Tag: outdoor

Cat Care

Tick Prevention for Cats

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Summer in the Southeastern United States is Tick Season. Well, actually it’s just Bug Season, but one of the bugs you have to worry about is ticks. You don’t just have to worry about ticks crawling on you, but on your pets, too. Now that it’s hot and humid and creepy crawlies are everywhere, it’s high time we talked about tick prevention for cats and what to do if you find one of the little monsters attached to your furry friend.

The Life History of Ticks

Tick life cycle
Image from Beattie Pet Hospital

Ticks are little, creepy arachnids, relatives of spiders and scorpions. They need to feed on blood to proceed through each stage of their life cycle [2]. A female tick lays 3000-6000 eggs on the ground [6]. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae that feed and molt into nymphs [2, 6]. The nymphs do the same to develop into adults [2, 6]. Adult ticks feed and mate on a host animal [6].

Ticks cannot fly or jump–they must crawl or drop onto a passing animal [4, 6]. They sit on tall blades of grass or other vegetation and wait for a passing host to brush by [1, 2, 4, 6, 8]. They prefer to bite the head, neck, ears, and feet [1, 4, 8]. Once a tick bites, they bury their mouthparts in the skin [1, 8].

There are at least 15 species of ticks in North America and more than 800 in the world [2, 6]. The species likely to feed on cats in the United States are the deer or black-legged tick and American dog tick [6]. Ticks are most abundant during the late spring and summer.

Why Do Cats Need Tick Prevention?

Ticks carry a lot of diseases. Cats don’t get tick-borne illnesses very often, but they sometimes become very sick when they do [2, 4, 6, 8]. Below are tick-borne diseases of concern for cats.

  • Lyme Disease (USA, Canada, Europe, North Asia, East Asia)
  • Cytauxzoonosis (USA, Brazil, Europe)
  • Tick Paralysis (Australia)
  • Hemobartonellosis/Feline Hemotrophic Mycoplasmosis (Worldwide)
  • Tularemia (USA, Canada, Europe, North Asia)
  • Babeseosis (USA, Europe, South Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia)
  • Ehrlichiosis (USA, Europe, South America, Africa, East Asia)

The more ticks that bite a cat, and the longer they remain attached for, the more likely it is that the ticks will infect the cat with a disease-causing pathogen [4, 7]. Tick bites may also become infected like any wound, and if a cat has a lot of ticks attached they could become anemic [1, 3].

Image from Texas A&M Agrilife Extension

What Kinds of Tick Prevention are Available for Cats?

These days, there are a lot of different types of tick prevention for cats. Some flea prevention products work for ticks, too. Others are tick-specific. Some are only effective against certain species of ticks [8]. Before using any tick prevention method, consult your veterinarian. They should know which ticks are present in your area and which preventatives will work best for your cat. For reference, these are the options available.

An important thing to remember: NEVER use an antiparasitic product meant for dogs on your cat. Make absolutely certain that the product you are using is labeled for use with cats, and that you use a dose that corresponds to your cat’s age and weight. Some of the flea and tick products made for dogs are very toxic to cats [4, 6, 7].

Spot-On Medications

Spot-on treatments are a type of topical medication that you squeeze out of a little tube onto the back of your cat’s neck [6]. They are a very popular form of tick prevention for cats–and dogs, too [2, 4-8]. Spot-on medications are highly effective and must be applied monthly [5].

Oral Medications

These monthly antiparasitic tablets are much more available for dogs than they are for cats, but you can sometimes find them [5, 7]. I suspect this is because many cats are so unwilling to take pills. Oral tick preventatives do have advantages if your cat will consume them. There is no need to worry about your cat rubbing the medication off onto you or your furniture [5]. Plus, with a medication that is meant to be eaten, there’s no concern about your cat grooming a chemical that isn’t safe for consumption off their fur. They aren’t supposed to be able to do that if you squirt a spot-on treatment in that magic place they can’t reach, but Joon finds a way.

