Been letting my cats out on a long lease and walking them for years. Cats like to chew grass for healthy digestion and the spray to mark territory. Basically express they're health cat behavior. They also poop and pee on their walk so one less for the cat box. And they scratch on trees so less attacking the furniture. I also grow a big pot of fresh catnip which they love. They sit inside the catnip pot. It took a while to get them used to be leased in. Like a month or more, but now they request to go out. I gave them catnip after they came in from being let out or walked to get them used to the lease.
37
my comment based on 69 years of living with cats: they are going to do what they want to do. One will do anything to get to ride in the car with you. One will never want to be inside. One will never want to be outdoors. One will befriend a squirrel. Another will kill every squirrel they can. Every one of them will want a different diet or make of food. So don't waste your time on articles telling you what to do. The cat will be quite capable of giving you orders. Plus the photo is a cat out walking in a nice German single family home area. Lived in Germany for couple decades. My 4 German cats didn't want any leashes either.
133
I agree that keeping cats indoors is much safer for them, and for the little animals of the neighborhood, and that walking them is a good thing to do, but my exposure is to very different cats. For nearly a quarter century I have been friend to hundreds of feral cats and they are a joy to watch, especially the kittens growing up under the watchful eyes of the mother. The whole outdoors, with bushes trees etc is their playground and they grown strong and smart very quickly. They live a natural life, as happy as a kitten could be, but sadly at best only half of them make it to their first year as they have to contend with coyotes, hawks, owls, dogs and cars. I and a neighbor TNR as best we can, at least 60 or 70 cats over the years, and it generally works very well, but there are some who are pretty much un-catchable, just far too savvy to ever enter a trap, especially if they have witnessed another cat being trapped. They are marvelous animals, these natural cats, fun to watch as kittens and adults, but also very sad when one of them disappears, especially one you have grown close to.
42
A feral kitten who found and adopted us on our 13 acres in Tennessee would accompany me and my 90lb. Oorang Airedale on our at-least-two-a-day walks along the woodland trails of the Cumberland Plateau. Sadie was several times faster than Tinkerbelle and me, so to keep from getting too far ahead of us she would climb and descend about every 4th or 5th tree along the way, going up twenty feet or so and back down like a leopard.
70
My son’s cat actually brings him the leash when it wants to go outdoors. It’s an adorable Russian Blue.
222
When I lived in New York City, we had a cat named Kitsel, born in a field in Massachusetts, who would leave our house on E. 95th St via a swinging kitty door, stroll down to Park Avenue, turn south to E. 94th St., then east to Lexington, up Lex, then west on 95th St, and home. She trotted at a steady pace, nose to the sidewalk and shrubbery, looking for anything small that moved. She had various pit stops on Lexington - a snack at the grocer's, a bowl of water at the dry cleaner's. Kitsel did her daily morning patrol, unsupervised. until she died a natural death at the ripe old age of 22.
170
If you have coyote where you live, they can be nearby and you won't know. They hide well. If they know you have cats, they will remember and come back when they need food. They strike FAST. Even if you are nearby, you might not be able to save your cat. Go Google videos of coyote getting dogs and cats. Traumatic to see but something you need to know if coyote live near you. Don't fool yourself.
Too many dogs and cats in our area have disappeared, sometimes attacked while the owners were watching. It happened so fast, the owners couldn't do anything to save their pets. Our cats now enjoy a sunroom with screen windows. And I always double check that all doors out there are closed and screens are intact before letting them out there.
63
My cat enjoys following me and my dog on walks. The neighbors enjoy seeing my little animal parade (little dog on leash followed by off-leash large cat). I have been stopped many times and asked if I knew that a cat was stalking me and my dog.
39
David Grimm is spot on about the need for indoor cats to get exercise AND the reasons to be with them while they do. I live with 2 female felines I rescued 6 1/2 years ago as 6-week-old littermates dumped in a parking garage. I did try body harnesses, but my girls are extremely harness and leash averse. Because we live in a fenced and gated townhouse community, there is considerable common area in front of our home. None of my immediate neighbors has a dog. Starting 2.5 years ago, I began training the cats sans harnesses and leashes, teaching them where they could and could not go when we were outside. The first 6 months, I was a nervous wreck daily. Then, they "got it." Ever since, we go out for 1-2 hours every day weather and my work schedule permit. They are avid walkers, bug chasers, bird hissers, and all-around curious kitties. They also do not gain weight, do not fight each other from boredom, have never harmed or destroyed anything, and seem to be pretty darn happy with their hooman slave.
38
This strikes me as nonsense. Cats and dogs are different. Saying that a dog needs walks does not mean that cats need walks. The author cites not a speck of evidence to support the notion that cats would be better off being walked, save for the anecdotal evidence he claims from his own cat walking. I see he has writtern a book about cats and dogs. I would think he ought to know enough about these pets to be able to cite scientific evidence.
23
What utter nonsense.
I'm sixty-six, and have lived with cats for 62 years of my life.
At this point in my life, my wife and I care for a number of ferals that we have rescued and socialized. Without exception, when one of us opens a door to the outside, our ferals either stay where they are or move away from the open door. They know the Great Outdoors, and they want no part of it.
49
Depends on the cat.
We had one that *needed* to walk, only to lay down once the harness was on. We ended up taking him for a "drag". Tried twice and decided he didn't want to.
We had one that didn't want to chase anything but just wanted to be on the deck and enjoy the world.
Now, we have an indoor-only 20-pounder that runs all over the house chasing whatever real or imaginary prey, up and down stairs. We've invited him on to the deck, but he's not going to have any of it...its too dirty for his royal pristine-ness.
Depends on the cat.
46
Yes! I have two cats who I have walked on leashes since they were kittens. When I get the leash out, they run to the door. Yes, I have seen people run their cars up onto curbs when they see us. Dogs see us and do a double-take wondering what the heck is going on. Yes, there is the occasional zoom up a tree so I learned to hold tightly to the leash. One especially likes going to the playground and climbing up the ladder and going down the slide. I swear he smiles when he's doing it. And they are the most contented cats. I wish more people would start their kittens doing this.
31
We love cats, but the number of already threatened birds and little garden animals they kill for sport is appalling. They strike more quickly than you can clap your hands. A collar with bell and a securely enclosed "catio" sound like a fair solution, but releasing these well-fed yet ruthless killers into our gardens and woodlands to prey on unsuspecting and vulnerable wild creatures is not to be advocated!
38
Thank you!
10
We used to let our cats outside. They brought flees in to our house. No thanks.
8
We have one indoor cat. However, we allow her to go “outside” in the screened back lanai and front porch. She enjoys
watching rabbits and the many birds we have in Florida. She seems very content to observe the outside from the safety
of our screened areas. She never attempts to escape. She is healthy and flea-less.
We tried to “walk” a previous cat, but to no avail. She just refused to go anywhere and gave us that look as to say - “I am not a dog stupid people.”
20
I’m so glad the author addresses the responsibility factor for outdoor cat owners. I love and have owned both dogs and cats, and find both species indispensable for different reasons.
I also was trained that, much like having a child, a pet owner is responsible for the potty habits of the pet. That meant walks with poop bags for the dogs and litter boxes for the cats. I will never forget when a neighbor was surprised we didn’t have a cat, given how much I enjoyed visiting with hers. When I told her I didn’t feel like cleaning a litter box at that point in my life she said, “just get an outdoor cat! They go outside!” After I showed her video of her outdoor cat using my vegetable garden as it’s “litter box”, she understood the main reason most neighbors dislike outdoor cats....and their clueless owners.
18
Just a word of caution from someone who learned the hard way. Catios are a really nice thing to do for your felines and you get to share in their enjoyment.
But unless you have strong netting over the top, your fur balls can, as another writer commented, become a meal for predators. A big horned owl can take down a goose, and lift twice their weight. They will also prey on petite dogs.
Eagles, the larger hawks and other raptors (native to your area) are also airborne predators. A large red tailed hawk went after our cats enclosed on a screen porch. It hit the screen so hard, it tore the screen out of the door. Because we were there immediately, all ended well (except for the door).
Coyotes, now commonly seen in urban areas, are clever sneaks and opportunists who can jump a six foot fence (or dig under). They can be quite bold if there are more than one, a have been known to challenge lone walkers of small dogs.
Happy and safe catting around to all..
23
We tried this with our cats. Theodore was fine, until he went around the corner and got spooked by something. He started back to the house like a bat out of Hell with me trying to hold the leash running to keep up with him. The neighbors were howling with laughter. After that he wasn't so keen on the idea. Neither were we.
Another time when we had him out on a leash an unleashed neighbor's cat came over, looked at Theodore as if thinking, "Something's WRONG here Buddy. Cats do NOT belong on leashes! I'll get you outta that thing!" We loved that scene.
16
We brought our country cat Albert to town. We worried he wouldn't adapt, but he's prospering. On the farm, he worked at keeping the barn (and the neighbor's barn 1/2 mile away) a mouse-free zone. Here in the city, he's discovered rats. So, yeah, cats kill lots of small mammals.
That's their job.
Albert comes and goes as he pleases. Sometimes he pleases to follow the dogs and me on our walks. His decision.
One neighbor asked me to do something about our other cat Martin visiting her yard. She'd gotten sentimental about baby rabbits--the McDonald's quarter-pounder of the animal kingdom, predated by everything with sharp teeth or talons. (But not Martin, more lover than hunter.) I told her I'd speak to him, but that the best solution would be to spray him with the garden hose. She took offense on Martin's behalf. There's no pleasing some people.
I always feel sorry for indoor cats, although I've known a few who appear contented. They're often obese.
A more sensible neighbor was surprised to find her cat Leonard sitting side by side on the front porch recently with a full-grown raccoon.
We chose our urban neighborhood carefully. Feline happiness was a big part of the decision.
If Martian explorers came by night, they'd be amazed at all the cats perched atop cars and front porches on our street. How did these small predators persuade the large hairless monkeys to build an elaborate feline amusement park entirely for their benefit?
It's a profound mystery.
44
Be very careful if you decide to try walking your cat! I’m a professional dog walker who lives with 3 cats, and I’ve made a very deliberate decision not to walk the cats. Why? Because cats slip out of harnesses MUCH more easily than dogs. Their bodies are built to be able to pull in their shoulders to easily slip through small spaces. I actually tried putting a harness on one of my cats to see if walking would be a possibility, but within a minute he slipped out. It’s absolutely crucial to test a harness extensively inside your home to be sure that even when startled or running after something, your cat cannot slip out of the harness. The cat needs to be microchipped and have a collar with identification. While outdoor excitement is great for a cat, I believe it isn’t worth the very real risk.
22
Leave the cat's claws on and let them come and go as they please.
We've had our cats for more than a decade, moved and they are fine.
10
@C Lee - leave the claws on and leave the cats indoors. There's no need to release invasive predators into every neighborhood a human moves to.
Humans are putting tremendous pressure on the survival of an awful lot of the species we share the place with. Cats will attack and kill nestlings, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects with no checking first on how endangered or useful they might be.
I try to picture so many of the comments here if it had been dogs instead of cats that people allowed to go out daily to kill what they could find. "Our little Cuddles sometimes brings his dead cats up to the porch after catching them, it's just dogs being dogs".
35
Living in Santa Monica, I adopted a 10-month old, all white rescue who I named Buddy. I also had a removable louver window pane.
When I first went outside on my walkway/balcony with Buddy, he raced back indoors. After a couple of weeks, however, that changed. He roamed the entire building and its courtyard, chasing after the squirrel in the palm tree, bringing back a stunned sparrow he caught (whom I set free) and hiding behind bushes. But when I came home at the end of the day, he spotted me from wherever he was and was the first to greet me. I adored him - and he loved his freedom so much that if I did not let him out soon enough, he stood at the window, staring at it. He knew where home was, and was all the more alive for being able to explore the great outdoors.
That ended when I moved to NYC. Although Buddy remained just as affectionate, he - and I - missed seeing him outdoors. He was safe, but no longer free. A few years later, he died of an abcess.
Yes, I have heard the warnings that cats should be kept indoors. Living his life unleashed, Buddy never believed those warnings. And neither did I.
9
I have tried this a couple times but the time constraints
of having 13 indoor cats make it difficult. My dozen or so
ferals, of course, live outside. Thinking of a catio if I can
convince husband to build one.
1
Maybe, just maybe,, we should stop thinking of pets as rights and consider if we can provide them a good environment. There are many places where it may not be appropriate to let a cat out. Perhaps in that case, it is not proper to have a cat at all. Its not all about you, after all.
16
I disagree. I live in an apartment with 3 rescued cats who are healthy and happy and get tons of time to play. They keep each other company and the windows are their “TVs”. They’re doing way better inside than they were doing outside.
21
This really depends on the cat's personality. They are all VERY different, just like dogs and people.
Some cats have no interest in going outside and are perfectly content lazing around the house where they're warm, safe, and have a secure food source. Others are miserable if they can't go out. Some cats are sociable and inquisitive, others mostly want to hide under furniture and only come out for very well-known, trusted, and quiet people. Some are aggressive fighters, others so gentle you can barely believe they have claws.
I've had four cats and they were all entirely different, about the only things they had in common were liking catnip and laser pointers. Only one of the four was interested in going out, but that one was particularly inquisitive, energetic, and aggressive. Two of the four absolutely did NOT want to go out and liked to stay inside where it was safe, thank you very much. The other one would go outside if you let him, but never asked or seemed that interested. They all had vastly different intelligence, sociability, and energy levels too. Don't assume that what applies to one cat applies to all. There are plenty of people with little interest in going outside
21
Our cats are indoor/outdoor cats. Luckily we live on a fenced acre where our cats love to roam. Our 2 are 7 now and preferably like to spend most of the time sleeping on various beds and sofas in our house.
They have been helpful in keeping our mouse population under control. I don't put out a bird feeder (which I would love to do) because I think it's attract for birds makes them easy fodder for our cats.
Our cats are happy. But not all outdoor situations are good for cats.
10
I have had cats all my life. In my younger days, I let my cats roam outside whenever they wanted. The problem was that occasionally they would be gone for days. I worried something had happened to them, such as getting hit by a car or injured by another animal.
Also, even though we live in the suburbs, we have well-hidden coyotes in our neighborhood. Our neighbor recently lost his outdoor cat. He said he feared the cat was lost to the coyotes.
I now have one cat who is an indoor cat only. We have a sturdy screened porch which is right off the kitchen where we let her go when we're home. She listens to birds and watches squirrels and chipmunks. Sometimes she just hangs out. She seems very happy there.
I can't imagine walking my cat. She's not the most docile of creatures and I imagine her getting off the leash and bounding off. It's almost impossible to catch a cat who doesn't want to be caught. She would most certainly get upset about dogs that are being walked around us -- or worse yet, dogs who are loose.
Over the years, all my vets have encouraged me to keep my cats indoors to keep them safe. I have done so now for the last 40 years.
10
Because of our pool, we have a six-foot privacy fence. My husband chicken-wired along the bottom openings. When we first moved here our intrepid cat kept escaping. We figured out that he was jumping from our compost bins to the fence and over. We moved the bins, but he’s figured other ways out and we make corrections as we go. We do have a cat harness and leash but it’s hard work training a cat. But still, I think it’s right and good to get cats out and about in the world.
4
In my 40 years sharing my life with cats I can honestly say no cat wants to be on a leash. Either live somewhere safe enough that your cat friend can roam free as nature intended or, if not safe, make their indoor life as interesting as possible. We have packs of coyotes here and so our cats have a large Catio enclosure complete with tree limbs and platforms for climbing, scratching, lounging and birdwatching. They get fresh air and sunlight and grass to chew. Daily dedicated play with your feline friends is the very best thing you can do for their behavioral wellness.
