Has anybody tried 'leash training' their cat?

[JimmyL]

My mainly outdoor cat comes in some of the time, but I am thinking of bringing him in full time, but taking him out regularly on a leash. Any tips and advice for those who've tried this would be welcome.

Thanks

James

 

[di and bob]

It just takes a lot of patience. I leash trained all my cats, and they really got excited when I would bring the leash out eventually! You have to get a good harness, my little girl was slipping out of everyone I tried, she was a Houdini. the figure 8 one was the only one that worked, it got tighter if she turned around and tried to slip out. You start them on the harness indoors to get them used to it. Some don't mind it that much, but the first few days would roll around and try to get it off. Start with them wearing the harness loosely for just a few minutes and work your way up day by day to an hour. Tight enough after a while to slip a finger under, but no looser. My little girl would fall over sideways as soon as I put it on and played dead, not moving at all. She eventually learned it wasn't going to change things. She didn't like it at all at first but ended up being the one who liked to go outside the most. Never take them out of your neighborhood, a large dog rushing up can scare them into slipping out of their harness quickly. Watch for them climbing trees too, a leash can become tangled fast. Avoid dogs at all costs, and know where they are at all times, don't let them get hidden in brush or around the corner.
I'm so glad you are deciding to try keeping your boy strictly inside. As one who has gone through the heartache again and again of finding my ferals and some of my housecats on the road, it is definitely worth it. I lost some that had been crossing the road for ten years, it just takes one bad decision.

 

[JimmyL]

It just takes a lot of patience. I leash trained all my cats, and they really got excited when I would bring the leash out eventually! You have to get a good harness, my little girl was slipping out of everyone I tried, she was a Houdini. the figure 8 one was the only one that worked, it got tighter if she turned around and tried to slip out. You start them on the harness indoors to get them used to it. Some don't mind it that much, but the first few days would roll around and try to get it off. Start with them wearing the harness loosely for just a few minutes and work your way up day by day to an hour. Tight enough after a while to slip a finger under, but no looser. My little girl would fall over sideways as soon as I put it on and played dead, not moving at all. She eventually learned it wasn't going to change things. She didn't like it at all at first but ended up being the one who liked to go outside the most. Never take them out of your neighborhood, a large dog rushing up can scare them into slipping out of their harness quickly. Watch for them climbing trees too, a leash can become tangled fast. Avoid dogs at all costs, and know where they are at all times, don't let them get hidden in brush or around the corner.
I'm so glad you are deciding to try keeping your boy strictly inside. As one who has gone through the heartache again and again of finding my ferals and some of my housecats on the road, it is definitely worth it. I lost some that had been crossing the road for ten years, it just takes one bad decision.

Thank you di and bob .

Would you recommend any of these?

Amazon.com : figure of 8 cat harness

 

[fionasmom]

Should You Leash Walk Your Cat? | Ask the Cat Daddy - Jackson Galaxy

Jackson Galaxy has several videos on this as well. I had three cats who were leash trained and Fiona was one of them. It can be done in steps, carefully, and with some cautions as di and bob stated.

My husband ran into a woman at a local park the other day who had an orange male cat on a lead. The cat seemed very tentative and when my husband approached, as he loves orange boy cats, she told him to keep back because the cat was unpredictable. The park has a lot of dogs who visit and the whole thing was a recipe for disaster.....so take things into consideration to keep your cat safe.

 

[ESAkibble]

My mainly outdoor cat comes in some of the time, but I am thinking of bringing him in full time, but taking him out regularly on a leash. Any tips and advice for those who've tried this would be welcome.

Thanks

James

My ESA is leash trained. He has some magic tricks up his sleeve when it comes to collars so he has a harness. It took a few days and the patience to let him get used to it. He’s still a cat and prefers to go where he pleases just on a leash now LOL. Use a light harness if your going that route and go at your cats pace. I’d start in the house getting him/her used to the leash.

 

[ObeseChess]

I have tried, but after determining that at 13 Sassy was just too old to learn new tricks I gave up. On the off chance I was able to get her into a leash/harness she would just walk backwards a few steps and fall over. It was like I broke her.

 

[ESAkibble]

I agree with you. At that age I don’t think I’d be too concerned with leash training unless you absolutely had to. It’s not natural for them at all. Cats are very independent and most affectionate when treated well.

 

[Boxey17]

It just takes a lot of patience. I leash trained all my cats, and they really got excited when I would bring the leash out eventually! You have to get a good harness, my little girl was slipping out of everyone I tried, she was a Houdini. the figure 8 one was the only one that worked, it got tighter if she turned around and tried to slip out. You start them on the harness indoors to get them used to it. Some don't mind it that much, but the first few days would roll around and try to get it off. Start with them wearing the harness loosely for just a few minutes and work your way up day by day to an hour. Tight enough after a while to slip a finger under, but no looser. My little girl would fall over sideways as soon as I put it on and played dead, not moving at all. She eventually learned it wasn't going to change things. She didn't like it at all at first but ended up being the one who liked to go outside the most. Never take them out of your neighborhood, a large dog rushing up can scare them into slipping out of their harness quickly. Watch for them climbing trees too, a leash can become tangled fast. Avoid dogs at all costs, and know where they are at all times, don't let them get hidden in brush or around the corner.
I'm so glad you are deciding to try keeping your boy strictly inside. As one who has gone through the heartache again and again of finding my ferals and some of my housecats on the road, it is definitely worth it. I lost some that had been crossing the road for ten years, it just takes one bad decision.

