Cat Forum / General Topics / June 2004
Walk Your Cat?
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Mike - 09 Jun 2004 06:22 GMT Isis is an indoor cat. However, now that summer's here, I'm thinking about seeing if she might be interested in an evening stroll. Of course, this would mean a leash and odds are she wouldn't allow such an indignity on her regal self.
Do any of you guys ever walk your cats? I know walking a dog is easy stuff but we all know what cats are like. <-:
Thanks.
Mike in Illinois
Nicholas - 09 Jun 2004 10:55 GMT I've asked this question in another newsgroup actually...
Would you get very far ? I can either image you'll either go round in circles or end up not moving at all...
Nicholas
> Isis is an indoor cat. However, now that summer's here, I'm thinking about > seeing if she might be interested in an evening stroll. Of course, this [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Mike in Illinois Mike - 10 Jun 2004 04:21 GMT Hi, Nicholas. Every time I read your reply I start laughing. I get this mental picture of me with Isis on a kitty harness standing still under the stars taking "a walk". The real excitement starts when I shuffle two feet in one direction and then stop for another half hour. Walking the kitty . . . . lolololol.
Mike in Illinois
> I've asked this question in another newsgroup actually... > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > > Mike in Illinois Nicholas Kingsley - 10 Jun 2004 22:04 GMT Its something that I would like to see :) Cat walking is mentioned in the 'Encylopedia of Cats', but it doesn't really mention any 'problems' with it, aside from the fact that the cat may not go anywhere (or at least anywhere you want it to go).
Just imagine it - first sign of a dog and you'll be flying up a tree...
Nicholas
> Hi, Nicholas. Every time I read your reply I start laughing. I get this > mental picture of me with Isis on a kitty harness standing still under the [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> > >> > Mike in Illinois Hope Munro Smith - 11 Jun 2004 20:55 GMT I've put leases on my cats to get them used to the outside without taking off, but they've never been cooperative to actually go for a stroll down the street.
> Its something that I would like to see :) > Cat walking is mentioned in the 'Encylopedia of Cats', but it doesn't [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >>> > >>> > Mike in Illinois David Stevenson - 09 Jun 2004 11:58 GMT >Isis is an indoor cat. However, now that summer's here, I'm thinking about >seeing if she might be interested in an evening stroll. Of course, this [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Do any of you guys ever walk your cats? I know walking a dog is easy stuff >but we all know what cats are like. <-: My cats used to love a walk. They still like it, but the one who really loved it has gone to RB. However, they do not go on a leash, just follow me down the road. I only walk them after midnight so there is no traffic.
 Signature David Stevenson Storypage: http://blakjak.com/sty_menu.htm Liverpool, England, UK <cat2@blakjak.com> Emails welcome Nanki Poo: SI O+W B 11 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC Minke: SI W+Cp B 2 Y L W+ C++ I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC-
Mike - 10 Jun 2004 04:23 GMT Wow! How do you get your cats to actually follow you? I mean, of all God's creatures, cats are the most high-minded critters ever made. I would think some buzzy thing in the shrubs would pull them right away from you for good!
Mike in Illinois
> >Isis is an indoor cat. However, now that summer's here, I'm thinking about > >seeing if she might be interested in an evening stroll. Of course, this [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > just follow me down the road. I only walk them after midnight so there > is no traffic. David Stevenson - 10 Jun 2004 22:42 GMT >Wow! How do you get your cats to actually follow you? I mean, of all God's >creatures, cats are the most high-minded critters ever made. I would think >some buzzy thing in the shrubs would pull them right away from you for good! It was Quango's idea in the first place, and both Nanki Poo and Minke seem to like it. I do not get them to do anything - they persuade me to take them for walkies.
 Signature David Stevenson Storypage: http://blakjak.com/sty_menu.htm Liverpool, England, UK <cat2@blakjak.com> Emails welcome Nanki Poo: SI O+W B 11 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC Minke: SI W+Cp B 2 Y L W+ C++ I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC-
~*Connie*~ - 11 Jun 2004 01:01 GMT Yup.. my first cat was an outdoor cat and he used to follow us when we went for walks. Used to get quite ticked at us when we went beyond his territory, but he'd still go. Then the second cat used to come too. It was fun to go on family walks.
Actually, come to think of it, my first cat growing up used to come with me on my paper route until I reached the edges of his territory. When I went left, he waited for me, cause I didn't go that far, but then I would go to the right and he'd go home, cause I took too long.
> Wow! How do you get your cats to actually follow you? I mean, of all God's > creatures, cats are the most high-minded critters ever made. I would think [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Nanki Poo: SI O+W B 11 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC > > Minke: SI W+Cp B 2 Y L W+ C++ I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC- Steve Piper - 09 Jun 2004 17:33 GMT I have an indoor cat; when we got her I lived in a flat on a really busy road so didn't want to let her out alone, but wanted her to see the outside.
Cars scared the hell out of her so we just used to walk around the garden; female cats (especially neutered ones) don't wander all that far anyway normally, so she seemed content with this small patch being "hers" (a couple of times she has gotten out without a lead on and has simply gone to sit in her usual spot in the flower beds).
It's nothing like walking a dog; I understand some breeds will train like a dog, but with ours it's more like having a sit in the garden together; she sniffs some plants, chews some grass (it's a dietary essential, not just for making them sick!), curls up under a bush and chatters her teeth at the birds, occasionally she gets to "hunt" flies and bees, there's no question she loves her trips outside every day especially in summer.
She was never really a problem with the lead; quickly understanding that to put up with it was to go outside; it's important to get a harness (if your cat escapes with lead attached to collar she could hang herself getting it caught in a tree, a harness will leave her dangling there looking silly until you get her out), and we use one of those extendable dog leads for toy breeds, this way you can just sit in the sun or do some gardening while she wanders about sniffing stuff and so on.
Give it a try, as long as she gets used to the harness (give her lots of attention and treats to get her used to it and put it on by the back door, maybe with the door open a little) she'll love you for it, just be prepared for the fact that if you do it a lot they come to expect at least one walk every day; this doesn't bother me at all it's a very relaxing thing to do; but if it's likely to wind you up just give her walks very occasionally as a treat maybe.
Good luck,
Steve
> Isis is an indoor cat. However, now that summer's here, I'm thinking about > seeing if she might be interested in an evening stroll. Of course, this [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Mike in Illinois Mike - 10 Jun 2004 04:38 GMT Hi, Steve. This pleasant outing sounds just fine. I have a nice table in my backyard and what should be an inviting pine tree for her to explore. If I am successful with the harness, and that remains highly doubtful, we might have some pleasant times outdoors.
Thanks for this delightful description! I'll let you know if this works out!!
Mike in Ilinois
> I have an indoor cat; when we got her I lived in a flat on a really busy > road so didn't want to let her out alone, but wanted her to see the outside. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > > > Mike in Illinois
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