8
Our cats walk with us without a leash. They understand the concept of a walk as a group activity. And while they won’t perish if they are not allowed outside, they are A LOT happier when they get their daily walks. They love to run ahead, run back, run to catch up with us, sniff at changes in the environment, rub against certain objects, chase each other, sit and listen, pretend they’ve got something cornered in a hole, and experience new stimuli in general. My experience is that cats will show their personality, personhood, and aliveness, which is astonishingly very similar to what those looks like in human form, in proportion to the attention, effort, and patience invested by their owners. Unlike some other pets, they are often not as straightforward creatures, but slowly discovering and lifting off the mysterious or reticent layers results in amazing revelations of social sophistication, attachment, pleasure, imagination, adventure, and weirdness that cats are capable of. If you treat your cat like some sort of slightly more entertaining moving house furniture or an upgraded stuffed animal, your cat isn’t going to have much opportunity to show or be more than that. Those that think that an indoor space with enough room to once in a while sprint for few seconds is the limit of what cats need are missing out on a whole other level of who their cats are.
8
Agreed! Better for fluffy, and much better for dwindling birds, frogs, lizards, turtles and other small wildlife that grace our land.
2
Humans are nomads. Please tell my employer to free me from my 9-hours-a-day-confinement in a cubicle of clothed walls!
16
How’s about we stop indulging ourselves by keeping millions of animals around as furry lava lamps, especially given their propensity for cranking out gazillions of ferals, killing birds, and chewing up food when kids go hungry?
8
I always thought it would be great to have a group of 10 cats on a leash that were trained like hunting dogs. Nothing could get away....nothing!
7
I live in Florida. With all the fire ants, fleas and other assorted insects, not to mention coyotes and gun-toting rednecks my cat stays inside. We are both happy.
11
I put my least mentally flexible, most independent cat on a leash for the first time two years ago, when he was 13, after a lifetime of being able to roam the outdoors at will. I had very low expectations. What a revelation -- he didn't fuss or refuse to move. After giving me a look to let me know he thought I was a real weirdo, he just set off about his business with me in tow. These days I use our walks -- which involve a lot of just hanging out and waiting -- to read the NY Times on my phone. Keeps me right up to date.
8
I used to feel weird about walking our cat until I ran into this guy walking a chicken in SE Belmont.
26
...only in Portland.
4
Yha, somebody finally lost it and it's not the Cat
1
Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
— Mark Twain
27
O tempora o mores!
So this is "All the News that's fit to print" that still proudly appears on the NYT masthead (and yes, I knew this is Opinion [sort of])?
What's next? Ancient sources tell of pet locusts kept on a leash, popular with children. There must be an op-ed in that somewhere.
2
Please keep your cats on a leash. When you let them out to roam freely, they kill our birds.
10
I'd like to see a Times Video debate on this topic.
2
Yes, let your cat out for an hour a day. Your neighborhood has too many birds, I'm sure.
3
We have been walking our tabby Oliver (Ollie) around the block for at least 9 years. (He's over 10...not exactly sure as he was a rescue).
He knows the way, has certain spots where he needs to stop: some to investigate, checking where his pals have been I think; some to look up the block where another known cat might be; some for a "throwdown", where he throws himself down on a corner of the sidewalk demanding some petting.
There is little traffic in our almost-a cul-de-sac. Usually we walk on the sidewalk, but sometimes in the street. He knows about cars and will get out of the way, off the street without prompting. He knows all the dogs in the neighborhood and knows to avoid them.
There is a small tree and little group of shrubs that we visit, where he rubs his face up against the shrubs and rolls in the dust next to the tree.
Sometimes we encounter a neighbor, some of whom are aware of our jaunts. He has no fear of them.
There is a hedge next to the sidewalk that he will disappear into as we continue walking, then burst out in front of us to "surprise" us. There is a telephone pole that he will sometimes scratch on and, if he's feeling energetic at his advanced age, scramble up a few feet, for which we give him great encouragement and petting.
Finally he follows us up the driveway with his tail in the air. Time for a snack and some more petting.
These orbits are the highlight of his (and our) day.
10
There are days when I pay for The Times and get The Onion.
18
"Yet cats belong to a proud race of savanna kings and nomadic carnivores. Their ancestors slunk out of the deserts of the Near East 10,000 years ago to hunt mice in our early villages, and they have been free to roam our backyard jungles since. They have not evolved to slumber in our living rooms."
People think their pets are happy in confinement when it is nothing but a life of slow painful anxiety and they would much prefer a quick painless death.
This absurd thoughfulness is typical of how humans treat animals!
Especially animals with a higher degree of sentience like Cats and Dogs.
You too lazy to take your animals outside? - Hire someone or get some plants.
1
One correction- you don't walk the cat, the cat walks you.
13
I got lucky - the cat that defaulted to me after our neighbor moved away and left him, enjoyed a stroll through the neighborhood when my wife and I would walk our two large dogs.
He didnt need a leash and I doubt I could have put one on. He just strolled along with us and made sure either dog didnt get too rowdy or he would give em a swat across the face while yowling something I took to be feline for Shutup!
Wonderful animal.
15
Could this article be more of The Times.
2
Here in Helsinki in the park called Keskuspuisto I see lots of people walking both cats and dogs on leashes.
62
I've had many cats over the years, so I've become pretty good at 'reading' cats...being very in-tune with them. And I did attempt to try prepping one of my cats for 'walks', starting by just putting the harness on him and letting him wear it in the apartment. Then opening my apartment door, and letting him roam in the hallway for a bit, with the harness on. And eventually, attaching a leash to the harness. But he just sort of sat there, or would run a few steps, then turn around, run back inside my apartment etc. It seemed it would take many weeks of baby steps, to get anywhere with the 'walking' thing.
I'm all for catios however, or something similar. I once had an apartment in a private home in Queens that included a wooden deck out back. I hired a handyman to build a matching 'cage' around the deck (walls and a 'roof') using chicken wire affixed to a wooden frame (and I asked him to build it in such a way that it could easily be removed if/when I decided to move to another apartment). It ended up blending in perfectly with my wooden deck, and enabled my cats to get fresh air and sunshine without my having to worry about them escaping, getting hurt, killing birds, etc.
Now in a different apartment with an open balcony, I affixed 6' tall black decorative trellises to the black balcony rails, and also attached matching black plastic chickenwire along the bottom portion of the rails. This ensures my cats can't get under or over the rails! It's a great setup.
6
OMG!!!
This is right on par with the woman screeching about they sympathies pouring out for Bush41's service dog lying next to his casket.
I have a dog and he's got a buddy he plays with at the service shop where I take my car. When I'm dropping off my car and my dog is still home...that dog at the service shop lies down right next to my car waiting for his buddy to show up.
Dogs have masters...and cats have staff.
That's all you really need to know.
And if you want your cat to get some exercise...take him/her to a dog park.
2
My cat loves walking on a leash and also enjoys riding in one of those cat-backpacks :) I"m so glad someone finally shares this opinion. Adventure cats are happy cats!
Case in point: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUYBZEHBKTR/
4
I fully agree with the author in letting the cat/s out. Our beloved cat, Bloomy who passed recently would greatly enjoy our backyard. And in the evening , when I'd clap my hand, she would run back, like a Cheetah, sometimes with some contribution to the house kitchen !
1
Yes, catios are one answer for 'indoor cats'.....
See: https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/g3263/catios/
Also playing actively with them. The toy called "da bird" is great for this. 10-15 minutes a day.
There are DVD's for cats to watch though I've never tried that.
Basically if you assign your cat to indoors life you MUST help enrich his life indoors.
5
A bit off-topic, but we've been playing dreidel with our kitty this Chanukah, and she loves it! Spin, swat, repeat...
3
Adlai Stevenson said it best:
"To escort a cat abroad on a leash is against the nature of the cat, and to permit it to venture forth for exercise unattended into a night of new dangers is against the nature of the owner."
From his infamous veto message regarding a 1949 bill that would have banned cats from running loose: http://noblespace.org/juniors/documents/CatBillVeto-AdlaiStevenson1.pdf
3
Absolutely right! I once lived with a roommate's cat-- the cat-level windows used to be dotted with cat-height nose smears from his days gazing out the window. And he acted like a pent-up jungle cat. There was a very palpable change in his personality once we started letting him outdoors for backyard adventures, which we supervised from the porch (alas, this is much harder in NYC). He went from angry, frustrated cat to much more contented, relaxed feline. People need to realize there is no such thing as an "indoor cat" any more than you can be an indoor human. I wouldn't consider getting a cat now unless I had a set-up where they could have some outdoor time.
5
We let my cat, Tyger out for years. he got in the elevator, went to door and waited for it to open and the spotziered the complex. he came back when I called, got in elevator and went to our apartment door. occasionally, he came in with neighbors, took the elevator, got off at wrong floor and then waited I'm front of apartment on our line. he did end up on leash and greatly resented it.
2
all of this is predicated on having a yard to build a "catio" or neighborhoods where cats can be let out. we city dwellers love cats as pets because they are suited to apartment living... it would be quite the chore to take my cat up and down 4 flights of stairs in a walk up building, especially as she was a 10 year old rescue cat when i got her. sometimes i wonder who the NYTimes thinks their readership really is. from the spate of articles lately, it isn't NYCity dwellers for sure.
1
Check out the NYT previous articles on Catios, most of which have been made on balconies and outside windows of apartments. You can give your cat a safe “outdoor” experience even if you’re in a small, urban space yourself.
1
Years ago, I bought a little harness and took my cat out for a walk, because every time the front door opened he tried to run out. I thought I could protect him. So we went outside, he took a few steps, and then lay down. I pulled, he lay. He rolled over on his back. I rubbed his belly. He purred. We got about 10 feet from the front door.
3
Gosh I love cats!
I was raised in an environment of hunting dogs,and free range cats.
I never leash my cats or remove their nails!!!
As 6 week old kittens they remain with me held frequently. Like yu would care for any newborn.
We never had a cat die from auto or wild animal attack
I always let my cats outside alone.
Everyone of them hangs out in the yard or on our multilevel deck.
The key imho
Patience, affection , and early imprinting of the kitten.......
We become alpha mommie/ daddie
Leader of the natural world
Point of reference for a kitty home that the cat wants to return to.
Teach them your “call”too
“ come home kitty”!
2
I once took my cat Chuck for a walk and before I could prevent him, he had climbed a tree (after having been spooked by a dog). I had to reel him back in like a fish! It was the last time I took Chuck for a walk.
3
I keep both of the furballs inside. All the time. They have a beautiful screened in "catio" that they can enjoy mother nature without the fear of a crazed raccoon or squirrel ruining their day and causing their guardian to be taking them to the Cat ER.
They tell me they are fine with this arrangment and don't need to explore the wilds. Every now and then, a small lizard will find it's way onto the catio and become a play toy for the girls. I think it satisfies their desire to go hunting. They know that they have a full bowl of their favorite nourishment just a few paw steps away.
Most important, they are not out in the wild wrecking havoc on the bird population. In fact, they love to watch the various birds that feed at the hanging bird feeder outside their lair. Squirrels not welcome, sorry.
Walking them? I'm not sure about that. It could be that cats are just to dignified to walk with us. They don't like to travel in packs and I think that's what a walk would seem like to them.
2
My cats now live into their 20s. They travel in cars and have a catio and walk on leashes. The songbirds have less enemies and my cas do not disappear after a few years.
2
"When your cat does return home, I think you’ll find, as we have, that he comes back a complete being, one who has salved his savage heart and who is now perfectly content to be the lion in your lap. Sure, you’re going to get some strange glances from other people. But it will be nothing compared with the look in your cat’s eyes when you open the front door."
There's an awful lot of projection and anthropomorphizing in that paragraph.
4
Wow. So many experts on cats.
My aunt had 20 cats - around 8 were outside and more or less feral, living in a shed. The other 12 were indoors.
Sandy would come to see you when you entered the house. He would lick your face and sit next to you. The long-hairs tended to be standoffish, laying on windowsills glowering.
Tiger was friendly too, but he was too interested in other cats to pay attention to visitors.
Not to mention Mickey, a Maine Coon cat. He *really* wanted to jump up on your shoulder and sit there.
Walking cats makes sense, depending on the cat. Just like walking dogs makes sense, depending on the dog.
3
There is this guy in Japan who walks NINE cats in a baby stroller. He takes them to crowded areas of Tokyo. Cats can be socialized. Google "cats in a stroller in Japan" If you want to see something truly amazing!
"God made the cat so that man could caress the tiger..."
to paraphrase a classic observation.
2
Surprised the default pronoun used here is "he" and "him". Come on, this is cats we're talking about. Everyone knows dogs are he's and cats—the most feminine animal there is—are she's.
2
Dogs, cats...the cruelty we inflict in the search for love.....
Looking for opinions about taking my cat out for walks in a secure pet stroller.
Anybody?
2
You are putting your cats in grave danger from hawks, foxes, squirrels, disease and other predators. I do not understand how this is acceptable. Please don't kill your cats. Do you have a vet? Please speak with them.
1
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
There's a young homeless guy in our city who stands on a small concrete island between lanes of a very busy street at a very busy intersection. He stands there for hours with his sign asking for help. He has a leash attached to his waist, and behind him at the other end of the leash sits a big tabby cat, calm as could be, with cars and trucks and motorcycles thundering by on all sides, just sitting there with that half-closed-eyes look cats get when they're just, like, content.
4
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I really believe that indoor-outdoor cats are happier than those that are indoor-only. I would rather give my cat a shorter but happier life than an un-stimulating one in a bubble. (I would want the same for any human, too!)
On the issue of eating wildlife, I have to think that the near-complete obliteration of any natural habitat is a bigger threat to birds and mammals than are house cats. And as a city dwellers I think we could use a few more cats to keep the exploding rat population in check....
10
I have Devon Rex cats who love to go with me and my two Maltipoos when we walk. I leash trained them as kittens, however we all 'free walk' now. (no leashes for anyone) The kitties especially enjoy our RV camping trips and love to explore the campgrounds.)
1
I’ve tried walking cats on a leash but have not been very successful. It can be frustrating for all concerned.
My first cats were indoor-outdoor cats received from a friend. I chose to maintain their freedom. (My current cats remain indoors, but I’m willing to give the leash another try.) The problem with letting cats roam about is that they sometimes don’t come home, e.g., https://deimel.org/poetry/odyssey.htm.
1
Uncortunately I live in NYC and not the suburbs. The noise level would scare my cat into hiding.
2
I have a deck with southern exposure. My cats love it.
I doubt any of them would move an inch were they to wear a harness. They'd probably either try to wriggle out of it by making fools of themselves walking backwards or just freeze and give me dirty looks until I took the thing off and then opened the door to the deck.
Have an area where they can enjoy the sun, breezes, and birds - like a deck. Teach them not to jump on the railing (flick the back of your cat's ear slightly and directly link the wrongdoing with the chastisement, it's what their mothers do to discipline them; and you need do it only very lightly to see them wince and know they've done something wrong). Give them a planter filled with grass during the spring.
I let my cats out whenever they want- good luck keeping them inside! In the spring when my yard is being tilled by legions of voles digging tunnels I am treated to their daily harvest of at least 2 or 3 corpses left on my porch. I no longer need to use pesticides to control lawn damage. The cats are killing machines and rodent specialists. They've never once taken a bird. They're both just really good at hunting rodents. Rarely they take a chipmunk but they're so pleased and proud to be successful hunters. I've lived in an apartment and had indoor cats and they seem happier when they can use their instincts.
