Should you walk your cat? “Unlike dogs, it is generally not recommended to walk your cat,” says Dr. Bethany Hsia, DVM, veterinarian and co-founder of CodaPet. “Cats are independent animals who usually prefer to roam freely in their environment rather than on a leash.”
However, if your cat is amenable to it, it could be good exercise for him and entertaining for you, not to mention a great way to strengthen your bond.
But, as is the way of the cat, it’s not as simple as just putting your cat on a leash and going for it. There are few things to consider first.
Do Cats Need to be Walked?
The simple answer here is no. Cats are pretty good at keeping themselves entertained and active and they are also famous for not being big fans of change. But if you have a cat with an adventurous personality, or who just really, really, really wants to go outside (safely), it could be an idea to explore.
The big takeaway is that your cat needs to want it. If you have a kitty who doesn’t seem interested but you are worried he might be sleeping too much or seems bored remember that, on average, it is normal for cats to snooze away 16 to 20 hours of the day. Boredom is an issue that is easily solved with enrichment and interaction—with you or even maybe a new kitty buddy. If your kitty is carrying around a few extra pounds, focused playtime and an examination of their food and eating habits can likely help even more than a little leashed walkabout.
5 Things to Consider Before Walking Your Cat
1. Your cat’s personality
If your kitty is bold, outgoing, and not easily spooked, she may be a good candidate for walks. If your kitty is more of a wallflower, the stimulation of the outdoors could be too much. For these kitties it might be worth exploring how you can create more stimulation within your home.
2. Where you would be walking your cat
Safety first! If your surroundings are quiet, with few people and no other animals that may spook your kitty, these could be safe places to explore. Even better would be if the area was hard for your cat to escape from (i.e. fenced or enclosed in some way) if you were to somehow lose your grip on the leash or your kitty were to wiggle out if its harness. If you live somewhere with more kitty dangers such as lots of traffic, wildlife, free-ranging neighbor cats, or lots of dogs being walked, you may want to reconsider.
3. Your commitment level
If your cat decides she loves going for walks, can you commit to taking her regularly? There is no worse torture for a kitty to get a little taste of the big, beautiful world out there only to have it taken away. If so, you may end up with a kitty driving you crazy, howling at the doors and windows to get back out there.
4. Your comfort level
Walking a cat is nothing like walking a dog. Probably the exact opposite, actually. Even though you may have kitty on a leash and harness, she is still going to want to do cat things, like jump into and onto things, spend hours sniffing the same flower, or even just lay in the sun. You would also need to weigh how well you might respond to an emergency like if your cat were to try and bolt, attack something, or if she were being threatened. Overall, the likelihood of your cat wanting to literally “go for a walk” like you would with a dog is pretty low, so you should be prepared both to expect the unexpected and/or be super bored.
5. Your vet’s opinion
Cats who are allowed outdoors are exposed to more dangers than indoor-only cats. A visit with your established vet can give you someone to discuss all of the above with but also to talk about the possibilities of additional vaccinations and even localized dangers to be aware of—such as endemic plants that could be poisonous to your kitty if she were to take a taste as you are out and about.
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How to Walk a Cat Safely Outside
If you’ve considered all of the ifs, buts, hows, and whys, and are ready to give it a shot, you will first have to purchase a harness that will be both safe and comfortable for your kitty and then train her to walk on a leash. This is no small feat so don’t expect immediate, or even any, success—after all, we’re talking about cats here. The person who made up that phrase about “herding cats” should come up with another one about walking them.
If you do find success and are ready to venture out, do so in small steps. Your kitty will likely be content to explore your immediate area—there is a lot to see, smell, touch, and taste even in a small space. Your job is to stay alert to anything that might give your cat a fright as well as direct her to things she may find interesting or stimulating and away from things that may not be good for her.
Should I Try and Walk an Outdoor Cat?
There is a great debate surrounding indoor vs. outdoor cats that we won’t go into detail in this article (because we did here), but best guess would be probably not. If you have an outdoor cat he is likely to already know the ins and outs of his outdoor environment (likely better than you do) and with the freedom to move where and when he wants, putting him on a tether probably won’t fly.
Overall, if you have a cat that you think would enjoy a jaunt outdoors, start slow, keep your expectations in check, and perhaps one day you can be one of those lucky people out there traveling the world with your incredibly adventurous, securely leashed, cat by your side.