Shampoos and Dips

Photo by Karin Chantanaprayura on Pexels

Famously, cats do not like baths. But, there are reasons these products could make sense for you. For example, your cat has a serious infestation, or your cat needs to take regular baths anyway. There are shampoos available that kill ticks on contact [5]. These shampoos are pretty inexpensive, but for ongoing protection your cat will need a medicated bath about every two weeks during peak tick season [5]. Just be careful not to get any in kitty’s eyes!

Dips are a bit different. The tick dip comes as a concentrated chemical that has to be diluted in water [5]. You then sponge it onto the cat’s fur or pour it over their back without rinsing [5]. These chemicals are strong, so they are not appropriate for all cats and cannot be used for kittens less than four months old [5].

Powders and Sprays

These topical products can sometimes be used in the cat’s environment and on their bedding as well as on your cat [3, 5]. Be sure to check the directions. Powders are rubbed into a cat’s fur and skin [5]. They can be irritating, so avoid kitty’s face and eyes [5]. Antiparasitic powders are not effective for very long and need to be applied once a week during peak tick season [5]. Sprays are also a topical treatment that must be kept away from a cat’s eyes [3, 5]. They kill ticks quickly but are short-acting [5, 6]. Some sprays, while considered pet-safe, are only meant for use around the house and not directly on animals. Again, always read the instructions.

Tick Collars

Medicated collars can help prevent ticks from attaching to your cat [2-7]. However, they work the best around the head and neck and are less effective elsewhere on the body [5]. That is one of the places where ticks tend to congregate, but they can and will attach anywhere. If ticks are only a minor problem in your area, however, this might be a reasonable solution.

Tick collars must have skin contact to be effective [5]. Make sure it fits so that two fingers just slide underneath [5]. Like any medication, cats can have allergic reactions to these collars, so watch for signs of discomfort like excessive scratching and remove the collar regularly to check for irritation [3, 5].

Environmental Control

There are things you can do to keep ticks off your cat in the first place, as well. Ticks like tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Ideally, you would keep your cat away from these environments where ticks lay in wait [5]. Of course, if your cat has any access to the outdoors, that is probably easier said than done. You can, however, make your own property inhospitable to ticks. If you have a lawn, keep it mowed [1, 5, 8]. Get rid of tall weeds, brush piles, and unwieldy undergrowth [1, 5]. Whenever your cat comes in, go ahead and check them over with a flea comb [7].

How to Find and Remove Ticks from Your Cat

Unfortunately, parasites are wily, and sometimes they sneak past all our defenses. So what do you do if you find a tick that has already attached to your cat? First of all, don’t panic. Most tick bites do not result in an infection [2]. And you can get the gross little monster off.

Always wear disposable gloves when removing a tick, or at least put a paper towel between it and your skin [1, 2, 6]. Remember, humans can catch diseases from ticks, too, so it’s best to be safe. Also prepare a screw-top jar filled with rubbing alcohol before you remove the tick [1, 2, 6]. You are going to drop the tick in there. This is because you may want to preserve the tick to take to the veterinarian in case your cat becomes sick later, and a female tick is likely to have eggs inside that you want to make sure die with her [1, 2, 6].

With tweezers, grab the tick as close as possible to where it is attached to the skin. DO NOT jerk or twist it. This can cause the body to break off and leave the head behind, which is a serious infection risk. Rather, pull upward with steady pressure until the tick comes out. Drop it in the jar, screw the lid closed tightly, and label the jar with the date. Maybe write “TICK” on there too, just in case. You don’t want to mix that up with anything else. Disinfect the bite wound. Sterilize the tweezers with more rubbing alcohol. Wash your hands thoroughly after you throw your gloves away. Gloves are not perfect protection. [1-3, 6, 8]

If you do find a tick on your cat, Cornell Feline Health Center wants to know! They are conducting a Feline Lyme Disease Surveillance Program to test ticks that have been found on cats for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Visit the webpage to find out more.

