Who else walks their non-canine pets on a leash?

[Lorien]

I admit, if I walk my kitty Puck on her leash during daylight hours, she can attract a lot of attention. People suddenly slam on their brakes and stare (one woman rolled down her window and exclaimed "somebody call Ripley's believe it or not"! yesterday), neighbors who never speak to me when I'm walking alone come over to "marvel" at the friendly little cat walking confidently on a leash. Usually we walk late at night, so there won't be as many distractions (birds and lizards can slow us down a fair bit too). Puck was curious about the outdoors, but I didn't want any of my cats to become "outside' kitties (not after my late kitty Jasper got both cancer and FIV from his former life as a stray) so daily "walkies" on a leash seemed like a natural solution. I once had a ferret, and he also enjoyed daily walks on a leash. So, for those of you with non canine pets-who also has them trained to safely enjoy the great outdoors?

My usual view as Puck boldly strides forth, tail held high:



Watching the mailman make his rounds "hmmm....not sure if I trust a guy with so many keys"!



Mockingbirds to the front and to the left-oh my!



The mockingbird keeps belting out his greatest hits on a low branch " No worries-that cat's on a leash!"



The one part of the trek when Puck drags behind; when it's time to climb the stairs to the front door!

[demnan]

1. So cute!

I've tried and miserably failed to leash train my cats. Pad Thai learned this little move of slipping out of the harness (maybe I didn't get it tight enough, but he squirms so when I put it on). Also when he's not squirming out of the leash he wants to lead me into the wild high grass area in back of the condo, and I'm not sure of my footing back there. Now that the weather is nice, I might try again to take him on the leash and walk along the sidewalks, but for now the kitty walk has been the best way to let him have a little outside air.

My Lily is far to shy to get to walk on a leash. She sees other people or animals and wants to run home. But she is ok if let out on the patio and walking around the immediate area of the condo so long as she is supervised. She is not inclined to wander because she knows she can't run very fast.

Last night I spoke with a neighbor who once saw a fox dragging away a cat it had caught out around my condo area. This underlies the danger of allowing a cat outside unsupervised.

[Lorien]

2. I do worry about her slipping out of the

harness if, say, a dog came after us. So far, we've had no such troubles, but when walking a small dog in this neighborhood once TWO large breed dogs came after us, and I was left holding the small dog as high as I could while the owner of the big dogs just stood by and watched his animals jumping for him! Yep, the outdoors is fraught with dangers. (BTW- your neighbor probably saw a coyote with a cat; foxes are housecat sized and never go after other predators, while coyotes are well known for killing both cats and foxes. The only thing that kills coyotes in the wild are wolves, so we're seeing a huge surge in the coyote populations nationwide. Both housecats and foxes are falling prey to this lack of balance in our environment. Just a bit of trivia from an old Smithsonian article on wolves).

I've ordered a fully adjustable dog harness for Oberon because he's always pawing at the front door when we come back from our "walkies", but I have a feeling that he'll be no different than Lily on a leash! We'll see...

[Maru Kitteh]

4. Large breed dogs with indifferent or ignorant/aggressive owneers

is why I carry pepper spray on walks and bike rides. I think people (in a perfect world) should have to take a test before they are allowed to have children or care for animals. Your kitty looks so cute going for a walk with you. Did you have to go through any specail training process? I've wondered about taking mine out on a leash too. Did you start out walking with the leash indoors?

[Lorien]

5. She started off by wearing the harness indoors

then we took walks in the backyard, then the front, and finally around the entire block. I must admit that her breed is known for it's "trainability"; she's a Turkish Angora, a natural and ancient breed that was rescued from extinction by the Turkish government over 40 years ago. Turks might not be much to look at, but they're unusually intelligent and very people oriented (considered a "national treasure" by the Turkish people). Some call them "the border collies of the cat world", so I guess walking on a leash shouldn't be too challenging to them. My other cats haven't taken too well to the idea, and my past rescue kitties wouldn't even allow the harness to be placed on them! So I can't say how much is nature and how much is nurture-but I think it's always worth a try. Walking your pet gives both of you exercise, and makes an indoor pet's life a lot more interesting. :-)

[scarlet_owl]

3. My ferrets have harnesses. The boys are good about walking

on them, but my little girl Michiko freaks out when the harness is put on. She has to be carried everywhere like the little princess she is.

