Cat Information

Can a pet cat be leash trained?

It is generally safer for a cat to be kept indoors rather than allow it to run wild outside. I know cats are independent and don't like to be told what to do. But, I'm sure some owners must take their pet pussy cats for walks on a leash. Am I right? I've seen pictures of beautiful women walking domesticated big cats on a leash, but I've never seen anyone walking a pet house cat. Can this be done?

Public Comments

1. NO
2. Cats can be trained to a leash, but it is much better to let them run wild. They are much wilder creatures than dogs and it is not fair to restrict them.
3. A MIDGET !!
4. Yes, it can be done, but it depends on your cat's temperament.
5. yes it could. its not done a lot but it can be done. some people believe that walking cats is good for them just like dogs. if u want u can ♥
6. Yes, actually. You need to start when it's a kitten (6-8weeks old) to get it use to a leash and have it be raised on going outside with it on.
7. I dont know about taking them for walks but my neighbor has 3 cats and they always have em outside on a leash when they gotta go to the bathroom ,i find it a lil wierd and i think ill keep my cat inside but to each thier own...
8. Of course-- especially ocicats
9. I've never seen a cat on a leash- I seriously doubt that you could get one to tolerate it.
10. Absolutely yes. I trained one of my cats to a harness leash and took her for walks every day for years. Start them as young as possible. Start indoors by just putting on the harness until the cat is used to it. Then attach the leash and go outside. Go a little further every day. The cat loved it and so did I. You do attract the attention of the neighbors. :-)
11. Ive never seen a cat on a leash (successfully) and I've owned cats for 45 years. It is, of course much safer to own an indoor cat. They usually acclimate to the inside and some I've owned had no desire to go outside.
12. Hi there...most domestic house cats can be leashed trained. However, it's dependent on the cat's individual temperament/personality and the appropriate training techniques used. Any cat can learn at any age, however leash training is much easier for kittens. This is a great alternative to consider if you have cats who enjoy outdoor excursions when the risks are too great to let them roam unsupervised. However, cats who are leash-trained they take you for a walk rather than they will walk with you unlike dogs. Here are a few websites that has instructional tips on how to leash train house cats: http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm http://cats.about.com/library/howto/htwalkleash.htm http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2002-04-01/mind_training/training_leash/training_leash.html
13. yes they sell special cat collars and leashes so u can walk ur cat which i thought was hilarious but w/e
14. any animal in the world could be leasehd trained
15. It can be done but, you must start doing it since the cat is a kitten so it can get use to the leash
16. sure it happens a lot more than people think i see it alot
17. Yes, I managed to leash train my rabbit! Lmao! So a cat wouldnt be as hard.
18. I tried walking my cat on a leash, but she just did not take to it. Maybe some cats would be ok with it, especially if started out as kittens.
19. Yes I Guess. But I Dont Believe In Putting A Leash.
20. Cats can be peculiar animals. I have seen people with cats on a leash and the cats were handling the idea of being restrained pretty well . I tried it once with one of my cats and she would have nothing to do with it. Try introducing your cat to a leash while he/she is very young. Or, if you have the outdoor space, you could make a little enclosure with some light wire mesh fencing. That way, your cat can enjoy the fresh air and stay safe at the same time.
21. Why couldn't it be done? You may have some resistance at the beginning but be persistant, try several times a day but do it in short stints until cat becomes used to it. You may want to have a few cat bickies on hand as a rewart system for positive behavior. Good luck!
22. Yes - they can be trained to walk on a leash. I take my cats on "walkies" wearing halter and leash. The older cat actually "trots" along with me on the sidewalk like a little dog - cracks everyone who sees us. The younger one will venture only as far as the back yard (which is huge). There are sites that teach you how to train your cat to walk on a leash if you are interested in this option. Persoanlly I think it is a great way to exercise your cat, make the outdoors accessible to them without risking any injury to them.
23. Certainly this can be done, but you need to train it when it is young. They have special harnesses and leashes for cats. I tried that with the 1st cat that I owned, but she was an adult cat and wasn't too keen on the idea, so I just gave up and made her a complete house cat, and she was a great cat.
24. Our kitty is five months old and we do not let her out on her own. However, we got a little harness and a leash at Petco and we walk her around the yard and let her explore and play. It was my husbands idea and every time we go out in the yard he says that he is losing major man points. HA HA. Our kitty was hesitant about the leash at first and hated the harness, but after four times she knows when we put it on her, she gets to go out and she accepts it willingly!
25. Yes, My mother trained our three Siamese cats to walk on a leash in our back yard. They were even allowed to climb trees altough they were declawed. I still reccommend Cat Fancy for any info on such things and lots of other answers.
26. Yes, but you will want an H-Harness, rather than a figure-8 harness. With the figure 8 leash, the cat will get free easier. They also make little vest-like harnesses for cats, that make getting free difficult, as well.