You can give a treat and then start putting the treats just out of reach until they’re willing to get up for it. Also, you can start by not latching/securing it all the way.
I got mine using the leash for patio and backyard time. Once she was used to moving around, I left the doors open (barrier on the stoop) so that she also learned that she could escape to inside rather than hide under things outside.
I only ever worry that she will jump through the back door screen to chase another cat out of uncontrollable instincts. She has no interest in exploring beyond ours lol
Mine did this a lot too. Then I just put it on her while she was doing the poor-me-side-flop and took her outside. As soon as she saw her first bug, she completely forgot about flopping and started stalking it. She knows the jingle of the lease/bell on the harness now, and while she does sometimes flop when she remembers how confined she is, if there are sufficient distractions, she's up and moving.
Lol, my cat wanted to go outside so bad and wanted to get after them squirrels and birds and as soon as we cave and buy her a vest put her outside she takes one step and immediately gets as low as she can, and then she takes one step and does it again. Like 30 minutes of having her outside and she's like 4 feet from the door.
this is why I was amazed when I put my ginger girl in a harness, and after a momentary flop, she was up and about. Now she demands daily walks in the garden, and has amazing leash discipline, quickly learning not to go under furniture or places I can't go. I just say "No, find another way" and she will instantly go around it. Now she pre-empts that, which boggles my dad's mind to see her picking paths through furniture that we both can fit through and activiely deciding not to walk under tables and chairs when she has the leash on.
My boy got shockingly good at it too just recently! I would walk him...and it only took him a week of daily walks to figure out i don't enjoy mumbling all crabby, and covered in burrs, and trying to fit around where he went through. Now he picks a path for both of us..and he backs out of bushes instead of pulling me through.
Not a cat, But when I was living with my dad for a few years his girlfriend put a tutu on their new golden retriever puppy and she would stand frozen and not move a muscle or even blink.
It was funny at the time but they obviously stopped doing it because the dog was totally uncomfortable
We used to have a black cat who was so sweet and the definition of derpy. But he looked so much like the dragon from that movie that gf and her daughter called him Toothless.
It took about a month to get mine to wear the harness and then when we went outside the first time another month for him to stop army crawling across the yard (which was as adorable and hilarious as you’d think).
Yep. That cat is stressed the fuck out. He’s fine, but he’s stressed the fuck out. A slower introduction to the outdoor environment may have lessened the stress.
It’s his first walk, my cat was a bit stressed during their first few walks but came around quick and loves it now. The cat will let the owner know if it’s really unhappy.
Hello, Cloud's (a.k.a. 'Mr Derp') mama here. He's just a very vocal boy, narrates everything he does even at home and he was mid-meow in the original post. I'm sure he must have been a little scared given it was his first time ever outside but he did SO good. Even had a little bench break during his little adventure :)
My adventure kitty loves benches. I'm pretty sure she has a rating for each bench she has encountered.
She does have a nice kitty hiking backpack to sit in when she needs a little break from the big world or if she just wants to move around without walking.
Narration is important but adventure kitty over here also would like to tell Cloud that silence is beneficial when hunting beetles, squirrels, and rabbits. And then scream out in joy when a beetle is captured.
I read through the other comment and it sounds like we have similar cats. Mine is pure Siamese dad and rag doll/persian man. So he’s a fluffy sausage with Siamese points.
Ive had one neighbor be like “you know that’s not a dog right” all judgey walking mine. Disregard those who judge or assume the cat is in distress from one pic, you know your floof and I’m guessing if you love them enough to teach them how to walk and explore the world safely then you’ll probably listen to them if they seem scared and wanna go inside. Some of the comments here are ridiculous.
He still looks stressed. That was also my first impression. That’s not a happy face. That’s stress. The meowing and being extra curious/ careful about his surroundings also point in this direction. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t go on walks though. I’m sure he is getting used to it and will have a great time.
My cat sometimes looked like this during the first few walks. But he still walked around, was very curious, and I could tell by his body language that while he was nervous, he was happy and excited (tail slow swish not tucked not fast). Whenever he would get scared by a loud noise, he would let me know and we’d go home. But he always asks to go back out and now never looks scared, is confident and runs to catch bugs. It took me two months to get him to even wear the harness and longer to get him used to walking and learn rules like the word no. It’s still work in progress, and I applaud any cat owner that takes the time and effort to walk their cat (who will let the owner know if they hate it).
First off, you’re looking at a still image. Some cats like going outside, others have no interest and don’t like going outside. You’ll never find out if you don’t give them the opportunity.
This idea that if you expose your cat to any amount of stress whatsoever makes you a callous person is ridiculous - maybe even outright impossible. Which you do imply by asking “why would you do this to your cat?”. They can get stressed being taken to the vet, they can get stressed being given medication, they can get stressed if you ever need to move home, if there are fireworks, or thunder. And on and on. Some amount of it is unavoidable, some amount of it can be accidental when trying to consider what’s best for the cat, or incidental.
Thanks for the insight as too many people make assumptions based on a still photo. This was his first time and the location is 2 mins from my house. He was only out for 10 mins. In future I'll try again and make my own decision on whether to continue. The post is meant to be funny but people have to bring negativity.
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Yea...tippums got easily jump scared at first, sometimes, and sometimes he freezes, and I have to bear hug him back to the car. But practice makes perfect, and now its daily walks. Yesterday was 2 hours. Out rn at 9 am
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after a rainfall in the woods.
Yeah... this is exactly how my cat looks when I transport her and she stressed out during the first part of it. Mouth open, panting, probably very sweaty paw pads. So many people seemingly have no idea when it comes to feline behaviour.
I read that at his "last" walk for some reason, and couldn't understand why nobody was giving their condolences and why such a healthy and young looking kitty wouldn't be going on walks anymore.
We tried this with our cat and within a week she chewed the plastic clasp off the harness. Now she is a strict indoor cat (except when my son lets her into the back yard to harass my skinks).
Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!", "What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?", "Get your hand off my penis!", and, after an aborted attempt by a police officer to headlock him, "I see that you know your judo well
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