Taking Your Cat For A Walk: The Do’s And Don’ts To Remember
If you notice your beloved feline companion gazing longingly out the window often, consider giving them a taste of the great outdoors. As naturally curious creatures, cats are prone to getting bored easily, which may lead to stress over time, which is why it’s not a bad idea to take them on a walk and let them explore. Not only that, doing so ensures they get some much-needed exercise and avoid the dangers of pet obesity. With plenty of pet-friendly places in Singapore, there’s tons of adventures waiting for you and your kitty!
Unlike dogs, however, there’s a bit of preparation required to safely walk your cat. Once you’re sure leashed walks are right for your pet and after overcoming that initial hurdle, there are a few more considerations to be aware of so you and your furry friend can truly enjoy being out and about. Below, we go over what these are, and the do’s and don’ts to keep in mind once you’re ready to take that first step.
What you should know about walking your cat
As mentioned, walking your cats brings tons of benefits, but it has a few risks as well, which stem from the fact that house cats aren’t all as domesticated as you may believe. This is because they aren’t bred in a way that tweaks their natural instincts to align with our lifestyles. Hence, they still possess many of the same characteristics as their ancient ancestors and remain predators at heart. This can affect their reactions and cause them to enter a “fight-flight-freeze” mode upon picking up various stimuli such as seeing prey like birds, smelling the scent of another cat, or encountering potential predators.
All these scenarios can occur at any moment during your walk, and when they do arise, your cat may feel fear, agitation, and nervousness that ultimately turns into aggression. Such escalation tends to be more likely if you try to pick them up before calming them down. It’s important to note that a fighting (and even frozen) cat is not just a danger to themselves and others but to you as well, as they may redirect their fear towards you.
But while all of this information sounds rather intimidating, it is essential to keep them in mind whenever you and your cat go for a walk. And with all that out of the way, let us now go over some must-know tips to stay safe when going on a walk.
1. Do take things slow
In case you didn’t know, cats like having tons of choices available and being in control of whatever situation they find themselves in. Leveraging these traits is how you keep them from panicking outside. For starters, it’s best to begin your walks by opening the door, picking them up, and then setting them down just outside of the door frame rather than immediately in the middle of the lawn or sidewalk.
This approach allows them to decide how quickly and how far they want to step out and explore. Also, consider leaving the door open so they can always retreat at any time should they feel too anxious. Lastly, while it might seem preferable to let your cat cross this boundary between outside and inside by themselves, this has the tendency to backfire on you down the line. As nimble beasts, your cat may become prone to door dashing once they get comfy with going outside.
2. Don’t take the lead at first
Normally, you’d be the one to take the lead when going on a walk, but for cats, it’s recommended to switch the roles at least until they become more familiar with your little jaunts. If you’re too forceful with the leash and pull them to where you want to go, they’re likely to just slump down and hate the idea of walks altogether. As a test run, let your cat roam about your home while wearing their harness and let the leash drag behind them before picking it up and attempting to guide them hither and thither.
3. Do bring a cat carrier
Once you’re a ways away from home, your cat will no longer have a familiar place to retreat in should they feel startled. This is where their cat carrier comes in to serve as an adequate replacement. Consider keeping it open on the ground nearby such that whenever your cat has had enough of the big wide world for the day, they can just go hide back in at any time. Also, their carrier can also serve as a great way to protect yourself from their murder mitts and calm them down quickly should they seem fearful or agitated.
4. Don’t forget to bring lots of treats
Positive reinforcement is key to helping your cat adapt to leash training, and you should ideally start rewarding them with treats from the moment you introduce the harness. When first placing it on your cat, offer a treat as a way to create a positive association. Allow your cat to explore and get used to the harness, and reward them every few minutes they wear it without attempting to squirm out. Consistent praise and treats will make the experience enjoyable and help your cat acclimate faster, just like with their first experience with cat grooming services or going to the vet.
5. Do make sure your cat is wearing their ID tag
While many pet owners opt to microchip their cats, it’s important to remember that microchips can only be scanned at vet clinics or animal shelters. This means that until your lost pet is found and scanned, there’s no immediate way to trace them back to you.
To bridge this gap, always ensure your cat wears a collar with a secure ID tag. The tag should include up-to-date contact information to help anyone who finds your cat quickly reunite them with you. This simple precaution can save you a lot of worry if your pet ever strays too far.
Creating memorable experiences with your feline friend
Walking your cat can be a rewarding experience, fostering a stronger bond between you and your pet while providing them with mental and physical stimulation. By keeping these dos and don’ts in mind, you’ll ensure that the process is safe, enjoyable, and stress-free for both you and your feline companion. With patience, preparation, and plenty of positive reinforcement, your cat will soon become a confident and happy explorer of the great outdoors!
