How do you train a cat to walk on a leash?

Question

I have a harness and leash for my Siamese. She is seven. She loves to go outside- she is an indoor cat. She is fine with the harness but she won't walk. She is also afraid of cars. Are there any tips out there? She can't get out of her harness. Mostly I let her out on the leash into my yard and let her eat grass. I would love to be able to walk her down our sidewalk (we live on a quiet street).

Tips please???

Thank you!!!

Answer 1

I have two cats that enjoy walks with harnesses and hey are well behaved considering they are independently minded cats.

With cats being different sizes, is her harness the correct size? You can measure your kitty around the lower neck and the chest just behind the front legs so that you get the correct size.

It is always easier to train a cat from kittenhood to accept the harness, but older cats can be trained too with enough patience.

First, introduce the harness to your cat by leaving it around the home for a few days so your cat can sniff and toy with it. Always talk in a loving soothing voice whenever your cat goes up to it.

Then, try and place and very loosely just tie the waist part of the harness to your cat and give her treats and reward her with plenty of cuddles and soothing talk and give her her favourite treat.

Keep doing this once or twice a day for several days until she walks around oblivious that she has the waistpart of the harness on. Then you can move onto the neck part and repeat the process until she is happy being around the house with the harness fully on.

Always make sure when you put on the harness that there is enough room for your fore and middle fingers between her fur and harness.

Next, take your cat for a very short walk in your garden, always praising your cat and giving her a treat along the way. Don't go too far away from your front/backdoor so if she gets a bit panicky you can gently lead her back into the house.

Just keep building on this process until your cat is happy to go wherever you decide you'd like to take your cat.

Do keep in mind though, that cats are not like dogs, and you must go at their pace and they do tend to wind themselves (and you) :) around trees, bushes and street lights more. So, patience is a must with taking a cat on a harness!

Some cats do not take to harnesses and others do . Only taking it at your cat's pace can you train them and learn if they do enjoy the experience.

All the best.

Answer 2

My cat didn't like the harness either, he would just sit low to the ground and then he started to get used to it and would walk really close to the ground and now when he see's it he goes crazy.

We live near a busy road so we try to take them out early evening when the rush hour traffic is gone and where the noise level is a little more quiet.

Practice makes purrrrfect!!!

Answer 3

When we trained our cats to walk on a lead, my husband would stand a few feet in front them and call them to him as I held the lead. When they would come, we would give them a treat and scoot back a few more feet and do the same. You have to be very patient with your cat though. If she begins to get frustrated just call it a day. We are training our new kitten now, but our older cat now walks with us without the lead. She'll follow us around when we take walks. Good luck.  

Answer 4

That depends on a cat.  I have two cats - one tolerates a leash without any problems, and waits for me to put the harness on him; the other one is "ticklish" so there was a fight each time with the harness, and then he rolled himself into a leash, so it did not work.  

Since my brave cat was still afraid of cars, dogs, etc., I put the harness on him in the house, and then carried him onto a lawn where he could eat grass, smell the flowers, etc., and then carried him back home.  This way, he was not as scared and enjoyed being outside.  However, I do not think you can walk with a cat like with a dog - my cat usually stayed in the same patch of a lawn for a while, and then we went home.  If there are no disturbances, you may want to try to play with the cat with one of those fishing rod toys to get her take a walk, but since my street was not as quiet, I never tried myself.  Plus, my cat was only interested in grass and plants, or maybe lying down in the sun in the middle of the sidewalk (until he heard someone coming).  Good luck!

Answer 5

cats do not allow humans to walk them. the pet stores sell leashes to keep them from going someplace the owner doesn't want them to go. it's pretty much impossible to make a cat walk one way.

Answer 6

cat's won't really walk where you want them too.  You have to go where they want to go, if they go.   My 11 y.o. cat likes going outside too.  He only goes out on a leash there is no way on this earth he is going to go to the sidewalk because it is too close to the cars.   taking him out consists of staying in the yard me following him through the yard that is it.  Don't get your hopes up.    

Answer 7

Training a cat to leash walk is difficult when they are kittens, let alone a 7 year old.  Take her where there are no cars or noise (a backyard?) - otherwise she doesn't pay attention to what you are trying to teach her.  I hope by taking her outside you are not getting her used to be out there and will try to escape, and that you are treating her for fleas and ticks now....they can get them within seconds of being in the grass.  Personally, the cat doesn't NEED to be outside, it's you that wants it out there.  Leave him inside, and save the leash for when it's in the carrier on it's way to the vet or groomer.

Answer 8

Just leash it up and take it out. It should catch on.