We have too many hawks here to swoop down and scoop her up..Cera loves her leash. We go out we take walks she climbs trees....she wanted out one day..so I put a leash on her....she loves it....no issues at all. I let her lead tho.

 

[Lazy Orange House Cat]

Montgomery is harness trained. He has a Mynwood Cat Jacket, which wraps around him and is very comfortable. He has a very lightweight lead, which came from Out On The Street in Toronto and doesn't bother him at all.

 

[ladytimedramon]

I tried with Delilah. I put the harness on her. She was fine wearing it in the apartment. I took her outside. She took one look, walked back to the front door, and tried to open the handle.

To her, out is a 4 letter word

 

[tuxedokitties]

One of our current cats loves going out on a leash, and I've had a handful of others over the years that did well with it too. I like the Lupine cat harnesses, they're a secure style and fit my adult cats better, because the part that goes on their back between the collar and the abdominal piece is longer than the kind I've found in pet stores.

It's important to take it slow, give them time to get comfortable with a harness before adding a leash, then give them time to get used to just dragging the leash around inside before taking them outside. When he goes out, don't expect to be able to train him to go where you want him to like a dog would; leash walking a cat is pretty much just holding the leash and following the cat around while he goes where he wants. When you take him out, watch out for things that might scare him. It's virtually impossible to restrain a frightened cat.

I used to have a very laid back, very outgoing cat who was hardly afraid of anything, and I would take her camping with me, but always kept her carrier nearby for her to hide in if she got scared, just in case.

 

[Meowmee]

My mainly outdoor cat comes in some of the time, but I am thinking of bringing him in full time, but taking him out regularly on a leash. Any tips and advice for those who've tried this would be welcome.

Thanks

James

I trained many of my past kitties, either as kittens or adults. Some took to it right away while others took more time. You need to put the cat harness on them inside first and let them get used to it. My current kitties have not been leash trained. I was thinking about it in case of emergencies.

Syb and Wiz had little coats/ rain coats for bad weather walks.

 

[Jcatbird]

All my kitties came to me as ferals but even some of these kitties love their harnesses and leash. My cats are strictly indoors unless they are on a harness. I have a nice enclosed garden area for them and they are very content there. Some took to the harness quickly but others still don’t have an interest in venturing back out. I guess previous feral life gave them a big preference for being inside. Maybe they are just a little spoiled now? You have gotten great advice here.

 

[Novus888]

My mainly outdoor cat comes in some of the time, but I am thinking of bringing him in full time, but taking him out regularly on a leash. Any tips and advice for those who've tried this would be welcome.

Thanks

James

First you need an escape-proof harness, and get him used to wearing that around the house, which also provides a good opportunity to test how escape proof it is (safely). After much research I choose the Pupteck Cat Harness (it's back on Amazon). Reviews there claim it's not escape-proof, but Buddy gave it his best shot, and after three days of trying has yet to Houdini his way out of it, so my assessment is the harness is just not idiot-proof. I put it on him for about an hour (or until he flops over in defeat) every other day to limit stress. When the halter can be put on without any drama, and he walks around dragging the leash without complaint, I'll move on to short jaunts out back to the dumpster for a sunbath. Youtube has videos. Google 'harness leash train cat videos youtube'.

 

[Willowwombat]

I trained my Willow by putting on the harness and immediately afterwards I started to play with her with a wand toy and shower her with treats.Once she was used to the harness I attached the leash and opened the door. Once she connected the harness and leash with going outside, it really was a pieca of cake.

 

[Spookyandsammy]

We’re thinking of letting unc fester Sylvester outside but I’m afraid he will take off I’m about to get him a leash

 

[Spookyandsammy]

I trained many of my past kitties, either as kittens or adults. Some took to it right away while others took more time. You need to put the cat harness on them inside first and let them get used to it. My current kitties have not been leash trained. I was thinking about it in case of emergencies.

Syb and Wiz had little coats/ rain coats for bad weather walks.

If I buy him like a shirt or a sweatshirt and put it over the harness do you think he would be able to Houdini himself out of the harness and treats should work I tried this with spooky she went nuts

 

[Margot Lane]

Did you see the YouTube video someone posted called “Max Loves Walks?“ Hilarious and amazing.

 

[Spookyandsammy]

Did you see the YouTube video someone posted called “Max Loves Walks?“ Hilarious and amazing.

No I’m gonna look it spooky was wild she hurt me really bad I never knew cats can backflip that high it was like she was possessed she saw very mad

 

[Novus888]

If I buy him like a shirt or a sweatshirt and put it over the harness do you think he would be able to Houdini himself out of the harness and treats should work I tried this with spooky she went nuts

Most cats escape a harness either because of a shoddy harness or owner screwup...either the harness is not put on right, or the owner has no comprehension of how to use the leash:

Cat Escaping Harness

www.youtube.com

The above illustrates both a shoddy harness, and a clueless owner helping the cat escape by pulling on the leash from the front. Using a harness and leash is pretty much like everything else. One needs to know what he is doing before doing it. It starts with buying a decent harness, figuring out how to put it on correctly, how to get the cat used to wearing it, and lastly the actual mechanics of leash walking. Youtube has videos on each aspect.
Picking a cat harness:
Personally I would avoid any harness that looks like the one in the first (cat escaping the harness) video. These are too easy to escape, even if you don't pull on the leash the wrong way. All the cat has to do is get one elbow into the tummy strap, and it's a done deal.
Putting a harness on:
Leash training: