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Thread: Should I put my cat on a leash?

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    Default Should I put my cat on a leash?

    My boy cat loves to run out the door as soon as someone comes inside or goes outside. I grab him up right away with alot of protesting on his part..lol.. He loves to sit by the window and stare out and make little chirping noises when he sees birds or squirrels outside the window. So I feel really bad keeping him inside all the time knowing he just wants to be an animal and explore. So should I get him a leash and let him roam around out there? Or does that seem cruel or wrong??

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    Senior Member aberrant's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I have a harness for my kitten, it's not cruel, she loves it! It keeps them safe from running away, or getting hit by a car. You can buy a cat safe harness (pet stores have them) and see if your cat likes it. I wouldn't tether him outside, because kitties are prone to getting tangled. Just make sure he has his vaccines or he can get sick from other animals.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Not cruel at all! I'm about to pick up my Bengal kitten in a few weeks and they're known for loving to explore on leashes. When I was younger, I began letting my inside cat go outside on her own. Unfortunately, there are just too many factors in an outside cat's life... She was killed by the neighbor's dogs. The average life for an outside cat is something like three years, while an inside cat's lifespan mostly depends on genetics and nutrition. My point being that I definitely recommend you bring him out to roam, but I wouldn't advise you to leave him outside on his own. A grown cat may need some time to get used to being on a leash, but once he learns that the harness means he's about to have some serious adventure time, he'll probably welcome it. Just make sure he doesn't get around too many strays or where many of them congregate, as disease among cats is easily spread.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    They actually make harnesses for cats?! Sweet! Thank you

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Personally speaking, with my own cats I make a decision early on whether they're going to be treated as an 'animal' or treated as a 'pet'. While I was still living in New York I had several cats. I allowed my 'first' pet kitty ( a siberian ) to do the outdoor 'animal' thing. She enjoyed herself right up to the point of prematurely dying due to feline leukemia contracted from other neighborhood cats. My next pet kitty ( a rag doll ) is physically large enough to survive outdoors, but doesn't have the temperament for doing so - so she was never allowed to leave the house. My latest pet kitty ( a Scottish fold ... who is still with me south of the border ) has the temperament for sure, but not the size or strength.



    IMHO going the leash route is a cruel 'tease'.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    ^ Lol, that's how I feel about opening the windows and letting him look out to the world he can never explore I think I am going to get a harness though. 15-20 mins a day, walking around outside with me couldn't hurt. I'll be there to make sure he doesn't get into trouble..

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Cats have to be "trained" to walk on a leash, but once they get the hang of it, they love it!

    How to video

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I suggest keeping your cat indoors. There are a lot of diseases and parasites your cat can get outdoors, including some that can affect humans.

    http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1012&sid=17989568

    This is especially true if you are pregnant.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post


    That is one beautiful cat.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Thanks, I think so too ! Actually, she's one WEIRD cat ... sits up straight like a Buddha, eats using her paws ... great 'snuggler' though !


    I suggest keeping your cat indoors. There are a lot of diseases and parasites your cat can get outdoors, including some that can affect humans.
    Losing my siberian kitty prematurely drove this point home to me the 'hard' way !

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I used to walk my cat and got stares and laughter from neighbors and friends but the cat liked the freedom to sniff around and explore a bit. Give it a try.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    Losing my siberian kitty prematurely drove this point home to me the 'hard' way !
    Sorry to hear about your cat.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Theres a lady i see around my neighbourhood who takes her cat for walks, it's got a little harness and i suppose its not really 'walking' it like you walk a dog, it's more just that she can keep it from running away, she mostly just walks slowly around with him and he jumps up on fences and stuff while she waits until he wants to move on

    I'd imagine it would be kind of difficult to get the cat into in the first place though

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    It's good to brush him with one hand because that soothes him and slip it onto him with the other. They fight the first few times but they start to relax. Then you and kitty are ready to see the neighborhood.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    This may not apply to your living situation, but I have a friend who built a fenced & roofed cat pen in her yard. A cat door led to it so kitty could come and go at will. It was completely enclosed, including a roof, made out of chicken wire. Hers was around 5x5x5 and she had planted a few little shrubs inside for him to play in and he was totally safe.
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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Quote Originally Posted by jazzgirl View Post
    Cats have to be "trained" to walk on a leash, but once they get the hang of it, they love it!