Works Cited

  1. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (n.d.). Fleas and ticks. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fleas-and-ticks
  2. Cornell Feline Health Center. (n.d.). Ticks and your cat. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/ticks-and-your-cat
  3. Fogle, B. (1999). The complete illustrated guide to cat care and behavior. Thunder Bay Press: San Diego.
  4. Karwath, A. (2022, February 23). Cats and ticks. Blue Cross UK. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/cats-and-ticks
  5. Kvamme, J. (2011, June 14). 10 ways to stop ticks from biting your cat. PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/cat/parasites/evr_ct_10_ways_to_stop_ticks_from_biting_your_cat
  6. Llera, R. and Ward, E. (n.d.). Ticks in cats. VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ticks-in-cats
  7. Schwab, S. (2022, June 17). The best tick prevention for cats, according to a veterinarian. The Dodo. https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/tick-prevention-for-cats
  8. Tick prevention for cats. (2018, August 8). Beattie Pet Hospital. https://beattiepethospitalhamilton.com/2018/08/08/tick-prevention-for-cats/

Published July 10, 2022

Updated July 11, 2022

Behavior

Why do cats bring home “gifts” of dead animals?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Gray tabby cat holding mouse
“You know who would love this? My human!” – Image by Kurt Bouda from Pixabay

One summer morning when I was in high school, I opened the front door of my parents’ house to go get the mail. Fortunately, I’m in the habit of looking down when I walk, so I managed to avoid planting my bare foot directly into the present that our outdoor cat, Rosenberg, or Rosie, had left on the doormat for us. It was a baby rabbit, or most of one, that is. She had eaten a hole in the side of the head and consumed the brain, but left the rest for us to enjoy. We still call Rosie a zombie cat.

This was not the only time Rosie left us a gift. She’s never brought anything more indoors than the garage, but many people are not so lucky. Sometimes, cats bring gifts that are not so decidedly deceased, either, and cat owners may find themselves chasing rather lively birds, rodents, or reptiles around their homes. We humans generally regard this behavior as disgusting, but our cats seem to think we appreciate it. Why? Just, why?

Humans and cats are obviously very different animals, and we think differently. Cats are hard-wired to hunt, and a lot of their emotional lives revolve around hunting. It’s what they would spend most of their waking hours doing in the wild. Cats simply enjoy hunting. If prey is available, cats will hunt even if they are well-fed. A study found that cats would stop eating in order to kill a rat that was presented to them, only to set the rat beside their food bowl and keep eating what they had been eating before (1).

Cats may have evolved this high prey drive because prey can be scarce and difficult to catch, so stopping whatever they’re doing to hunt available prey, even when not hungry, would have boosted their chances of survival (1). The feline drive to hunt is why cats with access to the outdoors will inevitably at least attempt to. There are a few theories as to why they want to bring some of their prey to their people, however.

One school of thought is that they simply want to bring their prey back to a safe place to consume it, their den as it were, the way they would in the wild (2). But their den is your home or front stoop. Some experts believe that cats may want to show off their good work, but veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Liff points out that pride for their catch may be too human a motivation to ascribe to cats (3).

Tabby kitten playing with plush toy
Kittens have to practice hunting – Image by Ivo Zahradníček from Pixabay

Although cats are usually thought of as solitary and independent animals, they are actually fairly social and often live in colonies or with family members (4). As such, feral cats may bring prey back to the group to ensure the survival of everyone (5, 6). Cats also hunt cooperatively with members of their social group–Elizabeth Marshall Thomas suggests in her book The Tribe of Tiger that a possible explanation for bringing home live prey, at least for some cats, might be the joy of joining in a group hunt with the humans as they frantically chase down the injured animal (4). Domestic cats may be thinking in these terms when they bring prey to us, their family members of another species. Or, they may be thinking of us as family in a filial sense.

Perhaps the greatest consensus for why cats bring their humans prey is that they are treating us like their kittens. Mother cats bring prey to the den to feed their offspring. They also bring home dead, dying, or wounded prey to teach their kittens how to hunt. So our cats may be trying to feed us or teach us, or both. Really, who could blame them? In their world, hunting is everything. But we are clumsy, ungainly things that clearly cannot hunt for ourselves. Who knows where they think we get our food from, but I imagine they pity us sometimes. So perhaps they want to do what they can to help.

