A lot of people have been successful in teaching their cats to walk on a leash, but not as many have been writing about it. I think this is probably due to the fact that walking your cat is a much more difficult task than walking a dog.
I know there are a ton of other "how-To"s out there for cats and leashes, but I think most of them miss a few key points and leave some major things out. let us see How to teach a cat to walk on leash.
How to teach a cat to walk on leash
1. Your Cat Needs To Be Desensitized
The first thing you need to do with your cat is desensitized them to the leash. This means getting them used to it being around them so they don't freak out about it. The easiest way I have found is to just tie a thin piece of string or yarn onto their collar and leave it on for a couple days.
After they are used to that, you can move up to just the leash around their collar. Now, this is where most people stop and I think it's the wrong thing to do. If they are not used to all of the slack in the leash being there then when you pick a different spot for them to walk they are going to freak out when the leash goes tight.
2. Get Them Used To The New Place
Once your cat is used to walking around with its leash on it's time to pick a new place for them to go. A lot of people decide the bathroom or kitchen is a good place, but this isn't always the best choice for your kitty. If your cat is used to walking around in the bathroom then they are going to expect you to take them there every time they get on their leash.
When it's time to go somewhere else, like outside, that is when things will get interesting. You may have a very confused cat that doesn't understand where you are taking them. When you bring them to the new place, make sure it's somewhere they can explore and make an adventure out of it. If your cat is used to exploring other rooms in your house then you should be fine.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
One of the biggest problems with trying to teach a cat something like walking on a leash is that they don't really see it as something positive. They just see it as something that you are doing to them and they won't want to do it, so keep your cat happy while trying to get them used to the leash.
This means using things like treats and toys during training time so they get excited about their new adventure. If they aren't having fun then they won't want to do it and you will have a lot of trouble getting them to follow your lead, so make sure it's an enjoyable experience for the both of you.
4. Keep Your Cat Safe
I know there are a lot of people out there that think their cat can handle any situation, but that isn't always the case. Just like with dogs there are all kinds of things out there that can be extremely dangerous for your kitty. The first thing you want to make sure of is that your cat cannot get too far away from you.
If they go charging across the street and don't hear you calling their name then they might get into a dangerous situation. You also do not want them to be able to run into the road and try to chase a car or something, so keeping them close by is going to be extremely important.
The next thing you have to worry about is your cat getting too hot. If you take them outside on a hot day then they could overheat and even die. It is extremely important that you bring them outside when it's cool enough for them to be safe. I know a lot of people are going to want to take their cats on walks in the fall and winter, but snow and cold weather can also cause your cat problems.
The last thing you need to worry about is your cat getting too much sun. Anyone that has ever had a cat knows they love to lay in the window when the sun is shining in, but this can be really bad for them. You need to make sure that your cat cannot get any part of its body into the sun because it could lead to severe burns and even skin cancer for some animals.
5. Make Sure Your Cat Doesn't Have Any Health Problems
Before you take your cat outside on a leash you really need to make sure that they are healthy enough for the activity. Taking care of your kitty means making sure that they do not have any health issues, so taking them out when they aren't feeling well is going to do them more harm than good.
If your cat is not feeling well they could run into a lot of problems while you are walking them, so make sure they are healthy enough to be outside before going on a walk.
No matter how hard it might be to resist taking your cat outside with you, there will come a time when you have to do it. Whether you want them to explore a new place or just get some exercise, it's going to take a lot of training for your cat to follow your lead. Making sure that you know all the tips and tricks before taking them out on the town will make it easier, so make sure you go over everything I mentioned above before taking them outside.
Conclusion:
I hope it may be useful to you. In fact, many cat lovers have a strong desire to take their beloved cats to walk around the street with them, because they can not bear to see their cats stay at home all day long. Cats are also able of enjoying a good time outside just as much as any other animal. But, you need to make sure that your cat can be acclimated to the outside environment well before you take them out on a walk-through.