[Lorien]

15. Hey, do your ferrets ever flop down spread eagle

on the ground when they tire of walking? My ferret Ravi Stinkar used to do that all the time; he'd go from bouncy ferret to limp noodle in a minute flat, lol!

[scarlet_owl]

38. Yes, all the time! I think it is so adorable when they go flat.

Especially my little Kuma. He is such a fat little guy.

Ravi Stinkar. Best ferret name EVER!

[Lorien]

39. Do you have any pics of Kuma?

I've never seen a fat ferret, lol!

Heheh...not many people ever "got" Ravi's name. Beatles fan, by any chance?

I had Ravi 20 years ago in college, before ferrets got into the mainstream, and people often thought he was some kind of rodent when they saw him on his leash. The guys who lived next door to me at the time were members of Alpha Phi Alpha, America's oldest black fraternity. One of them became so enamored with Ravi that he wanted him to join their Frat! So Ravi became a "brother" (hey, he was a sable ferret after all). We made him a little sweater with the frat colors on it, and every Wednesday he would put on his sweater and his harness and got to his meeting with his "brother" Wayne. I, being a white chick, was never invited, of course. But Ravi always came home worn out and happy, and his "brothers" always gave him the frat greeting when we saw them on our walks. It was really cute!

[scarlet_owl]

42. That's a great story! I haven't been able to borrow a digital

camera in a long time, so no pictures yet. Kumie definately is fat. The vet weighed him in at close to four pounds.

[fudge stripe cookays]

43. My friend had a ferret...

They named him Barrett. :-)

But yes, Ravi Stinkar rules!
FSC

[Dervill Crow]

41. I love that name!

Too, too cute.

[andyhappy]

6. wha?

how did you get your cat to go along with that?

I tried to get my cats into the leash thing when they were very young and they just hated it...

[MrsMatt]

7. I'm trying to get my daughter's cat

trained to walk on the leash, but he absolutely hates it. He crawls around on his belly when we put the harness on. Do I just need to be patient and keep working with him? He always seems so darn miserable.

[Lorien]

9. What kind of harness are you using?

it needs to be a comfortable one that doesn't bind, is not too tight, but isn't loose enough for the animal to pull out of it. Puck wears a woven cotton and nylon "H" style harness. It's best to start by letting them wear it around the house, and giving them praise and treats while they have it on ( that way, they'll associate good feelings with the harness). Once the harness no longer bothers them, take them out into your own yard or deck for short periods of time. Never force a cat to go in one direction or another. If he doesn't want to come back inside, pick him up and carry him in-but avoid pulling on the leash. If I want Puck to go in a certain direction, I just say "Let's walk"! and start going in that direction myself. Most of the time she follows me, but if she pulls in another direction I just stand there firmly planted, not pulling on the leash, but not letting her choose the path, either. Eventually she walks in the proper direction. Be patient; It may take a few weeks before your kitty graduates to sidewalks, and stay close to home-loose dogs are a real danger to a cat on a leash. Good luck!

[MrsMatt]

37. The same as shown on your Puck

(in fact, Stanley looks a lot like Puck, but he's a bigger boy at 12 pounds and with back feet that look like they belong on a snowshoe hare).

Thanks for the tips - I'll keep trying; especially since he's such a whiner about wanting to go outside!

[Mallifica]

8. I tried to walk my kitty on a leash

She was an indoor/outdoor cat for years before I got her, but when I moved to a new town I tried to keep her inside . . . she hated it. I thought that the leash would be a compromise, but then she hated me. It didn't help that the first time I tried I put the damn thing on upside down.

[legally blonde]

10. I've tried it with my kitty Manilla

He flopped on his back and rolled over. I tried it a few more times since then, but it didn't take.