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas shares a story about how she and her husband had a she-cat that began to bring home dead mice all the time after she had a kitten (4). She would bring mice for the kitten, even after the kitten became an adult, but she would also bring them to Thomas, her husband, and their dog, the most appreciative of the bunch (4). It was as though motherhood made her suddenly feel responsible for all of these terrible hunters with whom she shared her home. However, even sterilized cats and toms can show this behavior. Maybe they all feel sorry for us.

Even indoor-only cats will bring gifts. They may manage to catch prey that sneaks indoors to present to you, but more often their gifts are inedible. The prey caught by indoor cats is mostly their toys, or whatever other objects they use as a toy, and these are the things they are likely to leave as gifts (5). Joon does this occasionally at night. I’ll wake up in the morning and find one of her toys, most often her beloved plush, pink-and-white sock, lying right beside me on the bed. If I wanted to have someone teach me how to hunt, it wouldn’t be Joon. I think her lifetime achievements are a spider and some flies. But I appreciate the sentiment.

Gray and white cat holding toy mouse
Not all mice are created equal – Image by isaikina13 from Pixabay

If your cat is leaving gifts more like Rosie’s than Joon’s, and you wish they wouldn’t, there are a couple things you can do, but keep in mind that you may not be able to stop this behavior completely. Cats will always find something to hunt, and there’s always a chance that if they catch something, they will bring it to you.

That being said, one thing you can do is engage your cat in interactive play to satisfy their prey drive and diminish some of that need to hunt live animals. The live prey drive will never go away, but you can redirect some of it. Another tactic is to make sure that any cats with access to the outdoors wear a breakaway collar with a bell, so that their hunts are less likely to be successful. That’s good for the local ecosystem and you’ll get much fewer unwanted gifts.

When your cat does bring you a present you didn’t ask for, you may want to scold them, but don’t. They won’t understand. Whatever the reason your cat is doing this, they see it as at least a neutral and probably a beneficial thing that they are doing for you. How would you feel if you did something really nice for somebody, and they yelled at you and called you a bad person for your good deed? It’s usually recommended that you actually praise your cat and then discreetly dispose of their gift, assuming it isn’t still very much alive and you have other things to worry about at the moment. Your cat is, after all, only doing what is natural to them.

By the way, if you have a cat with access to the outdoors, and they don’t bring you gifts, don’t feel insulted or worried. Not all cats have the same prey drive. Yours may just not feel as compelled to hunt when provided with sufficient food. Or they may not be very good at it. (7) Rest assured, they are still finding ways to be a cat, as cats always do.

Works Cited

  1. Adamec, R.E. (1976). The interaction of hunger and preying in the domestic cat (Felis catus): An adaptive hierarchy? Behavioral Biology, 18(2), 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-6773(76)92166-0
  2. Cutolo, M. (2020, March 26). Why do cats bring home dead animals? Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/article/why-do-cats-bring-home-dead-animals/
  3. Puiu, T. (2017, May 5). Why do cats bring dead animals home to you: You should actually be honored. ZME Science. https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/why-cats-dead-animals-home/
  4. Thomas, E.M. (1994). The tribe of tiger: Cats and their culture. Simon & Schuster.
  5. Shojai, A. (2019, November 19). Why do cats bring ‘gifts’ of dead animals? The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/cat-hunting-gifts-553946
  6. Primm, K. (n.d.). Ask a vet: Why does my cat bring me dead mice? I Heart Cats. https://iheartcats.com/ask-a-vet-why-does-my-cat-bring-me-dead-mice/
  7. Argos Pet Insurance. (2014, September 10). Why do cats bring their owners dead animals? https://www.argospetinsurance.co.uk/we-talk-pet/are-cats-really-bringing-their-owners-presents-when-they-bring-mice-home/

Published July 19th, 2020

Updated November 10th, 2020

Cat Care

Should cats be indoors or outdoors?

