Mystik Spiral Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Do any of you have indoor cats that you've leash-trained? I live on the third floor of a condo, so letting my cat out is not an option. She loves to explore though, and I would really like to be able to walk her. My concerns are that she's 10 months now (I wish I'd thought of this when I got her 5 months ago...), she's afraid of people and REALLY afraid of dogs, and people walk dogs a lot around here. Also, judging by the state of my hands and arms whenever I clip her nails, I'm not sure I'd ever be able to get a harness on her and live to tell about it. Is there anyone out there who has a "scaredy" cat like me and has been able to leash train them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenbobblehead Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I don't recommend it. I had a very timid cat that i trained on a harness and leash and the first time i took him outside he got spooked, freaked out, practically choked himself with the leash and bit me five times. instead get one of these: do you have a little porch or deck you can cat proof and let her out there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 I do have a small patio, but I have no idea how I'd cat-proof it. I'd have to encase the whole thing, which is highly likely against HOA rules... That stroller is cute, I'll have to look into those. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 We tried with two of our cats, back when they were young, and every time we put the harness on they would just lay down and refuse to move. However, I do know someone who successfully leash trained their kitten and they now go everywhere together. The cat actually looks proud when he walks down the street, like he's saying "Hey, suckers!" to all the other neighborhood cats in windows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Our younger cat is kind of leash trained (8 month old). We've got a small back patio kind of deal on our apartment and I can take him out there with a leash and harness and he doesn't have any problems with it. He's also a very easy going cat...so I'm sure that helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 Yeah, my cat is the opposite of easy-going. She doesn't like to be brushed, doesn't like her nails clipped. She will tolerate getting her ears cleaned with a Qtip. I'm dreading (and procrastinating) her first bath and toothbrushing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenbobblehead Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I had another cat that i leash trained. He was wicket cool and loved everyone and wasn't afraid of people or dogs, and he did ok on the leash. I just don't recommend it for a kitty that is scared of people, cars and dogs. You know, Carlos had a neighbor who put up cat fencing.... Seriously though, the place my mother got her kitten from actually put up this special cat fencing (?) at their shelter. I'll ask her what it is called. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 We trained my childhood cat to go for walks on a leash. He loved to go outside and eat grass. With my cat, I had a similar experience as Jen, and my cat freaked out. I never tried it again. I think it depends on the cat's age and temperament. You can train a young cat, but older kitties are more set in their ways. That pup cart is hilarious! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 I had another cat that i leash trained. He was wicket cool and loved everyone and wasn't afraid of people or dogs, and he did ok on the leash. I just don't recommend it for a kitty that is scared of people, cars and dogs. Yeah, it's a good point. She gets scared when she goes to the vet in her carrier, it would probably not be a good idea to take her out on a leash. She might be OK in a stroller though, probably freak out a bit the first time, but once she realizes stroller walks don't end in shots she'd probably be OK. I just get sad when she sits at the window and stares. Could be she's just watching, though and not necessarily wanting out. I'm so glad I have VC for advice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenbobblehead Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 you could also get one of these for your deck http://www.thecatandkittenstore.com/servle...r-safety/Detail Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I bought a leash and collar for my cat, but she didn't quite understand what was going on. Now when I harness her, she just plops down on the ground and starts to moan. I have learned that I can just put her outside with no collar and she'll stay relatively close to my side. But I have a decent-sized backyard. I've never tried it out in public with other creatures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I tried to teach one on them (the well-behaved one) with no appreciable results. (the one on the left about to land the right hook to the face of the other). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 My cat will follow me if I take it outside on a walk. No leash needed. It will also follow any other people outside walking whether they like it or not. My cat is really a dog in disguise. In related news, have you seen this video? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Not the "people who are secretly cats" thread I was expecting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Get a proper pet, like a dog. Seriously, there are far too many people here have cats. Y'all are freaking me out with your felines. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Dogs are slobbery, they sniff your butt & you have to pick up all their poop out of the yard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alison the wilca Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 We use a harness and leash on my cat. He couldn't care less about dogs and cars are okay. BUT, if a big tuck or something goes by, he darts home. We can walk down the block but he definitely isn't trained. He basically goes outside to randomly sniff things. Sometimes he smells something that freaks him out and he gets a puffy tail. I think that leashing or just going outside in general is only for certain indoor cats. There is a lot of environment to take in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Yeah, my cat is the opposite of easy-going. She doesn't like to be brushed, doesn't like her nails clipped. She will tolerate getting her ears cleaned with a Qtip. I'm dreading (and procrastinating) her first bath and toothbrushing.Why on earth would you give a cat a bath? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Actually, lots of people give their cats baths. My vet told me to give her about 2 baths a year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aeglos Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 my old cat Ralph lived til he was 21 - zero baths ;-) he would have been mortified Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Was he an indoor cat? Because I would like nothing better than to know that I could go forever without giving my cat a bath... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mystik Spiral Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Dude, those people bathing the cats are fucking whacked. They are treating them like little babies. Also, why on earth would you brush a cat's teeth? Don't they have something they can gnaw on to clean their own teeth? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alison the wilca Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 cats have a sufficient cleaning system called their tongue. We've only had to bathe our cat after taking him outside because he rolled around in piles of dirt. otherwise, he usually smells quite pretty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
isadorah Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 i have had indoor cats for as long as i can remember and never give them baths and have never been told by a vet to give them baths. i have also been through animal shelter training and volunteered at shelters (in cat care) for years and was never instructed that cats should have baths or told to instruct adoptees of this. the only time i've ever had to give baths is when a cat was outside and had fleas and needed to get rid of the fleas. if you brush regularly and feed quality food, your kitty should be fine without the bath. hope that helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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