Leash training a cat?

[Shelby5514]

I want to leash train my male cat for vet visits. Whenever I put him in the cage for the trip, he wails like a baby the whole way there and back. Does anyone have any suggestions? BTW he is an indoor cat.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Band Aids. Lots of Band Aids.

Just kidding. My friend tried this with her cat and she gave up after a while. Said it just was not worth the hassle of trying to get him on the harness.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My stepmom has leash trained her kitties...but it is only the extent of her front yard so kitty can have a jaunt in the great outdoors.

Are you wanting to leash him for the car ride? (that is how I'm reading your post).
If so--he is much safer wailing in the cage. In the car, your cat is going to seek cover and hide--and though you may be holding the leash, or have it attached to something--it creates an unsafe environment for all in the car especially the cat.

The vet we go to, we have to keep the cat on a leash.

With the dogs that visit the vet, I'm not sure that your cat would be any happier on a leash.

Good luck.

 

[Shelby5514]

I guess I should add that I already have put him in the harness with no problems and he doesn't seem to mind wearing it. When I attach the leash he immediately lays down and starts playing with it. Should I leave it attached and just let him get used to dragging it around?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That's a good idea as long as he is supervised.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I think it is going to depend a lot on the cat. My cat absolutely loves his leash and harness because he knows when he wears it he gets to go outside, which is the joy of his life. We keep it in a jar on the counter and when he hears the jar of the lid being lifted off, he goes nuts meowing and purring. He hated it at first--he would slink along and try to rub it off any way he could (that's why you need to be sure you get a securely fitting one)--but once he realized he got to go outside, he was willing to put up with having it put on.

If your cat likes to go outside maybe he will make the connection and be willing to have the harness on. Or possibly offer his favorite treat (maybe a can of tuna?) while you are putting it on. Our cat certainly doesn't "heel" like a dog--he pretty much just takes us along where he wants to go on walks--but he definitely does like his harness. He goes ballistic at the vet whether on the harness or in the crate so the harness hasn't helped us with that but maybe your cat would do better if he could be harnessed and sit on your lap.

 

[denisem]

I guess I should add that I already have put him in the harness with no problems and he doesn't seem to mind wearing it. When I attach the leash he immediately lays down and starts playing with it. Should I leave it attached and just let him get used to dragging it around?

Yes, that's the progression I've heard in cat leash training. When they get accustomed to draggin' the leash around, try walking them around the house...then progress to outside. Another tip is to carry them over the threshold outside - that way they don't just wanna dart out any open door they see later on.

But if you're only using harness/leash for the vet, you still don't know how he'll react during the car ride -or- in the waiting room.

I stick to caging them for the vet - heck, our bengal boy is so vocal with his jungle sounds that the entire staff shouts "Rocko" when we come through the door (kinda like "NORM" on Cheers). LOL

 

[Planogirl]

You might also take time for you and your cat to sit in the car while he wears the leash. My cat is fine with everything until you put him in the car and then he loses it.

By the way, I've carried Sylvester to the vet without the carrier and he still wailed. So being on a leash may not stop that.