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Black cat laying outdoors in daisies
Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

Today we broach one of the great cat debates. Cat people are usually united by their love of felines, but there are a few topics that can tear us apart. This is one of them. Perhaps this is due to the changing relationship between humans and cats, something that has continued to evolve ever since cats domesticated themselves. It used to be the case that almost no one had indoor-only cats. However, as humans became more urban and cats came to be seen more as companions, more people have chosen to bring cats inside with them. Some, however, still think cats belong entirely or partly outdoors. We all want to think that we are doing the best thing for our pets, but is there a right and wrong answer here?

Veterinarians and animal welfare agencies, without exception as far as I can tell, recommend keeping cats indoors. Before anyone starts to leave an angry comment, this is not to say that there’s no benefit to cats being outdoors. In fact, those who say that cats belong in nature are correct, cats evolved to live outside. Of course, so did humans, but that is beside the point. Being outside is good for cats’ mental health because it provides them with a wealth of stimulation. They are able to exercise, hunt, socialize with other cats, solve problems, and generally be a cat the way they were meant to be. So, yes, cats do enjoy being outside, and in some ways it is good for them. But it is not without reason that experts recommend making our feline companions indoor-only.

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is about fifteen years, but for outdoor cats it’s only two to five years. There are a lot of dangers that cats face in the big, mean world, regardless of the setting. Cars are a major killer of cats. Cats may learn over time to avoid cars, if they are lucky enough, but they do not instinctively know to be careful of them. Cats are even injured and killed when they crawl inside cars for shelter and don’t have time to escape when the car turns on.

They also in danger from a number of predatory animals including hawks, foxes, coyotes, bears, alligators, and many others, depending upon the environment. Dogs, whether pets or strays, kill cats, and cats get into dangerous fights with each other. Certainly, cats have some natural defenses against predators and other cats, but they can’t always emerge victorious. What chance has a cat against an alligator? And even if the cat is able to fight off the predator or aggressor, it may still be seriously injured.

Cats also face the threat of disease outside. They may pick up infectious diseases from contact with other cats, such as Feline Immunodificiency Virus (FIV, the cat equivalent of HIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), panleukopenia, and upper respiratory pathogens. FIV can be fatal, and there is no vaccination or cure. The only way to prevent it is to prevent infection by preventing contact with infected cats. There are lots of parasites out there, too, some of which can be passed to humans and carry other diseases. Cats may also come into contact with toxic plants or chemicals that could sicken or kill them if ingested. Many cats like to eat plants, and there are a whole host of toxic plants out there, especially in gardens. Antifreeze apparently has a pleasant taste, and cats have been known to eat it if they find it lying around.

Then, of course, there are the human dangers. There’s no telling what someone might do to your cat if you aren’t there. On the benign side of things, cats might be mistaken for strays and taken in to an animal shelter. Then there are those whose intentions are not to be admired. Animal cruelty is real and it happens. Friendly, free-roaming animals are easy targets. I won’t go into the grisly details of the horrible things people have been known to do to cats. Suffice it to say that two of the more common include shooting them with arrows and bb guns. Cats are also used as bait animals in dog-fighting, although it’s hard to say how often free-roaming pets are stolen for this purpose because there is simply so little data.

With all that being said, there are some disadvantages to keeping cats strictly indoors. Without the stimulation of being outside, they may become bored or even anxious or depressed. They can start to be very dependent on their human, or they might develop behavioral problems such as destructive tendencies (scratching, chewing, etc.), eliminating outside the litter box, or aggression. Individual cats can exhibit any number of signs of stress as a result of not being to act out all their natural behaviors. So, what can we do? It’s too dangerous outside and too boring and confining inside. There are a few ways to compromise.

First, the indoors doesn’t have to be so boring. Cats need lots of places to climb and hide, and lots of surfaces to scratch. Every cat has their own preferences in all of these regards, so you may have to do some experimenting. A good cat tree is always a place to start. Make sure the cat tree has a wide, stable base and any scratching posts are tall enough for your cat to stretch out to their full length on. Many cat trees don’t meet these requirements, thus are unlikely to see much use.