[ET Awful]

11. I had a good friend in Arizona that used to walk his two ferrets on

a leash with a harness like that :). It was a riot watching the ferrets tromping down the street. They're such neat animals, and they want to stop and check EVERYTHING out :).

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Fantastic shots. Puck is gorgeous!!! The mockingbird shot is wonderful.

[Lorien]

35. Thanks BrklynLiberal!

:hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

13. My friend lives in Manhattan and takes her cats out for walks in this..

You should the looks she gets walking along the streets. People expect to see baby..and then they do this hysterical double-take.

[Lorien]

14. I was going to ask what kind of reaction she got

I've seen those down here too (mostly filled with small nervous dogs). I admit it, I've toyed with the idea of getting one so that I could take Oberon and Puck out together. Also, a good sized dog followed Puck and I home tonight. I've seen that dog before, and he loves all kitties (usually has a calico walking beside him), but Puck doesn't know that he's friendly, and when he got fairly close she started to freak. At least if she were in one of those strollers, she could retreat to the shaded part instead of trying to bolt! i guess that I wouldn't mind having one if it didn't look so weird to everyone-I suspect that my neighbors already think of me as "the crazy cat lady", lol!

[demnan]

16. I might get one of those for Pad Thai

If it turns heads in Manhattan, I wonder how good old red neck Woodbridge, VA would respond! My neighbors come around now to pet Pad Thai through his kitty walk. He's such a glutton for attention. I could use the exercise though.

There is a lady up the street who has a carrier similar to that for her disabled dog. It has the ability for him to use his front legs, his back ones must be paralyzed because they're attached to a wheeling device.

[Lorien]

17. Hey, you go first!

;-)

Really, I'm curious to know how a cat like Pad Thai would like it. I'd love to take Obie with us on our walks, but the only way to do that would be in one of those contraptions (wrangling two cats on leashes if a dog ran up to us...I don't even want to contemplate it!! :scared: )

The cheapest price I've found is at www.metropawlis.com (they also have free shipping).

[demnan]

18. I used a few of your helpful suggestions

and I actually took Paddy out on his harness this morning. He was really pretty good. Thanks for the tips. He was doing so good until some asshole starting revving up their motorcycle then I had to pick him up and move him. He was terrified. I brought him home and put him in his kittywalk. You can see pictures of him in it in the kittywalk thread. It really was a great investment.

[Lorien]

19. When I first started taking Puck out

on the second day, in fact, a big truck came down my brick street hauling stacks of metal sheeting. Puck was nearly scared out of her skin! But a few days later she wanted to go out again. I bet that Paddy will forget the motorcycle soon, too. ;-)

I may have to look into a kittywalk. How big is Pad Thai? I'm worried that Obie couldn't turn around in it (his body length is 25", 46" with his tail). Paddy looks like Lord of all he surveys in that thing!

[demnan]

22. Pad Thai is not a small cat

he's about 13 pounds. I think Oberon would be fine in the kitty walk. The one I got was the shorter one for the patio. It is about 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. You could get the longer one and have a kitty door situated for it since you live in a house.

And I agree with everyone that Puck looks incredibly cute on her harness, she's a little beauty!

[Lorien]

34. Wow! That IS big for such a lean

kitty! Obie is only five pounds heavier, but his bones are like clubs. I guess the Oriental breeds aren't small delicate things anymore!

I guess I'll have to seriously consider investing in a kittywalk. Thanks for the info!

:hi:

[newsguyatl]

20. puck is so darned CUTE!!

what a little sweetie!

i've been seriously considering getting my nikko a leash/harness, my only concern is that he'll start liking outdoors TOO much and start whining when he's not out there...

i may give it a shot tho, and see how he likes it...

is there any known harm to them outside? other than obvious?

[Lorien]

21. Thanks!

I always thought she was a bit plain on the outside, but she sure has a cute personality!