    How to video
    My cat acts exactly like the cat in the video. He forced himself to be a half indoor half outdoor cat because he'll leap over/under people when they open the door just so he can get outside. When I had him indoors in a high rise for a couple years, he was too afraid to run out (too loud below), so he got increasingly angry and fat. He acts normal when he's able to go outdoors. I don't think a harness and leash would be enough exercise for him unless I walked him for like 2-3 hours a day. Sucks because I didn't want him to go outdoors, but he kind of forced it on me due to his personality. Its a gamble. Some cats want to be outdoor cats, some don't. So he can risk disease and be outdoors and happy, or he can stay away from disease and be indoors and angry/sad. He definitely imposed the former.

    Quote Originally Posted by kermit210 View Post
    This may not apply to your living situation, but I have a friend who built a fenced & roofed cat pen in her yard. A cat door led to it so kitty could come and go at will. It was completely enclosed, including a roof, made out of chicken wire. Hers was around 5x5x5 and she had planted a few little shrubs inside for him to play in and he was totally safe.
    I would totally do that if I had a yard, but big cities don't really allow for yards lol. My baby has to live with my parents where he has a yard

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Hi. Haven't been here in a while and just saw your question. I've been walking my male cat for 4 years with a halter. He loves it, because otherwise he won't get to go outside at night. We live in the country, and the coyotes are ever-present. I've gotta walk him with halter and a high-powered flashlight. I scan the horizon looking for eyes looking back. When I see a critter, inside we go. There are several halter designs. Some are roomier than others. The cat has grown, but he resists every new attempt to find him a bigger halter because they feel different. So, he just stuffs his 16-pound girth into his tiny old halter and off we go. He only complains when I take it off.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I have one for my cat. I also have a harness for her that I only put on when we are going outside. So she knows where shes going when the harness on.

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I also agree with keeping cats indoors. Indoor cats live much longer than cats that are allowed to go outside.
    My kitty loved looking out the window, and seeing the birds and stuff that would hang out in the tree right by the window, but save for a handful of times as a young cat when he dashed out the front door, and yearly trips to the vet, he did not go outside. He just passed away one month shy of his 20th birthday.
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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    I have my indigo on a harness and we go for walks in the apartment building. it does help burn off his energy ... there is also vest they can wear too. as long as you holding on to the leash and he is in the hardness or vest you should be fine.
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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    My brother in law had a cat that he loved very much. She loved to go out. One day she disappeared.

    When he got a new cat, he got a harness and leash. When he picks up the harness. the cat comes running. She loves to go out on walks with him.

    Here is a good place online to buy cat harnesses and other cat accessories: http://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?k...mmand=dosearch

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Or, there is this possibility, which I think is strange but interesting. Maybe it would be good for elderly cats so they could still safely get outside.

    http://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?k...mmand=dosearch

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    Quote Originally Posted by eagle2 View Post
    I suggest keeping your cat indoors. There are a lot of diseases and parasites your cat can get outdoors, including some that can affect humans.

    http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1012&sid=17989568

    This is especially true if you are pregnant.
    Ive actually already studied T. gondii in my degree and the chances of her cat getting that on a leash are slim to none. The cat has to eat rat poop that has it in it. You as a human actually have a higher chance of getting it from unwashed vegetables that snails have been on that are carrying it on their skin.

    She should just talk to her vet and find out if there are any additional vaccines or de-worming procedures that she might need as a normally indoor cat. If the cat is not socialising with other cats like Melonies did than risk of FeLV (feline leukaemia) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficieny Virus) are also very slim.

    I don't think its cruel at all. Lots of people put cats on leads in areas where they are at risk of predators (bears etc.). I also don't think its cruel to keep the cat indoors as long as she has places to climb, scratch and toys to play with - pref with human interaction. I would recommend a harness though so the little doll does choke

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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    http://habitathaven.com/blog/

    for all the serious crazy cat ladies out there


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    Default Re: Should I put my cat on a leash?

    ^ hehehe I plan on having something similar when I one day buy my farm. My hubby is allergic to cats but I still want them so Im going to build a massive play enclosure that connects to a small indoor area for them if they want to be inside and I get to go in the enclosure and play with them as much as I like with killing my husband haha. He thinks Im joking, but Im deadly serious. Its gonna be huge and have many ramps, scratching posts and fun things for them

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