Orange and white cat playing with toy
Bring the outdoors in with toys! – Image by DarkWorkX from Pixabay

Toys are also key. Not every cat likes the same kind of toy because not every cat is the same kind of hunter. Most cats will need some toys they can play with on their own as well as interactive toys for you to play with them. Interactive toys allow you to really simulate a hunt for your cat. This especially helps them to exercise and feel like they’re out in the wild.

Another thing you can do is “cat TV.” We know that cats like to watch the great outdoors out the window. Putting a bird feeder or something similar outside the window to make the view more interesting is a good idea. It also helps to make sure that your cat has a good perch by the window(s) so they can watch in comfort. You wouldn’t want to watch TV sitting on a narrow windowsill, would you? If you don’t have windows, don’t have much of a cat-friendly view, or just want to try other options, there are videos of literal TV for cats that you can put on. Or you can try making a terrarium, aquarium, or paludarium (that’s a combination of both) with some small animals that they would like to watch. Just be careful that they can’t knock it over!

If you would like to let your cat really experience the outdoors, well, outdoors, you still can. There are a few options that allow you to keep your cat safe while also letting them enjoy the nature. One is to harness train your cat so you can take them on walks. That may sound like asking for a clawing, but it doesn’t have to be. See my previous article for a how-to on walking your cat.

If you or your cat don’t care for that idea, however, don’t fret. If you have a suitable yard, there are cat-proof fences designed to keep your cat from jumping out. Cats will not jump if the fence has a top that is angled above their heads sharply enough. They know better than to bump their heads! There are products that can be attached to an existing fence as well as entire fencing panels built this way. Or you can do it yourself, if you’re handy. Just make sure to supervise your cat while they’re out in your yard in case something else gets in.

Perhaps the most flexible option is a catio (cat patio). These are a wide variety of cat enclosures that allow cats to be outside while still being enclosed. If you already have a screened-in porch, that qualifies. For everyone else, there are ready-made catios that you can buy which accommodate a variety of homes. Some are meant to attach to apartment windows or to sit on balconies or porches. Others are meant to sit in yards or attach to houses via a cat door.

There is also the option to build one yourself or have one built for you. The catio concept is very customizable to the needs of you and your cat. Just make sure that it is sturdy enough to withstand your cat from the inside, especially if they are an escape artist or a screen climber, and any predators or other cats from the outside. If you want to put plants in your catio, make sure they are safe for cats.

A custom-built catio

If you still choose to keep your cat outdoors, please do so responsibly. Bring your cat inside or at least into some sort of structure at night and during extreme weather. Feeding your cat when you want it to come in will make sure it does so. Take your cat to the vet regularly and keep it up to date on its vaccinations. Maintain flea, tick, and heartworm medication, and have your cat de-wormed regularly. Make sure your cat wears a collar with rabies tags and an ID tag with your contact information. However, the collar needs to be a breakaway collar. Cats are prone to getting their collars caught on things, and other collars can cause them to get trapped or suffocate. Given that the collar may come off, it is important to also have your cat microchipped.

It should go without saying, but you absolutely need to have your cat spayed or neutered if they are going to be an outdoor cat. Not only will this prevent overpopulation, but if you have a she-cat this will save you from unwanted kittens and pregnancy-associated health problems. Furthermore, intact cats of either sex wander farther and get into more fights, especially toms.

An important note: if your cat is declawed, they cannot be an outdoor cat. They can still have supervised outdoor time, but they cannot be allowed to free-roam. Declawed cats can’t defend themselves well at all and are in much greater danger than cats with all their defenses in place.

