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Can you train your
cat to take walks with you on a leash outside just like a dog? Yes
you can! Training cats, however is a whole different ball game from
training dogs. With some Patience and persistence, however, you may
have your finicky feline outdoors on a leash in no time. |
The best time to
start training is when your cat is a kitten, at this stage the cat
doesn’t have any programmed behaviours so you can try to mould him
to what you want him to do.
An older cat may be a bit more set in
his ways and might require added patience for leash training.
One thing you will
want to do is search out the leash that will be suitable for both
you and your cat. There are many different leashes on the market to
day. Some are retract able with a setting on the holder to be able
to allow just enough leash out for the cat. On the other hand, you
can just let the cat have as much as they would like. This is nice
for walking and for letting the cat to play, with control that they
do not run off or get in to much trouble.
Standard leashes are
about 5 or 6 feet which should be fine. You want to get a leash that
is lightweight - not one for a dog. Too much weight in the leash
will make the cat uncomfortable and he won’t want to go for walks.
Another item that you will need to consider is a harness or collar
for the cat. A harness is the best for a cat. With purchasing a
collar you will want to make it very narrow one and light. When
looking for a collar keep in mind that you don’t want it too tight
on the cat, but not too loose either as you don’t want him to slip
his head out. Cat’s won’t respond well to jerking their collar
so a harness is really best and should be loose and comfortable for
the cat.
Once you get the
leash, collar, or harness, you will want to introduce the cat to the
item by playing with him. This allows the cat to get use to it and
put its scent on these items. Next you want to try to put the
harness or collar on the cat. Put it on as loose as you can get it,
just place it him and depending on his reaction you can leave it on
for a short time or if the cat does not want anything to do with it,
then you might have to revert back to the “playing“ stage. This
step is very important, if you force the cat to wear the harness,
they are not going to be happy at all with the harness or with you.
Take your time with all the steps.
After the cat is
wearing the harness loose, then it is the time to tighten the
harness up until it is the right fit for the cat. At this point, you
will want to give the cat time to wear the harness. Next attach the
leash. Remember first to have the cat play with the leash. Put the
leash on and get the cat use to having it on. Then you will want to
start walking the cat inside, until the cat is doing well. Once the
cat is comfortable with the leash then it is time to go outside for
a walk.
When walking with the
cat make sure there is not too much loose leash or they will be
running in all random directions. There are many distractions for a
cat outdoors - birds, squirrels and the neighbours pets might cause
your cat to want to run around, but you must keep a tight leash so
that your cat walks with you and is not dragging you all over the
place.
Lee Dobbins
writes for
E
Pet Center
where you can
learn more about pets and
caring
for kittens and cats.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
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