I know its not ok to force my cat to walk

i have been out with my cat and a leach and then my cat wasnt walking with me so i pulled him on the grass utill he learns but there were 2 people who walked by then they entered my area and start asking about something else then they asked where do i live ,but i knew that they wanted to know whats going on and then i just told them this is his first time walking with the leash and he doesnt like it that i want to show him the area so he wont get lost! but im so worried pls someone help me! i have anxiety and depression and at this time they made me feel so anxious!

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Comments ( 14 )
  • paracetamol

    I am no cat expert but dont cats roam by themselves? Cats dont need leashes, do they?

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  • Boojum

    So tell me: what's going to happen when you're on a walk with your cat and you happen to encounter a huge, nasty dog that hates cats? Are you planning on picking up the cat as every instinct in it's tiny feline brain is telling it to flee and the dog is lunging at you trying to grab the cat? Are you going to let the cat strangle itself on its collar? Or are you going to let the lead go and have the cat run off and hide God knows where?

    You can train some cats to walk on a lead if you start very young, but putting a mature cat on a lead and hauling it around is ignorant and cruel.

    Cats are not dogs. Dogs are pack animals and they're happy to explore the world with their pack, even if that consists of only one human. Cats are territorial beasts by nature. They understand that the world is full of much bigger beasts who will eat them if they can, as well as other cats who have their own territories which they will defend with teeth and claws.

    If you move with a cat to a new area, the correct way to deal with this is to allow the cat as much time as it needs settle into its new home. Often this means they spend a couple of weeks hiding under a bed and coming out only in the evening to eat. Once the cat is satisfied there are no dangers in the house, it will become more confident. At that point, you can open a door or window and allow the cat out. They will explore and learn the territory on their own and at their own pace, gradually expanding their territory as they learn it.

    I very much doubt if your cat has learned anything from you hauling it around. It will have been highly stressed, and the only thing it will have been thinking about is getting away from the thing trying to strangle it and finding someplace safe to hide.

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  • Meowypowers

    No no no! Don't put a tether on your cat! S(he) is not a dog! A cat is meant to be independent and free. They can excersise in many of ways but please don't do that.

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  • RoseIsabella

    I have walked with a cat on a leash, and it's certainly not the same as walking a dog. Bring a favorite toy, a training clicker, some treats and your patience! Don't drag kitty, because cats aren't into being dragged. Practice often, and for short periods of time. It's not uncommon for cats, and even some dogs, to not enjoy being on a leash so you might have to start out just letting the kitty wear the leash, and walk around the house to get used to it.

    I also have a stroller that I put my cat in when I go walking so he can just chill. My cat is a strictly indoor cat, and doesn't ever go outside unsupervised because I don't want him to get hurt or stolen. I also don't want my cat terrorizing the local birds, and rodents, nor do I want my cat catching parasites. If a mouse is easy to catch there's a good chance that it has Toxoplasma gondii.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondi

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    • Shadesofcool

      this is the best advice thank you so much its because he wants to go out but i dont also want him to go away and never return again
      so i wanted to take him out on a leash so he enjoy! but he didnt like it!

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      • RoseIsabella

        You are very welcome! Is your cat fixed? Cats aren't quite as bad at wanting to go outside if they are spayed, or neutered. I'm a firm believer that there's generally no reason to leave a cat or dog intact, even if it is a purebred one, because my cat as beautiful as he is doesn't have a champion bloodline, I don't show him, and I certainly haven't ever intended on breeding him. It's so much better, and more chill with a neutered, or spayed animal.

        Sorry for the long, boring lecture about cat and dog breeding.

        I think it really helps to have a lot of enrichment and too, "catify your home", as Jackson Galaxy says. I haven't done a lot but my cat has a little scratching post/kitty condo to play with, and I have gotten him a lot of toys. The fishing pole type cat toys really help a lot!

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  • SwickDinging

    You have to be careful when walking cats on a leash. It can be very beneficial for SOME cats, if done in the right way. But for others, especially older ones who have been rehomed, it can be very traumatic and make them even worse.

    It would be good to pay a professional to teach you how to do it, so you know for sure that it's for their benefit. You'd probably only need one session.

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  • charli.m

    That's not how you deal with cats. Please do your research, if you're not a troll.

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    • Shadesofcool

      i also know it he was walking and stop
      i had no idea how to make him walk i thought he is gonna keep up with me then stopped and when i got home, i started doing research on how to teach him! plus im doing this to just teach them the area to go out!

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      • charli.m

        Don't make him walk. You clearly don't know what you're doing.

        You're meant to keep cats inside for an initial period after rehoming. How do you not know this?

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        • Shadesofcool

          I Didnt ask this question to be blamed and im not replying to you anymore! i needed some advice! thats all!
          i love my cats and they love me too! we are happy! and im just trying to make them happier by letting them go outside!

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          • Cuntsiclestick

            She did give you good advice. It just wasn't coated with sugar. If you can't take blunt advice or being judged on the internet, why bother asking? No disrespect, btw. I'm just saying if you're going to post, stuff like this is to be expected.

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          • That is the best advice for you. You should look more into it before dragging your cat around. And especially if they want to go out let them roam on their own time don’t force it. If he don’t want to then as the owner you should respect it.

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          • charli.m

            I'm not going to be all sweetness and light for someone who is ignorantly mistreating an animal.

            You shouldn't own cats if you can't be a responsible owner.

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