1
When we brought home our 2 adopted kittens 15+ years ago, I was determined to take them on daily walks on a leash. Such opinions as this author's had me convinced anything less was cruelty. One kitten continually escaped the leash no matter how tightly strapped in. The other hated being outside, would flop down on the ground and refuse to move. The author's vision of a person outside with an unleashed cat who comes when called bc you are trying to keep them out of traffic or out of trees hunting birds is...
amusing. Good for those who had success with leashing a cat where I failed. However I can assure you I feel no guilt about my cats' indoor lives now. The alternative was a short life, or in the case of those rescued, being destroyed.
1
I adopted two 6-wk-old black siblings about 2 yrs ago. Hubby and I live in FL, with access to an outside room plus a screened in pool area. Pepper and Pearl are happy to roam within these confines, catching and devouring tiny lizards that creep under the screening, or just warming themselves on the walkways. My grandson chases them relentlessly despite remonstrations. I confess that I’ve never cut their nails, either; too traumatic for both of us. They seem to like the fresh air and sunshine when they want it, and seem to get enough exercise. No walking (as if!!) necessary. Still, both sleep an inordinate amount....
2
I tried walking my cat once. He was very active and interested in the outdoors so I thought he would like the opportunity to explore. I put the harness on him and took him downstairs to the lawn - where he laid down and refused to move. It would seem he found it less humiliating to enjoy the view from my balcony.
99
@A.H. Yes, we have tried to put harnesses on our cats with the exactly the same result. There is something about the harness that seems to make them so uncomfortable that they don't want to move. Too many stimulations from the straps as they move seems to confuse the heck out of them, I think.
7
@A.H. Exactly what my cat did, too. And when she once did escape, she was gone for three months. Fortunately, she wore a collar and tag, and a family a mile away called me when she showed up at their house. She was an indoor cat ever since, until she died a couple of months ago.
4
@A.H.
you most likely have to start them as a kitty.
15
One of my cats is a Bengal. The breed is known for lack of fear, or call it boldness or assertiveness. They are also somewhat dog-like and amenable to following human direction. Getting him to walk on a leash was a snap. Now he expects a daily walk around the block. It is not as direct and quick as walking a dog, but still remarkably businesslike.
This cat was almost certainly raised by a breeder and got no practical education at hunting from his mother. (I got him as a rescued stray.) Watching him stalk a squirrel or bird is comical, he is so bad at it!
My other cat is a regular tabby. The Bengal raised her from a kitten, so she did her best to follow his example when harnessed. But going on a trek around the block is beyond her mental fortitude. She is content to investigate within sight of our house; it is clear she keeps track of where home is. The Bengal is not so savvy. I am certain he would wander away and never find his way home if simply let out; that is probably why he was a stray in the first place.
3
When I was a kid living in Detroit, we always had cats, and they were outdoor creatures. Now living in a home in BC, Canada, and they make great food for coyotes and bobcats.
We now have two indoor cats, and through one of our neigbors, discovered something amazing: pet strollers (really? YES!)
Even though we have a catio, both cats cannot wait to go out for stroll, rain or shine (they get to stay dry). Highly recommend this indoor cat lovers; enjoy!
3
This past summer I lost a beloved cat who was given freedom to roam at nights (he always caught rodents, never a bird). Living in the country, my worry was that an owl or a bobcat would take Amado's life. I was somewhat right: he contracted a horrible illness called Bobcat Fever. It is a tick borne disease that bobcats are host to but they do not suffer any consequences, unlike our feline whose first symptoms were seizures. Amado's replacement is now kept confined unless we are there to monitor him and check immediately for any ticks.
2
Mr. Monte, a true predator in every sense, is the feline love of my life. I do let him outside, with adult supervision, every morning and in the afternoon. He cannot go out at night. Mr. Monte understands all this and actually is a tuned to my schedule; he comes in for a nap by the fire when I go to the gym. He is loved and protected.
5
I live in the middle of a forest, so I'm not concerned about cars. But I do worry about predators like owl and hawks. I also worry about my cat killing birds. But there's no way my kitty would consent to an all-indoor life. So this is how I've solved the problems:1) a brightly colored and patterned ruff around her collar warns the birds to stay away. ( Birds see way more colors than we do and are very sensitive to bright colors and patterns.) She hasn't killed a bird since I put it on her. 2) I trained her with treats to come when I call; I call her in before dusk and don't let her out until after dawn, thus avoiding predator feeding times. As she ages, she tends to spend much less time outside. And I don't mind at all that she keeps the mouse and mole population slightly trimmed.
5
Ah, cats on a leash with a harness! Tried that in 1966! Believe me, we had patience and tenacity but not as much as our cats. They were having NO part of this whatsoever! They would flatten themselves on the ground. It was a no-go.
When we moved to another city and a house, they became indoor/outdoor cats, always in at night. One lived to be 16, one to 17. Both died of old age.
5
I live in the country, far out on Long Island and have always had outdoor cats until we got Abby a 16 yr old indoor cat who we got when our friends moved to France. At first she was terrified of the outdoors, but gradually I lured her out onto our large deck and she loved it! We would sit and watch birds, squirrels and rabbits and she began to nap outside only if we were with her as she never quite got used to the world outside. Sometimes she actually left the safety of the deck and wandered into the backyard to eat some grass, always returning when we went in. Abby passed away at 21 yrs old, our friends told us that they thought her last 5 years with us were her happiest. I'm glad we got her acquainted with the natural world.
3
I totally agree with this. I have always disagreed with friends who say a cat's best life is indoors only. That it extends their life seems like a weak justification if their life is not a full life. It's not easy, but making an effort to get your cats outside while figuring out how to keep them (and birds/other critters) safe makes their life more complete. They are meant to be outdoors. I started my cats on a leash in the backyard of an urban core when they were small. They do not walk well on a harness, but I like to thinks it gave them the idea to STAY in the yard. Ten-year-old Murray used to hop the fence at dusk to wander on occasion so I learned to take him indoors before the sun began to set. But these days neither 10-year-old kitty has left the yard in several years. Yet they very much enjoy begin outside to visit the squirrels and bask in the sun. Murray gets stir crazy and expects to be let out each morning. I don't let them out mornings in the fall when fledgling doves learn to fly on the ground. And if I'm not going to be home they come inside. They absolutely LOVE the sky, the grass, the breeze.
3
This neutered cat appeared in the middle of New Jersey winter at my sisters apartment door. Hoboken for sure has many strays. She let him in, feed him. And she got herself an indoor cat. She inquired around but it seemed no one had lost a black and white cat with a mean stare. As opposed to what my sister still believes, he adopted her. Couple of years later the working visa of my sister expired and she was confronted with a complicated situation. IKEA furniture and black Friday TV set could be sold or handed over, but Moncho rubbings and meows and all company he gave to my sister could not be disposed off as easily. She weighted many options, but at the end she did not have the heart to leave him behind. Probably he was already kicked out once! betrayed by another human perhaps?. She packed her life and the cat and flew to Colombia. The cat adapted well to Bogota, a cold rainy city, very similar to Hoboken in terms of concrete and asphalt. A new life started for this feline who started to roam the roofs of this working class neighborhood. Our parents have a small patch of land a little bit down the mountains. They grow coffee and my mother has a coop. My sister went to visit them regularly on weekends, with the New Jersey cat in a crate. And he liked it. At the begining she would invite him to board the crate on Sunday afternoon back to brickland. But one day he refused. He stayed on sight but far from my sis reach. He made up his mind an stayed. Now he runs the Finca.
9
As a veterinarian, I find this topic fascinating. As a parent, all I can think of is that this is a version of the helicopter parent vs. free-range parent dilemma. Different species, same basic control issues masquerading as protection.
In veterinary school, we were taught that the safest place for cats is inside: shielding them from predators, parasites, and cars. In real life, the reality is not so straightforward. How are the sequelae of a life lived indoors (diabetes, obesity, inappropriate urination/defecation, overgrooming from boredom) any better? These days. my only rationale for keeping a cat indoors is to protect birds.
It takes a special (read: dedicated) owner and a tolerant cat to allow leash walks. And it could never be the same experience that living "free range" permits.
13
@Boston1 My vet disagreed with you. And the catastrophic decline in bird species needs you to change your view.
3
We trained two of our cats to walk on leashes. If one wants to do so, one needs much patience.
Cats need a body harness, rather than a collar with a leash attached. This is because they wriggle out of collars.
Having said that, we enjoyed walking them around our condo complex.
3
I've had outdoor, or indoor/outdoor cats, mainly because they were strays I didn't want to imprison, and because they get rid of the terrible infestations of rats and mice common in my area. My current one follows me on walks, sometimes for blocks, on his own, running along the curb, under bushes, then leaping out in front of me before running off at full speed. My neighbor's cat also follows me. We have wild parrots and lots of crows, both of whom will attack the cats, so there is a balance of power.
In the mid 1960’s my husband and I (first time cat owners) took our two cats with us on camping trips—once to a lake in the Sierras, another time to Crater Lake in Oregon. They wore their little harnesses and walked on a leash. It seemed natural to us—astonishing to others. We all survived!
3
I have a high deck and my cat goes out there as s/he, yes, cat is both, has enough sense not to jump off. Still, no grass, no dirt to roll in. I tried with a harness and long leash to put cat outside in the front yard. In less than 5 minutes cat was out of harness and free. What to do? I am in a wheel chair. Solution: Cat goes out side when my Girl Friday comes 3 times a week.
I love both cats and dogs. They all give us a love and loyalty that is, as the commercial says, PRICELESS.
I have 2 male cats that insist on coming along on short dog walks with our dachshund. We go up and down the block, sometimes very slowly, exploring scent and walls small bushes, and because we have very few cars at certain times of day, we cross the street. There’s lots for cats to do, and they act like a security detail for the dog. Who said you can’t herd cats? Walking with their dog and me is their joy and apparently they feel it’s their duty. Too bad for all the cars and posts and bushes they spray.... but our neighbors love the whole situation and don’t complain.
2
I am not a cat owner but I have always considered it the utmost of cruelty to keep an animal indoors, a hunter no less, it's entire life. What animal doesn't crave being outside, to feel the air, the sun on their face?
1
Unless your yard has a very high fence and enclosed area, this suggestion is fraught with peril. Cats take off running if they are startled or see another animal and you won't be fast enough to keep them from running straight into a passing car. Also, my neighborhood has a coyote problem, so there's that hazard waiting as well. Unless there is completely enclosed area, the advice in this post is going to cause a lot of heartbreak over lost or injured (clueless) indoor cats who suddenly have freedom but don't know what to do with it.
2
I let my cat out even though he had a heart condition. A couple passed by on the sidewalk walking two dogs with no leashes and the dogs chased him. He did not come back for hours, and the stress damaged his health.
Our cat Bob has a cat door, although he prefers a doorman.
He comes and goes as he pleases. We’ve tried a harness to take
him on walks. He won’t have it. He’s a friendly boy who sleeps
by day and likes to be out at night. We have raccoons, fox, skunk,
and other cats in a city neighborhood. He’s a big cat, but I fret about him. When he comes home, he meows, wakes me and asks for food. Before bed he likes to perch in a windowsill so he can see outside. After he’s seen enough, the Bob cat curls up next to my wife for a well earned snooze.
3
"Proud species..." Some, if not most, of the same people who decry the insect apocalypse, the decline of the honey bee, and white nose disease among bats simply shrug their shoulders when it's pointed out that American cats kill more than a billion birds a year--and that's conservative. And they aren't killing for survival; after helping to decimate the local population the majority of these cats go home to meals that are nutritionally superior to what's available for thousands of American children.
2
Maybe they are little furry Lamborghinis, but I'll walk our cat the day I see you walking a sports car.
3
People, talk to your vets before you follow the advice of this article. And please don't listen to some of the comments that tell you "their" cat looks both ways before crossing the street. If you want to improve the life of your indoor cat, play with them. They will have long and happy lives compared to the ones that go outside. Statistics don't lie. Ask your vet........and while you're at it, vaccinate your pets.....and kids.
5
YES to the following from this article:
"The solution lies in what we’ve already done with dogs for decades: We need to start walking our cats."
A million NOs to the follow-on:
"I’m not saying that you should put your cat on a leash like we did. They don’t like you telling them where to go. But we should let our cats outside for 30 to 60 minutes a day to rove yards, stroll sidewalks and disappear into shrubbery."
Wrong. Cats are predators that kill whatever they can find if let out to "disappear into shrubbery". When you let them out without a leash, you are letting them out to hunt. If they don't take to the leash, they should stay, always, indoors. They do fine roving rooms and disappearing into closets and under furniture - they don't need to harass the wildlife in the outdoor world.
Cats, along with rats, are probably the two most damaging invasive species that humans have scattered everywhere we go.
If you own cats, please keep them indoors always, or on a leash outdoors.
If you feed outside cats, STOP doing it unless you first pay to have them trapped and neutered. If you worry the cat is facing a tough life outside in the cold, think about the lives it ends every day, even if you feed it.
Letting cats roam outdoors is wrong and very bad advice, however cheerily this writer delivers it.
5
A few years ago, I built a cabin on some wooded land that had been in my family for a while, unused. I'd go there for weekends, and open the car door and let my cats out to roam. I wouldn't see them for hours. Once in a while, there'd be a flash at the top of the area that had been cleared for a lawn and garden and Eddie, the more adventurous of the two would come running down toward the house, then suddenly veer up the trunk of a tree. Like a little dog, Ed always came when I called him to come in at dinner time. The other cat, Kitty, was more of a homebody and preferred the house, even though the doors were left open. I sold that property a few years ago, Eddie died at age 18, and Kitty followed at age 14. I don't think Ed would have suffered a leash, and Kitty was too timid for the great outdoors. But, I'm glad I could give them both that little chance to be wild in the woods.
2
Many years ago I got an 8-week old kitten and my longtime vet instructed me to keep this cat indoors to protect her from disease, dogs, cars, fighting etc. This dismayed me so I got a cat harness/leash. Wow, she loved seeing her leash and would jump up on a piece of furniture to accommodate me in putting the harness on. Eventually, I moved and let her sit on a balcony out the kitchen door. She then began sitting on the first step leading down the stairs. Then she went to the second step. Eventually she reached the patio and then found a narrow opening in the fence leading to the great outdoor world. That ended her adventures, but she lived for 18 years.
I now have two brother/sister ferals. The sister prefers to stay inside and will only go on the patio to eat a little grass if I leave the door open. The brother, on the other hand wants to investigate the yard and will not come in when I call, which would distress me. But I also have a rescue dog who has herding dog DNA in him; I got the idea that maybe he could help. All I have to say is "where is the kitty?!" and he bolts into the yard. The next thing I know he is "herding" the cat, shoulder to shoulder, running at breakneck speed toward my back door! Works every time. The brother is breathing heavily and his nose turns to deep pink but I have him inside!
4
My 95 yr. old Mother walks her cat. Also has a stroller for the cat. If she can do it, anyone can.
1
Miss Lulu knew that when I said "Do you want to go on a little adventure?" she and I would go outside, stroll around the yard for ten or fifteen minutes, and then head back inside. When she went out without me she enjoyed watching birds and chipmunks (she wasn't a hunter) from the deck; when she and I went together I believe she enjoyed just being outdoors with me, and ranging slightly farther than she would on her own.