So, do cats belong outside? Well, yes, they do, a biopsychological sense. But as pet parents we have committed to taking the best care of our cats we can. So we need to keep them safe, in our homes. But that doesn’t mean cats should be bored, or even that they can never be outside. We probably should take them outside, but as their guardians it is our responsibility to go outside with them and make sure no danger befalls them. That is the distinction between an outdoor cat and an indoor cat that is momentarily outdoors. Our furry friends deserve the best lives we can give them, both long and happy. A rewarding indoor life with supervised outdoor time is the way to give them the best of both worlds.

Published May 30, 2020

Updated December 5, 2020

Cat Care

Leash Training for Cats

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

White cat on leash
Photo by Dids from Pexels

Though still unusual, it has become more common these days to see someone walking their cat on a leash. Some may think the entire concept is absurd, but the evidence that it can be done is there for all to see. The question is, how? Just getting most cats into their crates is a feat not for the faint of heart. What kind of sorcery is required to wrestle one into a harness? No sorcery, but it does involve some patience and a willingness to meet your cat where they’re at.

Not all cats will want to be walked. Knowing your cat’s personality will give you a good idea how they will feel about the subject. A cat that is always hanging around outside-facing doors, looking out windows, and trying to escape when you open the door is a cat that’s interested in the outdoors. There’s a good chance that they’ll enjoy a chance to explore. Cats that are afraid of outside doors, are very stressed by change, or are very timid in general may not want to be walked. You could still try it. You might be surprised and find out that going on a walk gives your cat the confidence boost they needed. But just don’t get your hopes up.

That being said, most cats are not thrilled about the prospect of being walked when it is first presented. Cats generally do not like unfamiliar experiences, and this certainly qualifies. However, if they are eased into it slowly, some cats come to be very enthusiastic about being walked.

Proper Preparation

Before attempting to walk your cat, make sure that they are up to date on their vaccinations, including Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Indoor cats are usually not at risk for FeLV, but a cat on a walk might catch it from contact with another cat. Also make sure that your cat stays current on flea, tick, heartworm, and intestinal worm preventatives, as these parasites are much more likely to be encountered outdoors.

Make sure that your cat has a collar with ID tags to wear on walks in case the two of you become separated. It’s a good idea to have your cat microchipped, too. If your cat was microchipped a while ago, make sure that the information is up to date. Cat collars are typically break-away, meaning that the latch will come undone if the cat gets the collar caught on something. This is a good thing, given the kinds of places cats can get into. Break-away collars prevent entrapment or suffocation. But if the only way your cat can be traced back to you is the ID tag on their collar, these collars may not be much help in reuniting you.

Ginger tabby wearing harness with bowtie
Some harnesses can be very stylish – Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash

With all that accomplished, it’s time to buy a harness and leash for your cat. There are a variety of products made specifically for cats, as well as some small dog harnesses that can work well. It is important to use a harness and not just a leash that clips to your cat’s collar, partially because of the break-away collar issue mentioned above. Also, cats can sometimes slip out of their collars, and a harness distributes pressure more comfortably across a cat’s chest instead of in one place against their throat.

There are different types of harnesses available. Some use adjustable straps and others are like a fabric vest. Both types have their merits and pitfalls. The vest type can be easier to put on, but may not fit well on chubby or long-haired cats. The strap kind allows for more adjustment but may slip off of svelte or short-haired cats. Your cat may also have their own preference.

Leashes can also vary. A very long leash can put you too far away from your cat should any threat arise, like someone walking a dog. Retractable leashes tend to present the same problem, allowing you to put too much distance between you and your cat. There are leashes for cats which are somewhat flexible. They have a section of coiled fabric which allows your cat to jump without the leash jerking them back. Those are my personal favorite, but I have seen no expert mandate requiring such a product. As long as you allow your cat enough slack on the leash, the flexible lead probably isn’t a necessity.

Getting Ready to Walk

The best time to start training a cat to walk is when they’re a kitten, but it’s never too late. The process is likely to take longer with adult cats, but it will be a gradual matter regardless. Let your cat set the pace and never force them to walk. If you have clicker trained your cat, that will come in very much in handy during this process.

