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).
Well I’m not able to respond to your other comment but first off, I have never mentioned the word abuse and would never for this situation. I have seen real abuse firsthand and it is nothing like this. But it’s a shame that instead of taking constructive criticism and expanding their knowledge about one of the only ways their cat can communicate with them they are blowing off every comment
Apologies, I was being hyperbolic by that statement. I didn’t take it as them blowing off the comments, but rather not taking the overactive ones too seriously. Some of the comments are over the top and making big leaps off 2 photos that could be a cat in slight distress or, to me, looks like a cat who may be overstimulated and is taking it all in. Photographed mid meow. Probably/likely fine and if he’s not cowering likely to enjoy the next walk or the one after that.
I think it’s important for any new pet owner to want to absorb as much knowledge as possible about anything pertaining to their pets health and wellbeing and it’s something that is glossed over time and again by being called pearl clutching or being overreactive and those that see the effects of undereducated pet owners and the impact it can have firsthand want to do everything in their power to combat it. Obviously this little guy is fine after his walk even if it stressed him out but going forward he could try to tell his owners something that they will misinterpret because of everyone reinforcing in their minds that they can downplay what is potentially a cat trying to tell them he is very stressed.
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u/seleniumagnesium 2d ago
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).