Do you walk your cat on a leash?

@sunkissed (4330)
United States
April 1, 2008 5:18pm CST
I got a new cat in January.He is a ragdoll cat. I will not let him outside at all. I am afraid he will get lost or someone will get him. If I go on vacation, I take him with me. I put him on a leash.People at the rest areas always think he is a dog at first. They say they never saw a cat on a leash. Do you walk your cat on a leash?
4 people like this
7 responses
1 Apr 08
I don't but I've often thought about it as where we live it's too dangerous to let them out alone and so they've always been strictly indoor cats. How did you manage to introduce and get him used to the leash? Was it hard?
1 person likes this
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
1 Apr 08
No, it was not really hard. He wants to go outdoors so bad, and he knows this is the only way he can go.He does not like his pet carrier at all.I put him on the porch at first then put the leash on him, then he was good to go, because he really wanted to be outside.He will get stuborn at times like a dog does, but he is real good on it.
2 Apr 08
Did you do this from when he was a kitten? My kitties are about two and a half now and I'm concerned they might be too old and set in their ways!
1 person likes this
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Well, I got my cat at the shelter this January and yes he was 8 months old, that is when I started him on the leash.It may be harder to train an older cat.
@98765m (1017)
• India
3 Apr 08
It would be really hard to leash an older cat..........but as you say that its got used to it and does not complain,i think you can continue...............but make sure to have him comfortable....do you have a big house that the cat can roam freely?....Have you got your cat fixed? if you donot leave the cat alone,i thinks its better to fix it.Or else it might become too much troublesome.........and dont worry about what others say............keeping your happy is what counts........keeping other people happy does not count :D lol Cheers!
1 person likes this
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
3 Apr 08
Well, you are probally right, i started my cat out as soon as I got him and he was 8 months old, He is a very good cat, he does not mind it at all.He is very comfortable. I have a two bedroom house, with a living room and a den, it is just me and the cat, it is 1,000 sq.ft. plenty of room for my cat to roam around.Yes my cat has been fixed.I am here with him most of the time because I do not work.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Tigger with his new harness - He is so proud of his new harness he sat on my desk to show it off when he saw me with the camera.
Tigger loves his harness/leash and also knows the only way he's allowed outside is on his leash. He proudly displays his harness in the pic I've included.
1 person likes this
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
2 Apr 08
Thanks so much for your response,I loved the picture. I am glad your Tigger too is well adjusted to his harness and leash.
• United States
1 Apr 08
My oldest Meeca has a harness and a leash. Thats the only way I will let her go outside. Even though we live in the country theres too much she can get into or even get hurt so when its warm enough outside she is allowed out on her leash and harness and she doesnt seem to mind it too much.
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
1 Apr 08
You are right about so much to get into. I am glad to hear that there is someone else out there that does put their cat on a leash.My cat does not mind it either, anything to be outside.
• United States
1 Apr 08
Well, I don't have a cat now, but I have had one that we put on a leash. In fact, my daughter was about 9 when we got him and I let her walk down the block with our kitten on the leash. It was in the summer and lots of people were outside. One lady yelled all sorts of things at her! She said it was cruel to put a leash on a cat and she had never seen that before in her life! lol I explained to my daughter that some people are just stupid and can't stand seeing anything "different." First of all, it's cruel to let them run loose when you're living in the city (which we were at the time). Second, I think you pretty much have to start young with them to get a collar or leash on them. Later, they don't take to kindly to it! I guess some of us just appreciate having their cats more than others. I think it's lovely that you take your cat on vacation!
1 person likes this
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
1 Apr 08
thank you for your response, This woman was very crutil to your daughter. I think it is good to have an animal under control at all times, so that they will be safe. You are right we must train them while they are young.Yes, I enjoy taking my cat with me on vacation, he is like my baby..
@weninger (37)
• United States
3 Apr 08
my cat would absolutely refuse to be walked on a leash...it would be a dramatic scene of me dragging him more like. so no, i don't even bother with that whole ordeal. however, i was terrified of losing my cat or him being injured/killed on the roads in town where i live. My cat aarik was nicknamed "the great white hunter" because he was a phenomenal "rabbit killer"....lol....(as gross as it was) So i couldn't take his outside time away from him....i bought him a 5 point collar/harness and a long leash and put it in my yard. so whenever he wanted outside to go on a little hunting spree, thats what he wore. at first he hated it....but he grew to stand it after some time. he even got so comfy with it on that he was able to still hunt and successfully at that; catching rabbits in the small area that he was able to move around in. lol....but yes, everyone thought i was totally crazy when they saw my cat tied up on his leash in the front yard. lol not something you see very often.
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
3 Apr 08
Well at least your cat would stay out in the yard on a leash, I bet he was very cute.You are right, i would not like to see a cat being draged around on a leash either.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
1 Apr 08
I have never seen a cat on a lwash, I couldn't imagine many cats liking it very muchbut it would be great being able to take your cat away with you and a leash would make that so much easier.. I did see a boy taking his ferret for a walk on a leash once..
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
1 Apr 08
I never did see a cat on a leash before either, but when we went on our trip, i knew we would have to walk him at the rest area,etc. so I got him used to the leash at home.When I take him to the vet He is also on a leash, because he will not stay in his kennel.He has a cloth,mess, one and always finds his way out..