The first step is getting your cat used to the harness. Begin by placing the harness out in the open where your cat can investigate it. Reward your cat with a treat for sniffing or otherwise showing interest in the harness to build a positive association. If your cat is clicker trained, then click and treat when your cat shows interest. Do this over the course of as many days as it takes for your cat to become used to the harness being in their space, then try draping the harness over your cat. Reward your cat for tolerating the harness. When your cat isn’t bothered by having the harness laid on top of them, you can try putting them into the harness.

You want to make it the most positive experience possible, although your cat probably won’t like it the first time or even the first several times. Give your cat their favorite treats after the harness is on, and be gentle and soothing while getting your cat into the contraption. Then, let your kitty walk around in the harness for a while. Some cats will just freeze up when put into a harness, but eventually they will get used to the feeling. You can try playing with your cat while they wear it if they’re willing. Once they’ve relaxed, you can remove the harness and repeat tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, until your cat is comfortable with putting on and wearing the harness.

How to Put a Strap-Style Harness on a Cat

Next, start attaching the leash when you put your cat in the harness, but don’t hold the leash. Just let your cat walk around with the leash dragging behind them. Do watch to make sure they don’t get the leash caught on anything. The goal is to accustom your cat to the feeling of something else on their body. Once they’re comfortable with this stage, start walking your cat around the house. Hold the leash and let your cat lead you. Treat them often to keep building that positive association. If your cat seems comfortable, you can practice directing them. Only ever use gentle corrections on the leash to direct your cat. Hard tugs on the leash to tell them where to go can make cats averse to the entire activity of walking.

Into the Wild

When your cat is okay with being walked inside, you are finally ready to venture outside. The first few times, you may just want to open the door and sit on the stoop with your cat. It depends on their personality, but for many cats those first forays into the outdoors can be scary. Even if your cat wants to explore outside, they may need a little time to build up their courage. It’s a good idea to walk your cat inside a safe, enclosed yard at first, if at all possible.

However quickly your cat takes to the great outdoors, never forget that a cat is not a dog. Therefore walking a cat is not like walking a dog. Cats tend to go a much more leisurely pace and stop to investigate objects or change course much more often. Walking a cat is really more like being walked by a cat, except you are responsible for correcting your cat if they start to go somewhere unsafe. Always look out for other animals as well as any plants that might be toxic for your cat to consume. Flower beds can be deadly, especially if they have lilies of any kind. Even the pollen of lilies can cause fatal kidney failure in cats if it gets on their fur and they lick it off.

White and orange cat on a leash on sofa
Train your cat to walk indoors before venturing outside – Photo by Taylor Deas-Melesh on Unsplash

As long as you are there to keep your cat safe, the stimulation offered by the outdoors can be delightful for many cats. It engages their brains and bodies, providing them with new problems to solve, things to see and smell, and more exercise than can typically be afforded indoors. We should always strive to provide the best enrichment inside that we can. Unfortunately, we can never perfectly emulate the dynamic and complex natural environment. Taking cats on walks provides them with a safe way to enjoy the perks of the outdoors.

Since cats thrive on routine, it’s best to establish a daily walking plan for your cat. Part of this is having a signal to let your cat know that it’s walk time. It’s also a good idea to put the harness and leash on in the same place every day. It’s best not to do this near the door, or your cat might start to associate the door with the fun of going outside and try to dart out every time you open it.

What if you try this entire process, and your cat never takes to it? Maybe they never get used to the harness, or no matter how carefully you introduce them to the outdoors they are always afraid. There are a lot of points where your cat might say “no.” You need to respect their decision if they do. Not every cat will want to be walked. If you think your cat might still benefit from going outside, then there are alternatives.

Cat strollers and backpacks allow you to walk your cat without a leash, and catios can be built in any outdoor space your home might have. Catios allow your cat access to the outside without straying from their home. For a more timid cat, a catio may be the better option. It’s all a matter of finding out what your cat wants. I will say that the least expensive of these options is the harness and leash, and it helps both you and your cat form an exercise routine, so it’s a good place to start.

Published May 3, 2020

Updated January 8, 2021