1
We walk our cats on a leash, and it doesn't bother them since we've done it since just after they were kittens. It would be asking a lot of a cat to start this in middle age.
1
I live in the South Bronx, where street cats are as common as pigeons. Don't feel sorry for them — they like it. People leave out food for them. They're a staple for the same reason why every store here has one, to stalk vermin. Every time I take my two pit bulls out for a walk, I cross to the other side. Not out of fear of what my pits may do to the cats; the opposite. They're fierce!
3
I'll never forget the time I went walking, after dark, and a soft rain was falling. About a block from my house (country area) I heard the very distinctive, plaintive cry of my cat. I stopped, turned around, and there she was trotting after me down the road. (She had seen me leave the house, and followed me, even though she rarely left my yard.) It still makes me think of something like a scene from a "Lassie" movie where the music swells, and the pet is reunited with its owner. I picked her up, stuffed her body inside my jacket and continued on my walk. The author is right. When you try walking them on a leash, you spend a lot of time standing still.
1
I have a neighbor who puts her cat on a 30' leash, and stakes it out in her yard. She has been doing this for many many years. The cat does not get tangled up or eaten by this-or-that. Maybe there are birds and squirrels who are dumb enough to get caught by a cat on a leash...but, I doubt it.
On a related note, I once tried to put a climbing harness on a 100-pound pig. While pigs almost certainly vary in their preferences for such goings-on, that pig was not interested. I would suggest, the second you realize your pig does not want to wear a climbing harness...stop trying.
3
Our orange tabby Stan loves going for walks of leash and we’re minor legends in our neighborhood. He will run with me, climb trees, stop to visit dogs and people. It’s often the best part of my day, and his perhaps. Our tiny gray tabby stays inside, venturing only onto the front porch. Everyone has their own thing.
1
My little rescue indoor girl, shy as can be, now suddenly seems curious about what is outside the apt door - this alternately delights and scares me! when she approached the stairs going down to the lobby, that was it...experiment over for today!
2
Hard to believe the author has much experience of cats which for the most part please themselves and not their "owners" since the cat considers he owns himself.
1
Although an indoor cat, we leash trained our him to walk our property which includes a waterfront dock. Bogie, black domestic, loves watching the local wildlife. He prowls beneath the bamboo we planted, sniffing out small lizards. He responds to voice command when testing the leash limits by hunkering down we catch up. One should only see the joy when my husband lets him know it's time to go out for an adventure! Bogie literally trots like a tiny pony to the screen door. The journey reminds him of his natural environment, but he wouldn't give it up for the space between our pillows at nite!
1
Not all cats like to be walked by a human. Too restrictive, I guess. One cat of a friend reacted to a lease by just lying down. As though to say, “You want to walk? OK, just pull me.”
2
People walk dogs. Cats.walk people.
327
I have seen people walking cats on a leash so it is possible with some cats. Letting them out for supervised time is a fools errand. A cat can evade its owner in a flash when outside. One alternative is a large enclosed cage or coop with a roof and floor. Otherwise indoors is best. Worrying about the enclosure is anthropomorphism.
1
Our cats enjoy a screened porch.
3
Yes, that's why I got a cat, so I could feed our beautiful suburban coyotes. Brilliant. Good luck to those leashing and training their cats but my neighborhood website is full of Lost Cat posters whose outdoor cats have likely been consumed. I'm not kidding about the coyotes. The wildlife cam I have in my suburban yard has given me some great videos of them as well as raccoons, possums and deer. I have seen foxes and heard great horned owls. Leave the outdoors to the wild animals; keep your cat inside.
3
It is absolutely unthinkable and irresponsible to let a cats outside in New York City or any other city.
1
Mr. Grimm,
You owe us directions to a cat harness that a cat cannot escape inside of 30 seconds. We haven't found one.
1
look for a walking vest. we have one called the kitty holster and it works great.
1
@cglymour Amen to that!
And yet, in his message vetoing a cat leashing passed by the Illinois legislature, then-Governor Adlai Stevenson wrote cats "are accustomed to a certain amount of unescorted roaming."
1
I live in “kitty Nirvana”. Our place is the jungle. One is a stay at home calico and the other roams the property making life difficult for the voles.
1
With all of the negativity in the headlines and the NYT, this made me smile today. Thank you
4
This is crazy.
If you have an indoor cat, and unleash it outside, it will most likely become a meal for another animal or flattened under a car.
You don't take cats for a walk, you take them for a wait. Our cat loves exploring (slowly) and plops down on her back the instant I pick up her leash. She's a real scaredy-cat - I think she's me as her bodyguard.
Don't make your cat an indoor cat. And, for G_d's sake, never declaw them.
I love my cat. But really, what planet are you from? Very few cats will accept a leash and most won’t even accept a collar. Our cat is perfectly happy staring out the window at birds and squirrels. She is protected from diseases and predators. Your notions of the wandering and free feline are just rosy colored romanticism.
5
the article skips over the hard parts of this, which for us was putting the walking vest in his bed for months while he was very young. it took a while but our cat does love going outside and now associates his vest with this fun activity. at first he hated it though.
Walking my cat outdoors isn't an option in my area because we have rabbits in our yard, and rabbits carry botfly (Cuterebra) larvae that can infest cats. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cuterebra-or-warbles-in-cats Botfly is a common pest and health danger. Other animals can carry this parasite and, in ignoring this danger or being ignorant of it while encouraging cat walking, the author fails to show any expertise about cat care.
2
I have a fenced in backyard and two elderly rescue cats who are too old to try to escape. When they move on to cat heaven I plan to have a catio constructed so my next generation of cats can be safe outside. Google "catio" for lots of good ideas.
106
@BA I have senior cats. I made them a catio they could access out a bedroom window. I thought they would like going outside. They used it some in the beginning but if I was in the yard, they wanted me in the catio with them. After a while they stopped going into it at all. Now the catio houses all the stuff in my yard that would blow away in a hurricane and the cats lounge on the bed and everywhere else in the house as they always did.
7
@BA Anything that lets cats enjoy themselves while protecting all the surrounding wildlife is good. I hope the next cats enjoy the one you build.
8
Living in the country had many cats. All were given the opportunity to go outside on their own. Some did, some could have cared less. But like the other critics here, I too can attest to having two who would go out in the fields and come back with baby rabbits who they would toss around to each other, not good.
The last (and first) time I walked my cat - all harnessed in and on a long leash - he stepped out a feet feet from the house, leaped up while twisting in the air, and took off running. Into the house. It was a magnificent performance. I wouldn't dare do it again.
7
I first started letting my cat out on a leash after it was suggested by our vet. Ali (our cat) was getting idiopathic urinary tract infections. Our vet thought it could be stress-related, and mentioned to us that if we started letting Ali out on a leash, he might be happier, and therefore the UTIs would go away. She was right! Ali loved being out in the yard on a leash and we never wrestled with UTIs again.
Ali caught chipmunks, mice and voles all while leashed up. The only times he got unhappy were when it rained or snowed.
Ali's gone for five years now, but his replacement, the affectionately named Booger, also loves the outdoors - strictly from the safety of her leash. She has yet to catch any rodents, but seems to enjoy eating grass and watching the world go by.
73
@Erin - Please use the leash for the safety of other animals as well as the one you own, and perhaps you and your cat can enjoy the outdoors while sparing the wildlife around you. Well-managed cats are pets. Poorly managed cats are a predatory invasive species.
I had cats, they were 100% indoors and happy and they got plenty of their joy of hunting every day - either by chasing each other, or with toys or the flashlights we always kept around (this was before the laser pointer was around, or we'd have used that instead).
4
@b fagan I would never let my cats out off-leash and I don't mind if they take out a few rodents. Neither cat has ever caught a bird. We have a garden, and mice and chipmunks raid our veggies. Ali used to love to hunt in the garden. One year he used a large watermelon we had growing as a perch to improve his hunting odds. Fun memories!
9
@Erin, just a thought . . . a cat might also become the prey of another animal. The "safety" of that leash just might prevent it from running away from any such predator. And that would be sadly that.
2
Cats should be free to go in and out as they please. They like to roam, but not far. My eldest cat is 13; she now enjoys sitting outside in the sun, but she no longer goes as far as my neighbors' yards. My youngest cat, born feral, roams as far as my neighbors' yards and hunts relentlessly. She occasionally catches a baby mouse, but is repeatedly frustrated that she cannot catch the birds that socialize in the trees and wires above her. I provided them a little door where they can come and go as they please. They stay outside as much as they like, but both like to be home at night. Putting a leash on either of them would be out of the question.
I don't approve of keeping cats indoors. The cats I have had over the years have all lived to a ripe old age.
My present cat goes in and out her kitty door at will. She won't use a litter box and always does her business outside. When she crosses the street she looks both ways and runs back to the bushes if a car is coming. She doesn't go very far and all our neighbors are very fond of her. There's a rat problem around here and she's good at catching and killing them.
Cats are living creatures. They are not potted plants.
6
@Carole A. Dunn
Very true. My neighbors love my cats. When I moved here, everyone had bumpy lawns due to voles. Not anymore! :)
5
A reasonable take on cats. As usual, as reflected in many of the comments, it's all about the owner's fears, wishes, and comfort, not about the pet's quality of life.
1
I have two cats that go on walks when I walk the dogs. They started when young and quickly learned the drill. They are not on leashes but stay in sight and spend most of their time running ahead, then running back, or chasing each other - they definitely get exercise and will come when called. I walk them before they eat, so they know that food is waiting when they get back. One will very rarely come back with a small rodent, but this summer one of the dogs pounced on a shrew during a walk, while on leash, so that behavior isn't restricted to cats. It is the best compromise I could come up with - if the one cat doesn't get out he starts yanking out fur, so I know it makes a difference for him.
2
This is utter nonsense. Humans were also animals of the savannah, but we adapted just fine to life indoors and spending our time in a quite restricted area for the most part.
A large-ish flat has enough space for a cat to move, relative to its size. It's like a huge palace would be for a human relative to our body size. If you also have a secured balcony where the cats can go out, there is absolutely no need to let them outside.
Cats are sprinters and do not cover long distances running like a dog. As long as there is enough space in the flat for short sprints, that is all they need.
123
@GS
"but we adapted just fine to life indoors and spending our time in a quite restricted area for the most part"
I disagree! We humans need to spend more time outdoors and being active, and cats do too.
55
@GS I agree with you that most creatures can adapt- but keeping any creature confined with little stimulation is just cruel.
33
@GS--Yes, we adapted all right, and just look at the results: rampant obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and all the other maladies that result from a sedentary lifestyle, along with a total disconnect from the natural world outdoors, which takes its own toll psychologically. Don't even get me started on kibble, the cat version of "junk food" which is long on convenience for owners, but very short on real nutritional value for the cat.
Many of these same health problems also afflict our modern, indoor cats. Bravo to all you city dwellers who leash-walk your cats in order to give them some fresh air and keep them safe from cars!
I am fortunate to live at the back of a dead-end road in a rural area, so cars are not a hazard for cats here. My two cats have limited outdoor privileges. I let them outside for brief periods (daytime only) and then call or shake the treat jar to get them back inside; thus, they don't venture far from the house. They climb trees, chase each other, and yes, hunt and kill mice and chipmunks, which they will occasionally bring up to the house and partially devour on the front porch. In other words, they get to behave like cats.
37
Every summer we take our two cats to maine (including our blind from birth cat Jenny) where they go outside with us on a small island. Jenny has incredible spatial memory (she remembers the house and the beach) and performs spatial mapping (like she knows when to turn on the beach for the house above it). She runs on the beach and hunts flying beach crickets (and eats them!) They enjoy the outdoors so much that they cry and sulk for a couple of days when we get home, even though they have a balcony (inadequate) that they can go out on.
That cats should have an outdoor life is a given, how to do it safely is the challenge. There are numerous systems that keep cats safe in backyards and on decks. My favorite is at https://oscillot.com.au/. Catfencein.com also makes a good one that we used on our roof deck in the past.
Our blind Jenny is a super happy and well adjusted cat and to see her navigating our apt, a beach in Maine or a house she's never been to continuously teaches us what it's like to have sight without vision. You too can get a glimpse of this by visiting her public facebook page (she responds to all messages) by searching there at Jennytheblindcat or following this link if the editor allows it at facebook.com/jennytheblindcat
76
@Stephen Q too cute
3
From experience I can also add that taking a walk with your cat will allow you to see the world in a whole new light. Cats move slowly when they walk, partly because of their size, but mainly because they focus on so much-they gloss over nothing. By walking with them, you will notice more than you ever have before.
172
I’ve taught my cat to walk on a harness, which was not exactly a difficult task, but one that required a lot of patience and consistency over three or four weeks.
He refuses to go outside in weather any colder than 50 degrees, so our walks are a summer time thing only. He gets easily freaked out, so I’ve got to take him to quiet, low-traffic areas. I do not have to worry about him slipping the harness to go after potential prey because he’s an inept hunter and he seems to realize it.
The bottom line is, cats are just like people — they’ve each got their own personalities and preferences. Your mileage may vary. If your cat is a former stray or feral, or you live in a rural area with little traffic, it might make sense to let your cats out. If you’ve got a born-and-raised indoor cat like I do, you may find your cat is more than happy to hang out at home, thank you very much.
The important thing is to make sure your cats are stimulated and, if they’re strictly indoor cats, to play with them regularly. Not all cats want to stalk birds and run around the neighborhood, but all cats need exercise and benefit from interactive play time. Best of all, playing with your cat strengthens the bond between you.
123
Whoa. Maybe I spent too much time as a vet tech to imagine taking a house cat for a walk on a leash. They are not domesticated pets. They let us live with them. Remember, dogs have masters. Cats have staff.
I cannot imagine the nightmare of trying to protect fluffy from an attacking dog. Grab the poor frightened cat and you will wish you were wearing ruby slippers and were from Kansas. Yikes.
What's to upside? Oh yeah, to make yourself feel better at the animals expense. Thanks Mr. Grimm, but my cats think you are nuts.
190
@Marla Burke - wrong on every level, former "vet tech" or not. On the couple of occasions when "an attacking dog" has come toward us, I have scooped up my cat, and he's been more than happy to be scooped. Sure, his claws were out, and I got nicked, but so what? First, how often do you think such a dramatic situation (the "attacking dog") will occur? I've been walking my cats for 20+ years, and it's happened maybe twice in all that time--certainly not enough times to justify not walking the cat and keeping him confined unnaturally indoors. Most dogs are leashed.
And, all you need to do is keep your eyes peeled for such a situation and anticipate it accordingly. It's not hard. And, second, so I got nicked by his claws? That's part of owning a cat, and if you are afraid of that, don't get a cat.
It's inhumane to keep cats permanently indoors, with no stimulation (inhumane to do that for any animal, for that matter), and inhumane to let him out unsupervised (cars, coyotes, abusive humans, and death to wildlife). If you are going to get a pet, you need to take the time and trouble and do the responsible thing: give it exercise and stimulation.
17
@Marla Burke
Excellent. You must then know of the study about cats by a man who studied them for 30 years. He concluded that cats consider humans, their humans, to be dumb or defective (my words) cats. We do things for them that they like, so we have to be stupid. Do other cats cooperate together? Not really. I have a very difficult time getting two cats to understand - that bowl of cat food is for YOU, and the other is FOR YOU!
4
@Marla Burke
My cat agrees with yours.
Oh, how I wish I could take my 7-year-old tabby out on a leash! But, due to cruel tenant restrictions, she is not legal and although management knows she lives here, I can't let other tenants know I have a cat.
For exercise, she makes me chase her around the apartment. I'm quite sure the people in the neighoring apartments can see me running around--but can't see her. Perhaps they think this is what happens to a 60-something woman in her dotage. So far, no-one has summoned the men in the white coats to take me away.
I still dream of having a place where I can at least have a catio. I know that my cat should not be let loose as her hunting instinct is strong. So, we both have to be content to chatter at the birds in the trees outside the windows. If anyone ever comes to take me away, they'll have to bring her too.
140
@D. Epp So you're admitting you're violating your tenant rules and will be evicted for having a cat in the building.
Ever think about the other people in your building who are living there because they don't allow pets?
You know...the ones with cat allergies?
You know..the little 4 year old girl down the hallway who keeps sneezing every time she walks by your door?
4
@Erica Smythe If the 4-year-old's allergies are so severe that walking past a closed door sets off a reaction, a cat with which she never comes in contact is the least of her issues.
24
Another thing you can do, if you have a backyard, is to build them a catio. I just had a huge one built over the past four months, taking up most of my yard. It has five levels, jumping areas, climbing areas, and real dirt and bushes on the group and is completely open-air.
My cat's whole personality changed since he started going into it! He now actively stalks his toys, carries them around proudly in his mouth like prey, runs non-stop at break neck pace around the catio sometimes, and digs in the dirt. His life has been transformed.
437
@actualintent This is the New York Times. The writer lived in a studio in Baltimore. He was speaking specifically to city apartment dwellers.
8
@actualintent I am very interest in building a catio.
Did you design it yourself, or was it some sort of pre-manufactured catio?
6
@actualintent Yes, this is a good idea, because it keeps the cat from killing birds. Millions of birds a year lose their lives to outdoor cats, including endangered species. Many cat owners are responsible and take steps to prevent this, but many more are highly irresponsible and even militant about letting their cats (or feral cats they are feeding) continue to kill birds and wreak havoc.
12
Our cat is terrified of the outdoors and has been since he was a kitten. I’ve raised him since he was six weeks old and came home from the shelter. He has lived here with older cats, and as sole cat with his human family. He has the complete run of a fairly large and topographically interesting house. He simply does not like being outdoors. He likes looking at the outdoors through windows. He isn’t overweight. He is about a pound (10%) heavier in winter than summer - appropriate for his size - and he is highly active at the age of 10. He will nap, run around at breakneck speed, scratch his posts and climb his platforms, laze in front of the fire in winter or beneath a ceiling fan in summer, watch TV, investigate just about anything whether or not it exists, play by himself or demand to be played with depending on his mood. He may even play fetch if he feel like it. His vet says he is very healthy, and I tend to agree as he sits purring on my shoulder as I write this. Cats are individuals. As with humans, YMMV!
61
@Ralph You should get him a feline playmate. Males, especially, should have a companion until they are about two years old. have you ever thought of getting another kitty?
1
After our beloved Dominic disappeared in broad daylight one summer day, victim of either a coyote or the neighborhood bobcat, we said no more outside cats. Period.
Our current three have never been outside and we're keeping it that way. Take them out on a harness and leash and they will lose their fear of the outside. I don't want to come home, open the door, and have a cat dart past me into the yard, only to meet a coyote or an owl or a bobcat or the hawk that lives in the tree on the bank.
When we moved in 30 years ago, it wasn't unusual to see an outdoor cat. Now the only time I see evidence of cats outdoors is on the "MISSING" posters on the lamp posts and mailboxes.
Too many predators. I'm not raising hors d'oeuvres.
398
@Tessa
In my experience, cats that are confined to the indoors are much more likely to try to bolt through an open door. Those that have an outdoor outlet through leash walking are less likely to try to escape.
24
@JR I have 4 cats I found as ferals on the street. They greet us at the front door when we come home, and show no interest in bolting outside, though they do enjoy the scents that waft in, and birdwatch through the windows. They know how good they have it now, and would rather stay in.
98
@Tessa
So true, and EC'ers do not know CA.
My cat was a stray on Maui and she lived both in CA valley then foothills--four coyotes eying her on deck (a hungry family) was enough to move her inside.
She did not like it but had tons of toys and made 15+ RT to VA with me, a fine flyer.
27
If a cat owner wants to walk a cat, they need to start early in training a cat. Kittens can be easily trained to get used to a leash or harness. I recommend harnesses because cats are natural escape artists. I had a Siamese cat that I used to take to Central Park. I would take her there in her cat carrier and then let her out when we reached the park. She loved it and became a real drama queen when I had to get her back in her carrier to take her home. The cat I have now is very timid and most noises freak him out. I'm still not sure why because I adopted him from the Humane Society of NY and the place was always bustling with noise and people. I would never take him outside but I let him roam the second floor hallway of my apartment building. My neighbors greet him and call him the "Official Building Inspector." Cats that spend a lot of time outside will not have a longer lifespan than indoor cats. And they are creatures of habit. If one tries to disrupt their routine the cat will not be amused.
4
Sadly today's domestic cat, all cuddley and cute is a killing machine. Most cat owners in the country let their cat out at night and they do what they are designed by nature to do. They hunt.
In following that basic instinct they kill birds, frogs, toads, mice, moles, insects and anything they can get those very sharp claws and teeth on. Their impact on certain bird populations, especially in island countries has brought several species to extinction.
I don't know what the answer is for little Tabby, but we have tipped natures balance and need to find ways to right what we have done.
12
We walk both of our cats on a leash due to a large coyote population in the area. They love it, running to the door when they hear us pull out their leashes. The neighbors do look at us with a bit of a side eye, but children love us. We also had a cage built attached to a window that allows them to go in and out during the day.
4
David Grimm is my neighbor and we have always marveled at the time he spends with Jasper outside. Cats in or out is a complex issue. I have too many cats and so many times I wish I could open the door and let them out. One does, he was a stray and old habits die hard. He handles the mice situation. I feel sorry for cats who never get to climb a tree. My decision to keep them inside when we lived in the county was due to the ticks. Lyme decision is a serious problem. Fox also were a problem. In this dangerous city the issue goes beyond the ticks although they too are there. There is no easy solution, we do the best we can for so many of these cats that were homeless and are happy to be in or out.
6
I let my cat out every night and she lived for 15 years. Yes she came home after a few fights, but I always felt you need to let a cat be a cat. Dogs live to be part of a family. Cats cohabitate, so treat them like a room mate and give them their freedom.
2
I have too many cats. I have inside cats that stay inside. One is a bit fat and I tried to get him to walk on a leash with no luck. I apprently do not have a lot of patience. I also have outside cats that I adopted as ferals when I lived on a larger property outside of town. When I moved back into town I refused to abandon them and brought them with me. They live in the garage and have a door of their own to go in and out. I find in the summer they are absent most of the time. In the winter they spend most of their time hanging around in the garage that is filled with boxes and blankets and beds. It is never below freezing in the garage, the same cannot be said for the outdoor temps. I tried bringing the outdoor cats in and it didn't work out well. For now, they all seem pretty content with where they are at. Perhaps we all just need to realize that cats, like humans, don't come as one size fits all.
9
"We should pick them up when they head for the street."
That sentence is one of those ideas that look great on paper but in reality tend to be disastrous. I know this from years and years of experience of having cats. The task of "picking up a cat" once their mind and thought process is focused on something like "heading for the street" is not unlike trying to herd cats. They will go every which way except in your arms or direction.
But I applaud the feline owner who is willing to give walking a cat on a leash a try. While a lot of passer- byers will initially smirk at a cat being walked, a lot of folks eventually smile and want to bend down and pat the cat.
Cats simply love the various smells of the outdoors. Any safe and protective avenue provided to them so they can get that "I'm still a wild beast" fix will make a cat happier and content. Now if only I could train my cat to fetch his own leash so I know when he wants to go out and get that feline fix.
Thank you for a charming and enchanting article. I just wish there were more pictures!!
19
The solution we have found - and which our cat prefers - is to let him outside after dark. Birds are safe and he can instead hunt for mice. Sure, he gets into the occasional scrap with a neighboring tom, but other than that there are no predators to bother him in our city. At some point, usually before we go to bed, he'll want to come in and we all sleep soundly. Or he stays out all night and sleeps in the cat house we've provided. Everyone's happy!
4
@Patrick
You also have the luxury of not worrying about coyotes, bobcats or poisonous snakes. Not sure about owls, but it seems unlikely downtown Dussedorf is a-flutter with them. I would add foxes, but it has been my experience (almost 10 years' worth), watching our cats ignore the foxes that came to our front step to eat the dog food I put out for them, that foxes and adult cats have a gentleman's agreement.
3
@Patrick Hi Patrick, that is a tempting solution, but I find that it is asking for trouble because that's when the larger predators come out. Winter is particularly bad for hungry racoons and coyotes. That's my neighbourhood anyway. We're near a wood.
1
If they accepted the leash which is possible; perhaps with a period of acclimation; The issue in the city is noise. They seem extremely sensitive to city noise so that's an issue.
5
Yes, I walk "Boy Kitty" (or "BK") often. Yes, on a flex lead outfitted with a, virtually inescapable, Mynwood Cat Jacket. Yes, he resisted at first but finally adjusted to wearing it outside without doing the "belly walk".
Living in a motorhome traveling the USA with BK has been a fabulous adventure for both of us. Big upside for him is regular outside adventures in campgrounds and parks. Different venues, some exercise and fresh air invigorates him. Helps maintain his health and energy level.
Plus, we do not seem to disturb non-cat people or run the risk of being the prey for wild animals.
It's perfectly natural for all of us to be outdoors. I'm just sayin'.
10
I tried to bring my kittens out on a leash YEARS ago when my kids were small, because I didn't want them hit by a car for my daughters to find. It didn't work. They turned, struggled, gnawed their way free.
Now they come through a window- so I can check that there's no critters in their jaws. 3 cats, well in to their teens.
One of my cats gets chubby every winter and loses the weight in the spring. As it should be.
3
Some people are just looking for a simple recipe: man in control of NATURE and the environment. Those of us who understand cats know that there are cats and … there are cats.
9
Our old guy cat got old by knowing how to handle himself outside. He's palled around with foxes (they're about the same size) and knows when to stay in when he smells coyotes and fishers. He also learned that Mom and Dad aren't happy if he nails a bird, so he doesn't do that anymore. Chipmunks and squirrels, however, are another matter, and we're OK with that. Mostly these days he sleeps a lot.
3
Several cats own me and as their servant I leave a sliding door open for them.
But I would never dream of taking one for a walk.
Cats are extremely territorial and it would be inciting warfare to walk them through a neighborhood. Even without walking them, I shudder fearfully at their post-midnight outdoor screams and roars.
Let their highnesses sort their game of thrones for themselves.
6
To me, the idea of being walked ON A LEASH is beyond awful...
city cats have the resident mouse population for kicks...
1
Cats should be free to roam outside, ideally without a leash. Tough luck for the dirty birds; who needs them?
3
@No
It's tough luck for the cat which will almost surely have a foreshortened life!
1
@M Clement Hall Exactly. Estimated life expectancy for a housecat fed on a modern diet, 15 years. Estimated life expectancy for an outdoor living cat in an urban environment, 18 months.
1
Yes the cat is a free spirit and let no one try to psycho-analyse it or claim dominion over it. My cats would never accept such a travesty. They were allowed to roam for about 10 years; when they caught birds, said birds were old or sick-- the danger to birds is a Fake News conspiracy theory coined by a dog. Finally, the neighborhood grew hostile and I had to enclose them. Took them another 3 years to accept that. Using a harness/leash to go for a walk was greeted by howls, spitting, and clawing. Then, hiding under the porch. Calling them to 'heel' once they were out and free led to them disappearing for hours and nary a look back.
7
oh, and we had another cat that we let outside on a leash for a few minutes on the groomed lawn and she came down with Lyme disease! Ever try squirting a liquid antibiotic in a cats' mouth? Lyme disease can be contracted from mice, chipmunks, those ticks are just waiting for the next host. It dosen't take much, Lyme and other diseases....
7
If you live in a place where it is safe for your cat to roam, try a cat bib to keep her from catching birds. The cat will not like to wear it at first but if she gets a treat plus to go outside, soon she will look forward to wearing it. I have got them at cat bib dot com, or make your own from neoprene or leather.
1
Our cat insists on being walked (on a leash) every morning sometime between 9:30 and 11:00. He vocalizes until he gets what he wants. He needs the stimulation, the sights and smells, not to mention the grass to nibble on.
7
Listen, no two cats are the same. Anyone who has ever had more than one knows that. You can walk some cats, but you can’t walk others. It’s up to the cat to decide, not you. You know darn well who owns whom.
34
"The solution lies in what we’ve already done with dogs for decades: We need to start walking our cats. I’m not saying that you should put your cat on a leash like we did. They don’t like you telling them where to go. But we should let our cats outside for 30 to 60 minutes a day to rove yards, stroll sidewalks and disappear into shrubbery.
And we should be there to watch them. We should pick them up when they head for the street. We should whistle or clap our hands when they begin stalking a bird. And we should have a bag of treats ready when it’s time to call them back indoors."
I fear the writer of this story suffers from an extensive delusion. As a person who was fondly attached to cats for several decades--the idea that one is fleet-footed enough to casually pick up a cat that is on a mission somewhere, or that one is charismatic and magnetic enough to attract a cat on one's own schedule using a mere treat drifts into the province of psychosis.
I think I was a fine pet for those cats. They left the home whenever they pleased, and returned in the same way, through a pet door. When I didn't have a pet door and when I was admonished to keep one particular feline master indoors for his own good as he recovered from a visit to the veterinarian, after the first day he simply jumped out of a second story window and then stared triumphantly at me from the ground below. He came home eventually, on his own schedule.
Mr. Grimm's cat is laughing at him. He doesn't realize it.
15
When I was a child growing up in the country, I had a huge male cat who followed me like a dog all over our farm for hours at a time. These days I have 2 adopted stray cats which I occasionally allow outside in our fenced backyard while I garden because they keep the vole population in check. The rest of the time, they like to sit in the large picture window and watch birds at the feeders, while making strange birdlike noises and twitching their whiskers, and hanging out on our screened front porch. I couldn't imagine putting them on a leash for walks. They'd hate it.
3
Dear Mr. Grimm,
I can't agree with you more, except that not only should city-dwellers be walking their cats, they should also be dragging every last dog out to the country where they belong.
It could even be this country.
Cordially,
S.A. Traina
Cat Lover
1
You do not need to use a leash.
Cats hate leashes and do not need them. Every cat I've ever lived with has been happy to follow me when out for a walk.
If you live in an urban or suburban area and can walk up, down or around a block, invite your kitty to accompany you. Chances are she will do so if she feels comfortable.
Make sure your companion has a way to get back inside and chances are you and your cat will have great walks.
1
I took my Tiger, yes, that was his name, for walks when I lived in an apartment complex in 1992. The only weird part was people walking by wondering why my arm was above my head. Tiger was on the end of my leash high up on the tree trunk, flat out trying to get to the top. It was quite the sight. Makes me chuckle to this day.
5
Crazy how different life and attitudes appear in Europe. Our three cats naturally go outside through the cat flap and roam the neighbours gardens as long as they wish. When it ist rainy and cold they stay most of their time in the house, on their own decision. In no way, I could lock them.
3
@Elisabeth F. Outdoor cats are Apex predators to birds, especially song birds. The world's population of song birds is dangerously low and outdoor cats are one of the main problems. All cats should be indoors.
2
@Elisabeth F I agree. Only in the USA are cats imprisoned indoors. Cats are even cruelly declawed in the US, to prevent them from ruining furniture due to the stress of being locked up. However, in the US, there are the dangers of Coyotes to consider... The attitude to cats in the rest of the world is much more humane - they are living animals, not fashion accessories, and should be allowed to wander and hunt at night, as their nature requires. You may find this study, which tracked some English cats, interesting. There is an accompanying programme available in the UK - you may have to seek it out online! : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22567526
1
@Elisabeth F
Thank you for explaining why i saw virtually no birds during 3 weeks in Italy this fall. I'll stop wondering now.
1
"Walking my cat named dog..." Norma Tanega
I have had 4 cats over the past 30 years that we're all allowed outside without supervision. Only one got killed by a car. Our current two cats are the tigers of our yard. They are our defense system to keep mice, moles, chipmunks, rabbits and unfortunately a small number of birds from overtaking our yard. Also the cats always return home, coming to our windows to let us know when they want back in. I think that keeping cats exclusively indoors is unhealthy. Free these noble beasts!
2
go out and read a magazine while your cat explores? are you from california? at 22°F, here in deer tick country, we'll opt for indoor cats.
8
Cats are transactional beings with tails, but every now and then, one hears of one with a sense of noblesse oblige or indulgence for human quirkiness. When I was on a fellowship at the Marine Biological Lab at Woods Hole, I heard about the guy who took his cat on his bicycle to bathe in the ocean. A tall tale, surely. But on the last night, as the fog rolled in, a fellow whizzed by on his bike with a large fluffy white cat clinging to his shoulder, disappearing again into the mist. We did try taking our cat for walks on a leash after he chewed holes in the screens. The kids had to provide a few unfortunate songbirds with funerals (they got flowers, eulogies and cardboard tombstones to the consternation of the HOA gardeners). But he thought that a stupid idea and lay down on the sidewalk and swished his tail.
2
"And we should be there to watch them. We should pick them up when they head for the street. "
Good luck with that whole picking up a cat that doesn't want to be picked up thing, unless you overfeed your cat so much it balloons up to be so obese that it can't do any more than a slow waddle.
12
My cat's life in a feral colony was a nightmare and left him shy and skittish. He is more than happy to spend his days in a cozy apartment, chasing toys (and occasional moths) and sleeping on my bed.
9
I built a "catio" (patio for the cats). It is a safe enclosure on my balcony where they can spend time. I put some soft bedding in a place that they can watch the world... when the weather is warm, I always know where to find them. Both are only indoor cats (coyotes live behind the house). The catio is a nice compromise for our situation.
10
I agree. It is simply selfish to raise indoor cats.
Your are deceiving yourself if you think that your indoor cat is happy.
1
@nh - my indoor only cats are a lot happier now that they no longer live outdoors or live in a shelter with dozens of other cats. i'll keep them indoors. they are happy.
1
I tried putting a leash on my sweet Dolly. After several attempts my arm looked like I had been juggling a chainsaw. My arm has healed and Dolly has taken her rightful place in front of the fireplace.
2
I've been walking my cats for years. It's amusing to me that they want to explore driveways and sidewalks to the neighbor's homes. The cats signal to me when they are ready for their daily walk, and off we go.
5
I believe in indoor/outdoor cats. But my experience with is mostly with cats who lived outdoors before they took up residence with me. They were already wise to the dangers of outdoor life. They avoided cars, strangers, dogs and any wildlife larger than 2 pounds.
Any cat new to the outdoors should be supervised till it is clear they are safe on their own.
Spaying and neutering is also critical to the outdoor cat to keep their aggression low as well as for population check.
2
I’ve had cats for over 30 years. The first 5 we lived in apartments and then moved to a house. My wife tried to put collars and used a leash to walk them which was an exercise in futility so after a month I grabbed them both and took them outside with me and put them down and they frolicked and played and came back inside. Yes they do catch the occasional snake and mouse but it’s their nature and better there than in the house. All of them have lived to be over 20 years old so this can’t really be too life shortening. Once they get the taste of the outdoors they are hooked but they come back for dinner most times and if they spend the night out there’s no worries. Live free or die!!
Walk into any animal shelter and you will see row upon row of unwanted cats living in small enclosures. Their best-case scenario would be to be adopted and live out their lives as a house cat. So don't feel guilty if your cat only has 1,000 square feet of room to roam and loving caregivers who feed it regularly and keep it safe - that is one lucky kitty.
36
I regularly take one of our cats out in the yard on a leash ( a harness with one of those dog leash reels attached, so he's got a good 25' of play. Which, even at the end of the leash, was more than enough to let the cat jump 4 feet straight up and snatch a sparrow right out of the air, to my astonishment as well as the sparrow's!
But off the leash is out of the question. If something startles him, or catches his attention and he decides to bolt, I'm sure not fast enough to catch him, and I'm not going to depend on his whims on when to come back.
I wish I could let them all run free like in the Good Old Days, but the world has just become too dangerous. We even have to think about coyotes now, and this is Boston!
10
I remember trying to put a leash on a cat a long time ago. It was a very violent experience, and the cat certainly got his cardio that day. There was blood involved, and I discovered that leashing a cat is a really bad idea.
15
We had woodcock and killdeer, ground nesting birds, in our yard until a neighbor got a cat.
My first instinct was an air rifle but my wife's better judgement prevailed but the woodcocks and killdeer have never returned.
If you have a cat running free and it leaves your yard you have to realize that they are natural killers and other people may not love them like you do.
An addition to their damage to wild birds think about your risk and the risk to your fetus of toxoplasmosis which is endemic in cat loving French households.
9
Make sure your cats have ALL their shots if you let them outdoors or their lives could easily become nasty and short.
Even if you never let your cat out make sure it gets a rabies shot and a FVRCP shot because that virus can be brought into the home on human shoes and clothing.
Note: FVRCP is now a three year vaccine for cats regularly given the shot throughout their life at previous one year intervals.
If you can't afford to give your pet its shots, don't have pets. No exceptions.
12
My Manx cats can't be walked. My male Manx will wait till I'm not looking and wiggle out of the harness. He can do it really fast too. In seconds. And then it takes a long time before I can get him, because he doesn't want me to take him back in. If I get too close to him, he'll bolt. They've been around the country because I have an RV. I let them run in the National Forests and then they would come back when they're tired. The female would only stay out about an hour, but the male would stay out all afternoon. I'm in an apartment now, so I feel kind of bad for them. But, I can't walk the male Manx. He'll contort his body to get out of the harness. My female Manx can't be walked either. She'll just sit there. She loves me. But, my male Manx and I have a more complicated relationship. He wants to live life on his own terms.
4
There is one old grey and white tomcat that lives in our 14-stall horse barn. We call him Jack the Ripper. He arrived here unannounced and when he was taken to another barn across town he arrived back a week later a bit thinner. Tried again. Same result. We had a rodent problem. No more. Rats rarely last long. And he loves to eat them. Another arrived on the porch about four years ago. A tuxedo. His name is Chairman Mao. He yells "Mao!"at me a lot and follows around the farm as I work. Wouldn't come within 10 feet at first. He also loves to eat rodents, but likes field mice, moles and chipmunks. He eats some. Sometimes he leaves them for me. Sometimes just a part. Kinda foul, but I praise him anyway. No poisons or exterminators needed. They were both neutered somehow. I inherited both later (long story) and they both refuse to come in the house. Prefer to be unconfined, I imagine. Got a heated cathouse and water bowl for Mao to hang on the porch. Jack rules the barn. Rarely they get a bird. Usually one of the gang of english house sparrows that besiege the barn. Mostly the robins look to be laughing at them. Jack and Mao pretend they're not there. These two mostly feral men don't much like each other, or anyone else, for that matter, but they like me. Happiest cats I have have ever had the privilege to live with. I don't own these boys. Actually, they are the undoubted masters here, if I'm honest. They chose to live with me and stay here. I count them among my best friends.
15
Lovely story, thanks. And your environment sounds idyllic. I'm jealous! My dream is a small farm or ranch with lots of different animals ... oh well.
When we lived in Wilton, CT, our pet, Pushkin, was an indoor-outdoor cat. He slept on my bed every night, but roamed the woods and neighborhood by day. It certainly caused us the odd headache when he got into a fight, but he loved it and I felt it was good for his health, as he led a far more interesting life than most indoor animals, who are bored out of their minds.
After selling our house, we moved into our New York City apartment for a year or two and I started taking Pushkin out on a leash. An old cat by that time, he took to it surprisingly quickly and it wasn't long before he was smartly crossing Park Avenue and stopping to chat with other pedestrians. Indeed, he became quite a celebrity in the neighborhood -- the Carnegie Hill area -- and it wasn't long before everyone knew him by name.
I would caution anyone wanting to try this to be very careful in the city, as the last thing you want is to lose a cat on the streets of Manhattan.
4
My cat, Cat, always comes along when I walk my dog Milo. The dog is on a leash, but the cat is not. If I tried to put a harness on him he would probably just turn himself inside out trying to get out of it. He's very traffic aware though and handles cars or the odd black bear much better than the dog.
3
It's interesting. I have two adopted cats. One was feral and one was... I don't know but very well loved because he's a big sweetie. I live in a 3400 square foot home with windows everywhere and sills plenty big enough for cat lounging.
In the summer they spend a great deal of time in the sun porch on their tree watching what's going on outside. In the winter, they mostly sleep by the fire in a bed I've put there just for them.
They love to go into the basement. But really, in my large house they have places they like and stick to. They don't explore much of the rest of the house unless they follow me.
Right now they are chasing each other through the house playing.
Take them outside? It's an interesting idea. It makes sense. But I wonder if my cats really care.
3
We’ve tried this. Predictable catastrophe. But get real. Neighborhood cats can’t roam free. They disappear into other people’s yards and will only come back in their own sweet time. We ended up getting an invisible pet fence. It works. We get the passersby who stare too. Our “well behaved” cats with big collars, longing on the porch like sentinels untempted to leave their posts whatever dogs may come.
3
The song bird population will certainly thank you for keeping your lovely kitties indoors or on a leash!
16
We have a feral colony and we have several indoor cats as well. One of our indoor males loves an occasional bolt outside and after communing with nature, he returns and tells us about how it was in great detail. The only reservation I would have about walking cats would be human predators and certain dog breeds off the leash.
1
Why is no one talking about the down side for neighbors of outdoor cats in suburbia? I have never kept cats, and I will never understand why it is just fine to allow yours to roam my yard, stalk my bird feeder, and leave their packages around for me or my children to find in the flower beds. Fine, walk your cats. They deserve to be outside, but please keep them controlled and pick up after them. We do that with our dogs.
16
@Cathy
Here, here! Cleaning up barf, poop, and dead lizards after my neighbor's FIVE cats got very tiresome . . . and sickening. My entire front doorway smelled of poop/urine. Disgusting. Unimaginable to think of letting my dog loose in her yard.
2
A scientist in London or the area of London, England, performed a study on the nighttime travels of domestic cats.
(Cats sleep all day because that is what a nocturnal animal does. )
The BBC published graphs of the individual cat's travel lines. They all had patterns and they were all different.
What was striking from that report is that cats search an area many miles from their home, I don't remember the maximum miles but it is definitely more than one. Also, they traced their original steps, going back and forth sometimes but still advancing far from home.
The cat is busy at night.
I have taken care of abandoned cats now for 13 years straight, where ever I live. My finding is that all cats are outdoor cats. None like the indoors always until the outdoors presents bad weather.
Another scientist who studied cats for 30 years concluded that the domesticated cat thinks humans are dumb cats, probably we are thought to be dumb because we offer them food, and we are defective - no cat fur, and we are too big.
My "community" cats are frisky at night. They keep me up. They come to my door and scratch at it until I relent and get up 2:30 am ish; they prefer the late night which is safer.
There is a renown video of PINKY the adoptee cat which skillfully fought being harnessed by an animal control officer who was promoting it as adoptable is hilarious. That video demonstrates why trying to put a harness on a cat is not advisable.
2
We have just buried Câline’s ashes in our rock garden. She was our 19 year old companion, always a gentle intelligent creature with us, but for years a ferocious hunter, mother-of-two, who was allowed outside when ever she asked. The only comfort I have now is to know we gave her the best feline life possible.
8
We had an indoor cat who bolted out the front door one freezing winter day and ran back deep in the woods behind our house (we have almost 3 acres). You cannot go after a cat, they just keep running. He had never been in the woods before and was probably pretty freaked out from the experience not to mention the frigid temps in the teens. My husband followed him back in the woods and the cat kept going deeper. I waited at the house and kept calling him, after my husband gave up. I kept calling him and eventually he came back shaking at the back screened in porch door, which was perfect for the cats, safe but still able to see, hear and sense. There are also raccoons, owls and other birds of prey looking for a meal, not to mention coyotes and more...keep them safe, play with them!!!
9
Let them go out on their own for an hour or two! They were born to go outside. No leashes. Let them have this wonderful pleasure - I believe it is wrong for us to deny it to them. I don’t mean on inner city streets, but anywhere there’s a little greenery or a little backyard where they can go out - a back porch or somewhere where they can just have a little life outside .... I believe there are some cats who can do without this, but the majority will live all their lives with diminished joy if they don’t have it. Just keep an eye on them.....
4
@Laurie I completely agree. My wonderful Maxie, who died at 18 last year, loved to go outside. Luckily, I live in a pretty safe condo, where cars are not a problem. She would explore the grounds, and often end up in a sunny spot on the deck. I did worry about coyotes at the end, because a few were spotted nearby. None ever threatened her.
1
@Laurie
When I was growing up, people believed the same thing about dogs--no leashes, allow them to roam. People now know better.
5
@Laurie First train them to come when you call and good luck with that.
Cat owners should walk their cats. I live in the city, but I take my cat to the park and let him choose if he wants to go out. So far he just stays in the car, on leash, with door open. Maybe someday he will venture further.
Once a week we visit my family home where he gets to go outside with supervision. A fearless, athletic, Himilayan with no front claws, here he plays with rats and mice in the basement, and visits the farm next door where he charges into the open fields without concern. I pray the coyote's aren't lurking.
1
I was on board until the writer startled talkie get about letting the cats out for an hour or so, to take the air in the garden, all the while “observed” by a devoted owner. Right. And pigs will fly. It takes a cat one hot second to dash off to wherever, not to be seen again. Or at least until dinner time. And does the cat get up to until it decides to return? Uses the neighbor’s vegetable garden as a litterbox, hunts song birds, runs along fence rails to make dogs go crazy barking, ends up under the wheels of a car or in the jaws of a dog who has had enough of the teasing. What cat owner will sit with the cat for that long anyway? Most cat owners get cats because they are low commitment animals. They put down some kibble and leave the window or cat flap open. Maybe change the litter box once in a while. How many cat owners do you know who go on vacation and leave the cat at home, asking a neighbor to feed it a couple times a week? I could count off a few dozen just among my acquaintances and relatives.
Keep your cats indoors or on a leash when you walk them. If you want them to experience the great outdoors, build them a kitty condo. If you let them roam you are a neglectful pet owner. The coyotes around here grow fat on domestic cats.
21
I lost two cats to roads. They liked to wander and were a disaster to walk with a lease on my two acres. I treat my new Siamese cat just as the Grimm suggests. This cat does not run away. He just pretends to hide under bushes and I need to drag a 5 foot stick on the ground to attract him and catch him. He does not like winter in Minnesota, so this won't be an issue for 5 months.
