Is Your Cat an "Adventure Cat"? Experts Reveal if Leash Walking Is Good for Your Feline Friend
Read further to find out whether your cat needs this kind of activity (and how it can actually harm its health).
In recent years, you might have seen hundreds of videos in social media that show cat owners walking their pets out on the street. This way of teaching the cat to get used to the environment quickly went viral, with many others joining without actually thinking about how the cat itself feels about it.
If you’ve been thinking about buying your cat a leash to have walks outside, here are some tips to remember about before you take your cat to the street.
Should You Walk Your Cat on the Leash At All?
According to animal experts, there’s no definite solution since everything depends on the cat itself: some are just fine with staying indoors while others often tend to run away and explore the nature around the house. Consequently, walks on the leash can either turn out to be a stressful event or rather an additional boost of energy.
Experts also claim that you can see it clearly whether your cat is ready for a walk outside: once it’s taken out on the street, the animal seems uncomfortable and unsure what to do next; apart from that, it will frequently look back, pin its ears back and get closer to the ground.
Can a Leash Be Harmful For Your Cat?
Despite those being used for a seemingly good reason, modern leashes can also negatively affect your cat’s emotional state. Experts suggest you don’t initiate walks outside too much since forced activities like this usually don’t take the cat’s real needs into consideration.
Apart from that, cats will feel way more comfortable walking around without a leash (in case you have a backyard surrounded by a high fence). If this doesn’t seem possible, the animal will be just fine staying inside once you offer it enough comfort.
