Lead Training Your Cat
Historically, cat owners have been unwilling to consider taking their cat for a stroll, but general trends in modern times suggest that this may need to change. Due to the fast growing problem of feline obesity, a variety of owners are actually reassessing how they can improve the activity level of their customarily slow-moving cat. While indoors play offers some benefit to cats, seldom is it just as satisfying to owners, so they often need to look somewhere else to find activities that will help their cats remain energetic and healthy. Taking your cat for a stroll is a realistic alternative that you can achieve by way of some basic training. Let's consider the most significant steps you should take when teaching your cat to walk on a leash.
Get the Proper Gear
Once you've decided to leash train your cat, it's crucial to start by selecting the best equipment. While most pets wear a collar, this is inappropriate for use in tether training so a walking harness or coat should be selected. These will allow the lead to attach to the center of the back making it much more pleasant for your pet. As most people would acknowledge, cats are escape artists so it's necessary to find a harness that your cat can't wriggle out of. Having said that, the harness should still be comfortable and a good rule of thumb is to obtain a harness that is snug but not tight; ideally you ought to be able to fit two fingers between the harness and the cat.
Introduce the Cat to the Leash
After buying the appropriate gear, it's important to cautiously introduce your cat to this equipment. Because these items will be entirely unfamiliar to most cats, it's recommended that you position them near your pet's bed for a few days to permit the cat to progressively become used to their smell and appearance. Once the cat has become familiar with the existence of the harness and leash, many cat owners slowly start adding these items into standard indoor play. Moving gradually, the harness can be introduced over several days' time until the cat is wearing the harness comfortably and as soon as this has been accomplished, attaching the tether and permitting it to be dragged behind the cat as it moves through the house is a sensible way to acclimatize it to the leash.
Progress Gradually
Though there may be some conversation on exactly how to attain specific steps in the training process, it's essential to move slowly when training your cat. Cats are beings of habit and generally need to be eased into change, whether it's just a different daily routine or a new activity. For instance, after acclimatizing one's cat to the leash and harness, several outings to your front porch may be the best way to introduce the pet to the idea of going outdoors. Subsequently, walking through the backyard or a similarly calm location would allow the cat to get accustomed to this new activity. When training a cat, patience is truly a virtue.
Dos and Don'ts in Leash Training
Of course there are numerous steps in harness training your cat and it's very easy to get confused, so it's usually useful to keep some dos and don'ts in mind while moving through the education process. To be successful, some productive hints include: Be positive whenever your cat allows you to lead with the leash, quickly follows and does so willingly. It's always helpful to have small goodies for just such an situation. Furthermore, working away at leash training every day will make it easier for your cat to form a routine and more easily accept this new activity. Alternatively, some behavior that will make it much harder for your cat to be leash trained are: Employing punishment or strong words if the cat is reluctant. Your cat will then relate the leash with a negative experience. Forcing a cat to walk on a leash will likely decrease the likelihood that it will want to do it in the future, so if the cat is unwilling it's best to return home. By keeping these simple guidelines handy, you'll find that your cat training experience will go more smoothly.
Although it can be challenging, training your cat to walk on a leash can help reduce its weight and boost its energy level. Follow these basic steps to make the task easier.
Get the Proper Gear
Once you've decided to leash train your cat, it's crucial to start by selecting the best equipment. While most pets wear a collar, this is inappropriate for use in tether training so a walking harness or coat should be selected. These will allow the lead to attach to the center of the back making it much more pleasant for your pet. As most people would acknowledge, cats are escape artists so it's necessary to find a harness that your cat can't wriggle out of. Having said that, the harness should still be comfortable and a good rule of thumb is to obtain a harness that is snug but not tight; ideally you ought to be able to fit two fingers between the harness and the cat.
Introduce the Cat to the Leash
After buying the appropriate gear, it's important to cautiously introduce your cat to this equipment. Because these items will be entirely unfamiliar to most cats, it's recommended that you position them near your pet's bed for a few days to permit the cat to progressively become used to their smell and appearance. Once the cat has become familiar with the existence of the harness and leash, many cat owners slowly start adding these items into standard indoor play. Moving gradually, the harness can be introduced over several days' time until the cat is wearing the harness comfortably and as soon as this has been accomplished, attaching the tether and permitting it to be dragged behind the cat as it moves through the house is a sensible way to acclimatize it to the leash.
Progress Gradually
Though there may be some conversation on exactly how to attain specific steps in the training process, it's essential to move slowly when training your cat. Cats are beings of habit and generally need to be eased into change, whether it's just a different daily routine or a new activity. For instance, after acclimatizing one's cat to the leash and harness, several outings to your front porch may be the best way to introduce the pet to the idea of going outdoors. Subsequently, walking through the backyard or a similarly calm location would allow the cat to get accustomed to this new activity. When training a cat, patience is truly a virtue.
Dos and Don'ts in Leash Training
Of course there are numerous steps in harness training your cat and it's very easy to get confused, so it's usually useful to keep some dos and don'ts in mind while moving through the education process. To be successful, some productive hints include: Be positive whenever your cat allows you to lead with the leash, quickly follows and does so willingly. It's always helpful to have small goodies for just such an situation. Furthermore, working away at leash training every day will make it easier for your cat to form a routine and more easily accept this new activity. Alternatively, some behavior that will make it much harder for your cat to be leash trained are: Employing punishment or strong words if the cat is reluctant. Your cat will then relate the leash with a negative experience. Forcing a cat to walk on a leash will likely decrease the likelihood that it will want to do it in the future, so if the cat is unwilling it's best to return home. By keeping these simple guidelines handy, you'll find that your cat training experience will go more smoothly.
Although it can be challenging, training your cat to walk on a leash can help reduce its weight and boost its energy level. Follow these basic steps to make the task easier.
About the Author:
Regina T. Roby is a ardent cat owner who has lived through countless emergencies with her trio of inquisitive cats including Wanda, Bob & Mr. Jigglesworth. Therefore, she's found cat insurance vital in reducing big veterinary bills and is an avid proponent of pet insurance for every owner.
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