1
I walk my cat without a leash after dark. He usually stays about two houses behind me, and occasionally will ambush me by speeding just in front of me from some side yard. Prey behavior? If we meet someone walking a dog he retreats and I can get him back with a whistle after they pass. My other cat will occasionally walk with me - he’s more nervous so his range is more limited and he stays pretty close to me. They’re cats so I can only walk them one at a time.
1
Hurray. Just got back from walking my cat. When I say “walk walk,” he heads straight for where I keep his leash hanging and waits expectantly. He loves to go out to patrol our yard and munch grass and is a much less grumpy cat on days we can go out. Not all cats will go on a leash, but it is a lovely thing to do if you can.
7
Great. So now it’s 4 AM and I feel like a bad cat owner, but realistically I just can’t see this working.
My cat Kishka loves to hunt cans of Fancy Feast and pounce on toys and shoelaces, and she's the only creature with whom I can still have friendly political conversations, but she’s not about to go outside without a fight.
The last time I took out her carrier for a visit to the vet she bolted under the bed, climbed into the boxspring and refused to come out. I had to reschedule the appointment and use an elaborate scheme to corner her in the kitchen and literally put the carrier over her head to get her in there.
Her heartbreaking meows continued unabated in the hallways, the elevator and on the street. Once we got home she was back in the boxspring and didn’t emerge for hours.
Even if I could get her used to going outside, we live in NYC, and between the cars, filth, broken glass, and evil marauding cyclists it’s just too risky. Cats can escape from any sort of harness or collar, and if she bolted I would never be able to catch her.
Then I would have to live with the thought of her out there alone, eating out of garbage cans with no one to rub her belly, or worse, shanghaied by some drug addled homeless entrepreneurs in their 20s who would make her perform on a piece of cardboard for money.
Not worth the risk. Kashka stays at home.
13
A word of good advice I got from a Vet was to watch out if your outdoor cat becomes a snake catcher.
He said that as the cats got older they slow down, but the snakes don't. And it's a habit that once acquired, the cats will keep at it.
Here, from the outer suburbs of large cities into rural areas, the most common snake is the Eastern Brown Snake which is the World's second most venomous land snake (not quite as common is the Tiger Snake, the World's fourth most venomous). A cat definitely won't survive a bite from these two.
Curiously my outdoor cats (mostly female) spend most of the day on a veranda, only going downstairs to go to the toilet (bathroom?). I get the impression that female cats only go to those areas in which their "owner" goes.
I do often put two in the chookyard overnight to catch rats.
Speaking from experience, when you first try on the harness, expect a cat's interpretation if Circus Soliel: leaps, twists and other extreme gyrations in the air accompanied (or not) by howling shrieks. It does get better, but that first time is a lulu!
4
This is sensible advice. When we adopted a pair of Siamese from my ex-wife, we could take them for walks without leashes. Unfamiliar with the territory, they stuck close to us, and the sight of them following us around the neighborhood caused something of a stir. As they became more confident and familiar with the territory, though, they began to lag, and each walk began to involve more and more coaxing to get them to come along. Eventually, harnesses and leashes were de rigueur, and once they were fully familiar with the neighborhood, they were allowed to roam out the cat door. I have mixed feelings about allowing this, but as they got older, one cat almost never left the fenced yard. Both eventually became indoor cats, and finally, in old age, would only go for walks around the back yard when accompanied by a person. Eventually, they lost all interest in going outside. I miss them more than words can say.
8
Thank you for this great article. I have taken my cat out on a leash before ( and, yes, it took her a while to get used to it) but your article inspired me to let her out with just a collar. She happily poked around for a while, and came when I called! Worked like a charm! We have foxes, chipmunks, and lots of birds in the neighborhood so I’m not ready to let her become just an indoor/outdoor cat, but this seems like a good compromise.
2
Many years ago we had an indoor cat and a large backyard we shared with our neighbors. One summer I got the idea that I would harness the cat (boy is tha a lot of fun) and tie the leash to two bricks.
Then when we were working in the yard the cat could be outside and even roam a bit but slowed down by the bricks.
One day the neighbor’s German shepherd was in the yard and our cat took off dragging the bricks on jumped on the head of the dog. Luckily we got there before any damage was done.
But from then on we decided our dear kitty was a 4 brick cat.
5
When I tried this, mine nearly strangled himself by scaling a tree nearly beyond reach of his leash (which would have pulled him off the tree into a sudden and precipitous fall), then circling a branch and hanging by the harness, now pulled up around his neck. Until I can figure out how to prevent that one, I will not try that again. And letting him off the leash is not an option in our cayote and fisher-cat-ridden neighborhood. If only cats enjoyed each others' company as much as dogs. We could have large enclosed public cat parks. In the mean time, the best option sees to be an outdoor enclosure, perhaps with a "feral-proof" fence. But we also have hawks... Welcome ideas...
6
@MAmom2
Many of us who keep a small chicken flock have the same problem -- predators not only on the ground but in the air. One solution is a fenced yard that has a top as well. It can be wire, too, but ours is solid so rain and snow don't keep the chickens in their house. I think that would also work for a cat, but it would have to be large enough and have enough things in it to be an interesting space. Also, most cats are pretty social. Maybe having more than one cat (or inviting a neighbor to play) would also make a fenced yard attractive to your pet.
1
My vet suggested this. But my Siamese wanted no part of being put in a harness. He struggled. One of us was going to get hurt: so he’s an indoor cat. He lives with that limitation.
We all live with limitations.
23
My cat Kramer walks on a leash and will also walk with me when I walk the dog. He stops when I stop, just hanging out while Luna does her business. He goes everyday and checks in with the indoor cats in the neighborhood. My next door neighbor lets him sleep in the sunny spot on her back porch. One day I went out on my back porch and there was Kramer holding court with three other cats. They were gathered in a circle. Kramer looked at me but the other cats continued to sit in the circle. This happened several times. it's almost as if they got together to chat about their place in the neighborhood. We've moved since that time. I live in a place that doesn't want cats to roam; that there are strays. Kramer is a lover, not a fighter. I bet he misses his friends as much as he misses the freedom of seeing, smelling and checking out his neighborhood. I find myself apologizing to him every time I go out the door, telling him he has to stay in. Sorry Kramer. :-(
9
In some parts of the country, there are owls, hawks, badgers, coyotes, etc. Cats are the prey, not the predators. Anthropomorphizing their “needs” will not end well for them.
16
@LTJ Those parts of the country include almost every suburb in America. We lost one cat to a coyote; I have no intention of losing another one.
4
I have cats and a dog. My cats have seen my dogs with leashes all of their lives, so they had an idea of what leashes were all about. Each cat was fitted with a harness, a very lightweight 6 ft leash, and a small dog Flexi-leash. I started by letting them wear the harness around the house. Yes, a couple of them slunk along the floors until they got used to it and were fine. Then I had them drag the 6 ft leash around while I was home, in case of they got tangled on something. They quickly got used to both. Not all of my 8 cats got to be good at walks (I live next to a towpath with woods), but all were good at being on a leash outside at home and when traveling. I used the Flexi's for more length and to clip them to stationary items when we were outside in a spot or staying in an unfamiliar place. I had 3 cats who were great walkers, in our neighborhood and on our towpath, where they would explore when my dog stopped to sniff and hop back to be with us when my dog started walking again. People used to stop in their cars to remark about 1) they couldn't believe that cats and dogs could get along and 2) that I could be walking both my dog and my cat.
Letting cats get used to a secure, well-fitted harness inside is key. Let them wear it inside until it is not an issue. Maybe days. Then add the leash. Soon you can either safely spend time outside with your cat, or eventually walks. For me, it was about the safety and portability of my cats. They also have a cat-safe small deck.
16
Cats are not built to live in an 800 square foot apartment but neither are humans. We live in a rural area and we don't let our cats outside partly because of coyotes (which are everywhere nowadays) partly because of disease (rabies etc) but mostly because cats and cars don't coexist too well. Unlike dogs cats freeze in place when startled. Combine a free range cat (which can cover several miles around your house) and cars doing sixty miles per hour on back roads and your "free" cat's life expectancy halves
28
My Mother died in 2017 and I inherited her 15-yr old female long hair cat, Sammie
Sammie was a FL indoor, outdoor, on command, cat with my Mother, but I live in the NEast and travel for work....
I dreaded the thought that the Sammie would beg and beg to go out when she got up here, but she has not; not even tried to get out. This was a blessing.
So I'd walk her, but I'm afraid she'll want to go out all the time, she has a tendency to beg until I give in.
Any thoughts?
Well our cat was an indoor/outdoor cat her entire life until she got old, then she preferred to stay at home or on the front porch. I theorized that she understood her increased vulnerability due to her advanced age. Perhaps it will be the same with Sammie?
5
I have had cats all my life. When we lived in the suburbs they were indoor/outdoor. When we lived in rural areas they were outdoor. The outdoor cats were very healthy, living to 17 and 18. Two others did not survive. One most likely killed by a coyote and another indoor/outdoor killed while we were out for a walk with her and our dog. My current indoor/outdoor cat is 19 and in good health. I feel that the cats who died would have chosen to take the risk of dying over a life indoors.
When my cats kill, they bring the kill to my doorstep. Over the years they have killed mostly baby rabbits and chipmunks. Rarely a bird (I recall two). Let them outside! They will be healthier and happier.
5
@Sherry Mitchell-Bruker, Ph.D. "I feel that the cats who died would have chosen to take the risk of dying over a life indoors." Yes - its not just about quantity of life but also quality. We live in a rural area and have always let our cats outside at night. They love it and we accept the consequences.
5
@Sherry Mitchell-Bruker, Ph.D. Bell your cats and then wildlife will have a chance. Check the decline in bird populations and the field research analysis of how accurate owners' perceptions v reality of cat hunting takes were. You have a Ph.D. so do the research.
10
Yes! I’ve also had indoor/outdoor cats my entire life and they live by far the longest (into mid-teens and beyond). They live rich, athletic and very interesting lives with a minimum need for medical intervention. The worst injury occurred indoors, even as we’ve lived in urban areas and near train tracks. Cats are extremely smart, swift and happiest with the option to be both inside and out, as they wish. I would no sooner cage my cat than my own children.
3
For years I've let my cat out to wander the yard, which she does for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, and then usher her back inside. I'm always out with her and keeping an eye on her. It took a long time, but she's pretty well trained. Still, on occasion she does try to wander off, and it helps that I live on more than an acre of land. I don't think this approach would be practical for someone unable to "chase after" their cat, or whose yard is smaller and therefore closer to other animals and dangers.
5
Both on my cats have gone outside regularly into a fenced back yard. Where we used to live in TX, there were actually oak trees inside the area and the fence was made of steel posts so they could see into the wilderness. They got skunked a few times and once a rattler made its way in for a confrontation, but otherwise they were happy, hunting lizards and field mice that they would bring up to the porch for me to see! Moving up north was traumatic for them. They do go outside into a fenced backyard that they can easily escape from into the neighborhood (suburban & forrest). My bengal does, but he wears a collar and always comes home. My mixed breed is timid and generally sits outside on our window sill but occasionally goes into neighbor's yards. We have a large rooftop space and also a deck on the 2nd floor facing the forest. So they go out plenty but they actually prefer home with us!
4
@Teresa please bell your cats they are likely killing birds, a simple bell will help and won’t hurt them in the slightest
Sounds great in theory, but after a lifetime of owning cats, I feel compelled to note two problems: 1) my cats have universally rejected leashes and even collars. I tried to walk several of my pets. All balked badly, and encounters with neighborhood dogs produced predictable results. 2) the one cat that we imprisoned for the sake of an avian future lived twice as long as the most resilient indoor/outdoor or outdoor cat I have owned. I have tried Mr. Grimm's idea. My experience suggests it's idealistic and counterproductive for a species that is an evolutionary outlier: the only domesticated animal we have which in the wild is not a pack animal and is a voracious carnivore.
11
@JET III,
For Mr. Grimm, for all carers of cats and above all, for our cats forgotten and abandoned, the following exchange is taking place 'Dear Melissa, just as we have come to the conclusion that life has a singular way of falling into place for the fortunate among us, I received word from an art gallery owner in London, the partner of my childhood friend, Sam, telling me that he has been arrested on drug charges. Sam has asked that I take in Mr. Wuss, a handsome vocal Siamese who enjoys long walks in the hills of Devon on weekends. Yours in haste, Anna'.
Postcard from Mr. Wuss:
'Sam is not here, but meals are served on time and when he returns, he is going to get a scolding and batted with my paws. I miss his scent and company. In the corner of my flat, my traveling box seems to be in view. Perhaps it is in preparation for our expedition to find the last Condor. Sam often tells me about this big bird in the sky. But my whiskers are still feeling bent out of shape'.
To be continued. Jer, the Tuxedo and owner of this 'Castle' is pounding on the door of his den, ready for his kibble before going out to meet the dawn.
A healthy cat at the shelter where I volunteer was adopted, let outside, and ultimately returned, with a wound and FIV. FIV is a risk for outdoor cats.
21
I've only ever had one cat that truly did not want to go outside. It was a cat my wife and I took in from the local veterinary hospital. It was brought there after its owners were murdered (in front of the cat, no less), and hadn't found a home, so it was to be destroyed. We took it in.
Before owning that cat it never occurred to me that an animal could be permanently traumatized by an event. This cat was. It would not come out of hiding. It generally took an hour or more of extremely gentle and patient coaxing to get her to come out to eat. When she could be induced to bear a human touch, she was desperately affectionate, and when, eventually, my brother in law thoughtlessly shouted at her, she fled and was never seen again.
That desperately unhappy feline was the only cat I ever had that wouldn't willingly go outdoors, and my final piercing view of her was as she fled into the outside world she feared so much. It was heartbreaking to see.
Every other cat I have owned was an indoor/outdoor cat. If/when they disappeared, it was a sad thing, but I have always considered a healthy and happy cat to be preferable to a miserable, penned-in but longer-lived prisoner.
But...cat on a leash? Might as well take up catherding next!
9
I take my two cats outside as often as I can. I don't use a leash.
They have learned the limits of the areas they can explore, understand the word "no". When we are ready to go out I say the word "outside" and they meow with anticipation. When its time to come in I say "food" and they come in of there own accord. They are less neurotic and more loving. A win win.
7
@redmist please bell your cats they are likely killing birds, belling won’t hurt your cats in the slightest
Does this guy know cats? We once tried to put a harness on our cat so we could take her out, and as soon as we put in on her she collapsed, as if she had lost all will to live. We thought we try it with our second cat, and she through such a fit we thought much husband might have permanent scars on his arm. Also we live in a city. Where should we let our cat run around free? In the dog park. Yeah, that'll work. Also, we have a weekend house, and we take our cat there, and she when she goes out in the morning we see neither hide nor hair of her until evening, she does not come when called (because she's a cat!). When we do see her, it's when we're walking and she often follows us, but it's completely on her terms. But we are less inclined to bring her to the weekend house since the lovely lizard family that lives under the porch steps disappeared. Hmmmm. Yes, and finally, my parents have list several cats to the great outdoors, even though they were vigilant. One cat got spooked by dogs, ran off and disappeared forever. The other got zapped by some kind of animal trap in the woods. Keep your cats indoors, folks. Build one of those window to window outdoor catwalks. Build them a careened in patio. Play with your cat. Whatever, but don't let them out. Unless the leash thing actually works for you. Good luck! We won't be trying it again.
