnecessary. So please ensure you’re on top of all preventive care before diving into leash-walking.
Choose Secure Harness
You will need a high-quality, adjustable and sturdy harness. You need to be able to adjust it to your cat’s size. I prefer vest-type harnesses as they are more built up, making it more difficult for a cat to wiggle out. At the same time, putting it on your cat should be relatively effortless for both of you – you don’t want to stress your cat before even going out. A double ring to attach the harness to the leash is a very nice feature you might want to look for. So are reflective elements.
Allow Time for Harness Acclimatisation
In most cases, it is not a good idea to simply put the harness on your cat and go out. Some cats react better than others, but in any case, it is a good idea to allow at least a couple of days for acclimatisation. Start by putting the harness on your cat and watching its reaction. If your cat is OK with the harness, let them walk around the house for some time. Based on my experience, I suggest acclimatising your cat to harness indoors, then taking them into a secluded outdoor space close to your home and allowing some time to get them used to the leash.
Starting Leash Training
Don’t get me wrong. I’m far from saying that your cat must know all the commands before you even leave your home. Leash-walking is a process; it gets messy and won’t be ideal. The more time you spend outdoors, the more opportunities you have to train with your cat. However, it is good to at least start exposing your cat to the idea of (clicker) training before you go out. If you want to use a clicker, which is preferable, it would be good to check it out in a safe indoor environment. As funny as it might sound, some cats are so sensitive that the sound of clicker scares them. In such a case, you can adjust your “tools” before going outside. It would also be a good idea to “charge” the clicker beforehand, so your cat knows that this particular sound means a treat is coming very soon. Another good exercise to check out before walking is “ping-pong kitty“. It will expose your cat to the idea that returning to you when called is a good and profitable thing to do.
Bring High-Value Treats to Reward Good Behaviour
Hey, we are talking about the training, but what about the payment? Remember, your cat will not work for free! And it doesn’t matter that you might not plan to use your time outdoors as a proper clicker training session. Making your walk manageable – letting your cats out of the carrier, calling them back to you, making them walk inside the carrier – these all count as a form of training, too.
So make sure you have treats with you. And not any treats; go for the “high-value” ones. Remember that the outside world has many additional stimuli that distract your kitty. Even if you have experience training in an indoor environment, doing any work outside will be much more difficult for your kitty. And this extra concentration has to be compensated for!
Find the Perfect Walking Spot
Your cat might be a natural explorer, adventurous and brave, but an unsuitable spot can ruin your experience and leave out even the bravest cat scared and intimidated. And in more radical cases, it might become physically dangerous or even deadly. Again, avoiding attempting leash-walking your cat is much better than taking them to the wrong place.
You’ll need a reasonably quiet area with little traffic. You don’t want to go to a place frequented by many dogs. Ideally, you should avoid areas with too many outdoor cats or strays. Finding such places, especially in an urban environment, can be challenging, but it should be possible. In our blog post about taking cats to a local park, you’ll find the most essential tips for selecting the perfect spot for outdoor adventure with your feline friend.
Lastly, think about the timing. The high street right down the corner might be peaceful and quiet if you go there after midnight or at dawn. Stay open-minded and do a couple of solo walks before taking your furry companion.
Follow Your Cat
If you take your cats for a walk, let them own that time and use it on their own terms. Your cat might not walk straight from point A to B. Instead, there might be a lot of sniffing, grass-picking, bird-ambushing, and rolling down in the sun. As much as you can, try to follow your cat around. Instead of walking them, let them walk you. It might be a weird experience, perhaps even a bit frustrating. But try to look at this the other way – you can get some of your kitty perspective! When did you last pay attention to all those glorious little things outside? Personally, it took me some time to adjust to the pace of our walks. But once I did, I started to appreciate how my cats showed me things I would not have noticed otherwise.
Taking an Indoor Cat for a Walk: Final Thoughts
Leash-walking your indoor cat is a journey that requires patience, preparation, and a deep understanding of your cat’s needs. It’s not as simple as walking a dog — cats have their own pace and preferences. Every step requires careful consideration, from selecting the right walking spot to acclimating your cat to a harness.
Building trust through positive reinforcement training and ensuring safety with a secure harness and carrier bag is essential. Embrace the spontaneity of your cat’s outdoor adventures and allow them to lead the way.
Remember, leash walking is a journey of exploration and discovery. By approaching it with love and understanding, you can create cherished memories and strengthen your bond with your feline companion.
Before you get you and your cat ready, remember to leave us a comment about your favourite leash-walking tips and tricks. I would love to know what worked for you!