▼WE LOVE
WALKIES!
We asked our social
media fans if they take their
cats out for walks.Rachael Ranson
says: “After
losing my last
cat, I swore
I would never
let my future
cats out again.
But they need
fresh air, so my
little rescue
British Shorthair girl goes
out daily on her harness and
she loves it. She walks like
a little princess, and it’s
peace of mind for me.”Marian Grimes says: “We
don’t let our cat Gizmo out
unless he’s on a harness.”Richard
Thomas
says:“Here
are Titan and
Tilly, who both
love to go
for walkies in
and around
Edinburgh. Not only do they
just love the walks, they also
love a swim in the lake now
and again.”Sofia Akasha
Deville says:
“We go for
walks whenever
it’s warm! This
is my Sphynx
boy, Rigor
Mortis, enjoying
the outdoors.”http://www.yourcat.co.ukTHE PROS
● If you don’t have a garden, the obvious
benefit is that your cat will enjoy some fresh
air and exploring the great outdoors.
● If you start training your cat to use
a harness when he is very young, there’s
a higher chance he’ll take to it, and there
should be a stress-free transition period.
Feline behaviourist and groomer Anita
Kelsey regularly walks her Norwegian Forest
Cats, Kiki and Zaza, on harnesses. She
explains: “My cats were trained to walk on
a harness and extendable dog lead from the
age of six months. I don’t have a garden, so
the benefits for them were getting fresh air
and exploring their territory.”
● If you live on a busy road, or in an area
where it wouldn’t be practical for your cat
to wander, getting him used to a harness
is a great way to give him some exercise
in a safe way. This is especially important
if he isn’t used to going outside and could
possibly become lost.THE CONS
● While some cats will enjoy being
walked on a lead, some just won’t, and
no amount of training will persuade them
otherwise — in fact, trying to force it on
a cat is likely to cause him great upset.
Dr Vanessa Howie, Cats Protection’s
clinical veterinary officer, says: “Many cats
do not react well to being restrained, so the
experience may be more negative than not
having any outdoor access.”
● As the RSPCA has said, the stance
from some experts seems to be that
some cats won’t enjoy the experience
of being walked on a lead, as it eliminates
their sense of control and their ability
to escape.
● You could potentially encounter hazards
when out walking your cat on a lead. For
example, if he doesn’t enjoy being picked up
and you encountered a dog, you would need
to be prepared for alternative ways of
removing him from the situation.Top tip!
Attach an ID tag to
your cat’s harness,
in case he manages
to escape.Are you for or against?IS IT A GOOD IDEA?
We’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of training your cat to walk on a harness, so you can
decide if this is the right option for your own four-legged friend.Your cat shouldn’t
be stressed while
on a harness.23
22-24 YC Harnesses CS CC.indd 23 29/09/2017 09:54