For cat owners....

[ilovepcot]

Why aren't cats walked on leashes the same as dogs? Especially house cats that don't get outside for exercise? I'll boldly admit that I'm "cat ignorant"....never had cats myself.

 

[goudaman40]

Look at my attached photos - our cat is leashed trained & walks on her leash

The main reason why more cats aren't is because of how hard it is to train them. It took hubby over a year to get her trained to walk on the leash w/o going nuts.

 

[Tina]

For the same reasons that cats don't come when they're called - they don't want to. Cats don't like to be controlled. I have seen some people walk cats on harnesses, but I think those must be "special" cats. I can't even get my cats to stay in a collar, much less a leash. Regardless, they get plenty of exercise in the house where they are safe and happy. Just take my older cat, Kimba, for instance. You should see him blast through the house upon exit of the litter box. We call it his "Turbo-Poop." For some reason, he finds the need to run from room to room as fast as he can and up and down the stairs in celebration of his "deed." Cats are just plain funny, aren't they?

 

[brerrabbit]

Well, they do sell harnesses and leashes for cats. I have two cats that never go outside so we thought what the heck lets get one and see how it works. (Mind you neither of these cats even wear collars in the house) We put it on DC our male and he went nuts! He rolled on the floor, twisted screamed and worked for about 30 seconds time boom the harness with the leash still attached was laying on the floor and he was headed up the stairs and under the nearest bed he could find. Then we tried our female cat Nala. Well she's a little older and bigger than DC and it took about a minute but basically she did the same thing. We still have the leash and harness but it just hangs in the closet.

 

[aynt79]

One of my three cats loves to go outside on his leash. I don't really take him out for exercise, he just loves to walk around outside and explore. He started going on a leash when he was young and now he gets excited when he sees us get it out. He starts meowing and stands up nice and straight so I can put his harness on.
The other two cats hate being in a harness and freak out if they even think they going outside.

 

[KM2004]

Unlike a dog, cats can stay indoors all the time. They don't need to be walked like dogs do.

Some cats, however, are outdoor cats and thusly, they do their own thing (go to the bathroom, hunt, eat, etc...). It's up to the owner whether they choose to have their cat an indoors or outdoors cat.

About the leash, I can't help you on that one. Since our cat is an indoors cat, we have no need for a leash. I have heard stories about leashes and how complicated they are to use.

Sorry if i've been no help.

 

[DCLuvinit]

Originally posted by Tina
You should see him blast through the house upon exit of the litter box. We call it his "Turbo-Poop." For some reason, he finds the need to run from room to room as fast as he can and up and down the stairs in celebration of his "deed." Cats are just plain funny, aren't they?

hehe

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Originally posted by Tina
You should see him blast through the house upon exit of the litter box. We call it his "Turbo-Poop." For some reason, he finds the need to run from room to room as fast as he can and up and down the stairs in celebration of his "deed." Cats are just plain funny, aren't they?

My cat does the same thing!

We let our cat sit in the window (when it's warm out!) to get some fresh air, but otherwise he stays indoors. He gets plenty of exercise inside, and like someone else said, we can't even put a collar him - there's no way we'd even attempt putting him in a harness.

When I was growing up, we had a cat who like to be walked outside - on a leash. Different cats will submit to different things, I guess.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I tried to put a leash on our cat and she just laid down and wouldn't move.

She loves to sit on the screen porch in the nice weather until one night she got locked out there all night. She was not a happy cat when the door opened the next morning. Holy cow I never thought she would quit her B*@#hing.

 

[CheshireVal]

I tried a harness on one of my cats once. The minute I put it on him, he started scooting around on his belly trying to get the dang thing off. Even his curiosity of the outdoors wasn't enough to make him forget about the harness!

My cats get plenty of exercise inside, anyway. Even in my tiny 1 bedroom apartment, my 2 kitties make the most out of what space they have, chasing each other around, climbing up on top of the cabinets to "perch" high above the breakfast bar.... so silly!

 

[KristaTX]

Many dogs come up to people voluntarily and jump on them, chase them, lick them, and sometimes bite them. For the most part cats don't voluntarily come up to people and don't do anything harmful unless the person intiates the interaction and stresses the cat. Under ordinary circumstances, if a cat is on a leash, it is strictly for the cat's protection. If a dog is on a leash, it is for the dog's protection and for other people's protection. Leashing a cat isn't a bad thing, but it just isn't as necessary for public safety.

 

[helenabear]

We have 2 harnesses (one for each of our cats... both are different sizes) and that is *THE* only way they will ever go outside. Both by my choice and theirs now. I have even held my cat at a point later w/o one outside and she hated it. It is a great way to have my cats safe as well as not breaking any laws. They much prefer going to the vet that way too, instead of the cat carriers.