Training Your Cat to Walk on a Leash

Although you would think that there was no real need for a cat to ever walk on a leash, there actually are a great many reasons as to why cat tricks such as this would prove to be useful. For example, if you are going on a rather long journey and wish for your furry little friend to stretch their legs and go to the toilet when you stop, a leash is perfect for making sure the little critter does not run away. It also makes life easier when you take your pet to the Vet’s as well as enabling you to take your pet for a walk around the block if it is an indoor pet and does not go outside.

The good news is that both older cats and kittens can be taught to walk on a leash although with an older cat it will take considerably longer. One of the most important things to do is to make sure that you buy a leash with a harness that is comfortable and loose fitting but that your cat can’t wriggle his or her way out of it. One of the best cat training tips that you will ever come across is to shop around for supplies such as these and the internet is a very good place to start!

Once you have bought your leash, put it by your cat’s bed or the area that your cat normally sleeps so that it can get used to the leash itself and also the smell of it so that when you get it out to use it, the cat will not be so concerned. After the leash has been in this position for a couple of days, put it on the cat right before you are about to feed him. The correct fitting for the harness should be so that you can still fit two of your fingers between the harness itself and the cat.

Once the harness is on, feed your cat his or her favorite meal and make sure that you play with it and praise it, giving it a few treats as well. Once the cat realizes that he has done something right by way of you giving it treats, it will become easier accustomed to the strange thing it is expected to wear.

You should continue to do this for a few days; slipping the harness on before dinner and then taking it off a couple of hours later and once this step is finished, try walking around your home with the cat on a leash. This is one of those vital cat training tips that most people are not aware of but can help your cat walk under your command without struggle when you do leave the home.

This process will take a few weeks of coaxing and treating but do not punish the cat if he or she doesn’t like the harness. It will take a while for it to become used to the strange object that he is wearing but after a while you will notice that there will be less fuss.