Well, there's cars, dogs, coyotes, sickos, antifreeze, rat poison, skin cancer, FLV, FIV, rabies....I guess most of those pretty much are "the obvious". Veganistan suggested carrying pepper spray to use against dogs, which sounds like a good idea to me (most dogs haven't paid much attention to Puck and I, but I did encounter a large lab mix on my own one day that nearly attacked). I also think it's good to wear a jean jacket, just in case kitty gets a bit freaked and you need to hold them against you to calm them down.

[demnan]

23. If Nikko likes spending time outside

you might try the Kitty Walk. Pad Thai whines and cries alot to go out. I find it easy to put him in the kittywalk and go about my business cooking dinner (where I can see out the window) but he is the kind of cat who doesn't like being alone for too long, so he'll yowel just to get me to walk out on the patio.

[Zuni]

24. your Paddy sounds wonderful

I have a great fondness for Siamese cats---they are so communicative and people-oriented

[demnan]

29. Paddy is a honey of a cat

He is so sweet most of the time. I love the way he bats my ankle with his paw (never extends claws) when he wants to play. I can't come home at night that the beautiful beast isn't waiting for me in the window. And he jumps on my shoulders and gives me headbutts to show he misses me.

He always wants to know where I am and helps me converse on the telephone.

[Zuni]

32. Like I said, he sounds great

My cat does much of the same. Sooty meets me when i come home, she grooms me while I sleep and she has to be in the same room as me. She follows me like a little shadow.

[Zuni]

25. I can't get Sooty into a leash

She is real squirmy. She does not like collars or harnesses

[Dukkha]

26. I tried once

on a conventional leash, but he kept getting tangled up in it. Then I tried the leg harness but that was a pain to get it on. So occasionally I'll just walk behind him supervised. Spring is FINALLY here and the windows came open in my house. Now my cats are dying to go outside!

[newsguyatl]

27. well, i got a harness for nikko today

interesting....


i put it on, and he immediately rolls to his side and won't move...


after a few minutes, i took him out and he gradually got used to it... he by no means likes it, but i think he'll grow into it with time...

in the meantime, he likes this toy i bought him today a LOT more:

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Cats love that toy!! My landlady got it for her cats and they went crazy

[demnan]

30. Gee that looks like fun

but is it claw proof?

[newsguyatl]

31. ya know, he really doesn't claw at it

besides, they have these big, fun strings attached that hang from the top that gets their attention a lot more.

[Lorien]

33. Cool toy!

Puck would LOVE that! She has a nylon play tunnel that she adores-she uses it like a slip n' slide; just races into and stops at the end so the whole 4 ft tunnel slides down the hall, lol! The tunnel has a hole in the side that she loves to leap in and out of too.

Sadly, Oberon looks like a Vienna sausage in the thing:



Good luck with the harness! I'm sure that curiosity will make him forget that it's there soon enough. :-)

[demnan]

36. Poor Oberon!

He's just a big, big beautiful baby

[Lorien]

46. What is this toy called?

I stopped bt Petco today to get some KMR milk for my bottle baby, and looked for this toy-but didn't see it there. Do you remember the product name?

[meow2u3]

40. I can't even keep a COLLAR on Boots

much less walk him on a leash!

Walking my cat Boots?! Only if I want my eyes scratched out! :rofl:

[fudge stripe cookays]

44. Nice to know....

someone else calls them "walkies!" We're Wallace and Gromit fans at our place too.

:hi:
Lorien!
FSC

[Lorien]

45. Can't wait for the movie!

:hi:

[ironflange]

47. One of our three enjoys the occasional walkie

Nicki, the one on the left.



Cleo, in the centre, will wear the harness, but the moment she feels any tension from the leash she goes limp and falls over. Just like a ragdoll. It's a good way to dust the floor. Same thing happens if you even gently hold the scruff of her neck.

We can't get near Amber with a harness.

I've done up our back yard to be escape-proof, and they enjoy it out there by the hour. Sometimes a neighborhood cat gets in, and I have to rescue it before Nicki & Cleo get a chance to mess it up real bad.