33
Where we live, outdoor cats are called coyote food.
39
Several years ago our eldest daughter worked at a vet's office one summer. On about her second day of employment she brings home a congenitally blind kitten that also had some other issues such as some sort of heart abnormalities. As it turns out, this cat adopts me and over time I would let him outside with supervision. It got to the point where the cat would walk around the yard where it looked like I was walking the cat. Actually the cat was walking me however. The cat's hearing was very acute compensating for the blindness I suppose. The cat would chase bugs that would fly up as we walked. This lovely cat loved going outdoors and would stand at the back door banging on the blinds when it wanted to go outside.
Sadly it died at about age six secondary to kidney disease and it's other medical problems. That was a great cat.
19
Aw. Humans domesticated these animals, and now we want to protect them from their natural being, to 'save' them?
I rescued a soggy kitten on Flatbush Av a long time ago, and brought him to a third-floor Brooklyn walkup. Well obviously, this cat wasn't going to be outside, other than watching bird TV on the fire escape.
But since living in places with yards, I've seen that cats get stir-crazy, needy, and mostly bored and sad, when they can only watch the world through a pane of glass, and never get to roam the smells of the outdoor world.
Kudos for finding a middle way for your pets, in a big city!
Now that I live in a rural neighborhood, our three well-loved cats go out during the day, they run and prowl, scale trees, spend an hour rapt, twitching and staring at a gopher hole. They're belled, which has eliminated the distressing bird carnage. They come in at night to sleep.
They stay within our fenced property (who knows why), so during the day, I see them stalking each other in the grass, and routinely galloping back and forth across the acre we live on, for no good reason other than animal joy.
I think the cats have a pretty good bead on the difference between existing and living.
15
@molerat6 FWIW, belled cats catch birds all the time. I’m not judging. I have adopted a feral who will not be contained. He seems to prefer mice and birds to voles. And he will not tolerate a collar.
3
@Pipenta yes but the bell gives the birds a chance to escape. You admit your cat is killing birds but won’t “tolerate” a collar. You are the owner, so figure something out. Otherwise you are being very irresponsible to the natural world you seem to love
1
My late, great cat adopted me when she was a highly sociable teenaged stray who played in an empty lot next door to my furnished fourplex, right off busy Wilshire Blvd. She stayed outside while I was at work, but on weekends, if she was outside when I went for a walk, she would run ahead on the sidewalk, then turn and wait for me to catch up, before running ahead again. Elderly couples we'd pass would ask if she was my cat, and I soon learned why: she'd apparently cultivated a wide circle of neighborhood seniors who looked forward to her daily rounds. No wonder she enjoyed local walks, with no harness necessary. I did teach her to "wait" before crossing driveways, though (or maybe she was just conscious of them already), and avoided busy streets when she was outside, to prevent her setting out after me. I moved a few times afterward, and even lacking her original social group, she'd still walk with me if I set out when she was outside. Eventually, for her safety and for longer walks, I kept her inside when I left, but she had the yard and our street to play in at other times. She eventually died of kidney failure, and I miss her still, many years later.
19
Every cat is an individual with his or her own personality, but most cats are bored and truncated versions of themselves when kept in captivity and not allowed outdoors. This is because the cat evolved as a wild outdoor animal of indomitable spirit; because it is feline nature to do some amount of unescorted roaming; because cats semi-domesticated themselves for their own benefit.
Our cats have not allowed harness and leash. Starting young might yield more success. I have been owned by several cats who follow me on walks and take walks rather like dogs. The house has a cat door; cats are in at night and cat door closed. The cats have a set range and territory but mostly hang out in the backyard and if I am outside, around me. There is a regular cat society in the neighborhood; our cats have friends who come over and eat and play.
There are hazards and risks in freedom and outdoors, which can be minimized by training. Most cats naturally dislike noise, cars and machinery and avoid them; car avoidance can be taught. Cats need to be vaccinated and have good veterinary care. Cat-loving or cat conscious neighbors are a boon. My indoor/outdoor cats have lived to age 21, 19 and 16.
Our smart cats do not hunt birds, learning early that birds can fly. The cats do not bother chasing the flock of Steller's jays we feed. Cats can get fledglings -- during the brief fledging time, people can keep cats in, or watch them. Being aware of all the animal life around keeps all safe.
8
mmm.... no.
i feel bad that my cat doesn't get to romp in the outdoors. but not as bad as my friend in Marin County whose outdoor cat just didn't come home one day, and was never heard from again, causing much sadness.
and the notion of walking your cat outdoors/in the woods/suburban trails/whatever is also a bad idea. cat bolts, never to be found again. causing much sadness.
a harness...? ok, maybe. but generally, although i know they'd love to be outdoors, my cats, indoor cats all their lives, don't know what they're missing and seem very happy indoors. would i like to let them romp? yes, but not at the expense of local birds, etc. getting half devoured, and also not if it meant the odds went way up that i would experience... much sadness (when a cat didn't return)
20
Yes, I walk my cat with a harness. As an oldish kitten, she would initially walk supervised in the apartment buiilding here in New Delhi and then outside in the compound - with the trees and the car park. After a small fall and a fracture, she was put on the harness sans the leash. I also added one of the TrackR devices. Later, when she decided to run away during a walk one last night, she disappeared. Was rescued around 30 hours later with a deep gash - possibly as a result of a fall from a tree onto a fence, took considerably long and a lot of medical + TLC treatment. Since recorving, she only goes out supervised and on a leash. Yes, I have to guide her and sometimes she listens and sometimes, she doesn't. But its the least. I call it patrolling. Ensuring no other cats are in her territory (she is pretty aggressive to other cats despite spaying). One advice I would give to everyone is - if you cat runs away, first look in her usual walking area, and then areas adjoining it and expanding the area as the hours go by. In case of injuries, they can become confused and are likely to hide. So calling them, leaving food and in my case, using the Bluetooth tracker, helps.
Anyway, I should go since Misshka here has been impatiently meowing for her walk.
10
The first question is how to get a cat to wear a harness. Out of the half dozen I've tried it on over the space of 50 years, only one would wear either a collar or a harness. Reactions from the rest were mostly of the "I'll contort myself, and claw myself out of this alien that has attached itself to me any way i cam - and I'll blame you for the next month" variety. This from barely weaned kittens, to half grown and fully grown cats.
The exception was the cat who could be dressed in anything without objection. One out of 6; not good odds.
12
I have always just lived where I could let my cats out. I do walk with them, and they love to go for walks, but not on a leash. We go for walks in the woods. I can train them to avoid the road and stay in the woods. They all live long lives and seem to be very happy.
When my sister-in-law came to live with us she brought her cat who had never been allowed out. He took to the outdoors like a natural, he even began to hunt. He had a problem though with one of my younger cats. They just didn't get along. So, Walter, that was the cats name. Walter moved in with the neighbors. So now the only time I get to see Walt is when we go walking in the woods, we'll find him out there some times. My neighbor thinks he is the smartest cat in the world. He may be.
9
I have an indoor/outdoor cat. My rat and mouse population has been pretty well taken care of and as for birds, I've had one brought home in 8 years. They serve a purpose.
9
There is no such thing as walking a cat off leash outdoors, Mr. Grimm. The wildlife rehabilitation clinic where I volunteer contains a multitude of songbirds and small mammals orphaned or mangled by the natural inclinations of outdoor domesticated cats . Brought to us by people who cannot bear the suffering they encounter and know we will and repair their offerings, release them or gently end their suffering if irreparable. Hopefully the evolving relationship with cats & owners you write about will reach people who can provide better options .
30
@peg smith Absolutely agree. Cats kill billions of songbirds a year. That is not an exaggeration. DO NOT let a cat roam around outdoors without a leash. if it won't stay on a leash, don't let it outdoors or you will be helping to deprive our world of beauty, song, and a vital link in the ecological web.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoor-cats-kill-between-14-billion-and-37-billion-birds-a-year-study-says/2013/01/31/2504f744-6bbe-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html
9
My cat has become so accustomed to going outside on a harness with a leash that now he insists on it each weekend morning. He sits in front of me on my morning paper (including the Sunday New York Times) and gently swats at me until I make the move to the cabinet where the harness is stored, at which time he bolts to meet me there. We spend about 20 minutes together in the yard, he exploring his territory while I continue my reading of the news in a more digital format. Often he’ll decide to come in on his own and is then content to be inside for the rest of the day. It’s become our weekly routine.
23
I disagree that it's inhumane to keep cats indoors. Our four girls get all the exercise they need running and chasing one another around the house, leaping on the furniture and climbing the cat trees, which their dad calls "skyscrapers." Although the house is small, it helps that we have a staircase. Twinkie will fetch her little mice with feather tails up and down again and again. And in the New Year we are building a catio, which will have an entrance through my daughter's bedroom window.
They have a big window with four cat beds and four cat bowls, a pot of cat grass and a goldfish. They also have two dogs down on the ground.
We went through too many cats when they were allowed out, living out in the sticks but on a county road and having many varmints about. It was heartbreaking when my son's 4-H cat was run over by an illegal deer hunter on our private road.
Were they to go out on a leash (they all hate harnesses) we're afraid they would rush the door every time it was open.
37
House cats do not belong outside unattended. So walk your cat, whatever, but for the love of native wildlife don’t let them off the leash.
23
We have a 150 sq. ft. terrace that we let our cats on. It's safe, and they love the smells, the scents, and the idea that they are out in the wild. They beg to go out if they haven't been outside, and I think they get probably 50% of the benefit they would get from being "outdoor" cats just in that small space. Of course, I also deeply believe that they benefit from having each other (two cats, brothers from the same litter). they wrestle, cuddle (less as they age, but still some), and generally spend all day together. I certainly feel much better letting our cats out some. It feels like a good thing to do, and I love to watch them.
5
Invisible cat fence. We were planning an elaborate system until learning about that.
@Matt
Yes, a cat terrace is the analog of a catio for apartment dwellers. It's a terrific compromise for the indoor/outdoor debate.
The cats get to go outside, soak up more than a window square of sunlight, smell the outdoor air, foliage and earth, chew on grass, and wander around without a leash or harness, and some sense of freedom and autonomy.
They're still at risk for parasites and disease, but vaccines, monitoring and medical treatments can make most of those issues manageable. And an outdoor enclosure eliminates a host of other ills associated with outdoor cats: cats preying on birds and other wildlife, cats getting hit by cars, cats getting into fights, getting lost or being abducted, older kittens whose owners haven't yet neutered them mating and exacerbating cat overpopulation, and cats getting eaten by predators higher up in the food chain.
Some people have rigged up long, elaborate walkways from the main enclosure of their catios and even apartment cat terraces . We have a simple rectangular enclosure with one shortish walkway and an upper section allows them to climb a couple of yards higher on the lower section of a tree. The cats can enter it the catio at will via a cat flap. There's also a human-sized door to the yard, so that we can hang out with them inside the enclosure.
Sure, our cats would rather just go out into the wide, wide world. But given the considerable downsides to that, I think a catio or cat terrace is reasonable compromise.
56
I walked a cat once in the mid-eighties and got laughed at by the neighbors. In any case, and more importantly, it seems to me I've once bought this Beatles album in vinyl (the one with this photo on the cover, that is).
2
Yes, the cat in this instance is Paul (note: no shoes).
Just recently I've created a designated "girl cave" for my housebound cat by letting her hang out in the garage whenever she likes. She loves to explore all the nooks and crannies, and has taken to napping there as well. Her frequent time spent in there alone has made an obvious, immediate difference in her frame of mind. We are both happier, as a result.
6
@Alexi. A warning: the car's engine compartment is a tempting nap place, especially a warm one if you have just returned home.
A warning: before you take the car out again be absolutely certain your cat is indoors Not seeing the cat in the garage does not necessarily mean it is indoors.
A horrible death will ensue if the cat is in the engine compartment when the ignition is turned on.
I've known two cases of this. Terrible.
This has happened in two cases for people I know.
1
My cat picked me up while I was walking my suburban neighborhood. Kept following me around until I brought her home. From then on she was my cat for 23 years. She had a cat door, and sometimes was out and about for days and nights on end. I thought of the great adventures she must have, until I learned from the neighbors that she had many beds and sofas to choose from. A neighborhood cat. Sometimes, she came home and laid a regurgitated whole mouse (never a bird) in front of me, then went out again, or into my bed. Whenever I came home by car, she ran to the car which she could identify from far away. Even when I had been away for weeks, she was there as soon as the car stopped. On the day she died from old age, she kept following me around throughout the house, for hours, staggering, until she dropped dead. I think she had a happy life.
25
Cats are incredible creatures. I had a Siamese that was indoor/outdoor who taught himself to walk when I walked the dog. He would follow us and always stay within sight and would talk the whole walk. It was very satisfying for all of us. I miss Foudini terribly, he was the smartest pet I have ever had. He lived to be 16 and was indomitable until the end.
19
@Katrina - Also had a Siamese - incredibly smart with a sense of humor and "personality." Talked constantly and loved watching TV with us.
8
We had a lovely cat that took walks with us on the sidewalk sans leash. He followed us around the block, came with us visiting in the neighborhood, and walked back home with us. He was a very unusual soul.
13
@Kay
My 13 year old orange tabby tomcat, Boots, walks with me in leashless fashion. If leashed, he would likely resist the tug by digging in all 4 paws.
As it is, I lead the walk by walking northward on our residential street. He follows my whistling, and voice commands, uh, actually urgings to keep going. When he stops to explore a yard and let loose a spray on to some vegetation, I wait until he's finished. Then Boots moves on down the sidewalk to the next yard for sniffing around, and maybe another spray. One neighbor's yard contains a doormat to which Boots makes a beeline for some delightful fabric tugging scratching. We both delight in the quintessential feline activity. At sundown, I call him in from our yard. Coyotes and feral dogs in our neighborhood make it dangerous for a house cat
to out and about.
6
In law school I lived across from a park. I used to take a path through the park to get to school. I had two cats. One of them, Billy, would trot after me through the park every morning, yowling and acting concerned. Then when he got about 20 yards or so into the park he would sit down and look worried as I walked away. That was the far limit of his territory and he would not cross it. Billy's brother had a different personality and never would follow me in public like that.
2
Yes!
My beloved "Caramels" -- an enormous long-haired red/orange & white tabby male sweetheart, would stand at the doorway and essentially leap into his harness for walks (or at least to go outside).
I couldn't get it onto him and fastened quickly enough, he was so raring to go.
He didn't like traffic -- knew it was danger -- and preferred a calm outdoor environment, but was happy to pad around the house perimeter or even be out on a quiet lane.
As he got older and sicker, he was more a stay inside cat.
Until the last few weeks, when he would beg, in the cold of January, his last month, to go outside once again. We did it a few times during that cold month, never going beyond the front porch or back patio, just to satisfy his need to reclaim that old behavior.
I loved walking him in his prime, though. He was a show-stopper of a gorgeous cat anyway, but to see him marching along, well, people would just be riveted.
Love you forever, sweet Caramels.
45
@Tessa I have had experience with lots of ferals. And in a very real way, I'm sorry I did. They are a blight on ecosystems.
I've also taken 4 ferals inside. But they were not true ferals - they had been abandoned. No cat box training for them - they knew what to do.
The true ferals I deal with cannot stand to be cornered - much less go indoors within four walls. They are wild fighters, i.e. feral. One rare feral I can touch and pet - but she wants no part of confinement.
I agree with the experts that the outdoors in urban areas is too dangerous for the family pet cat. Not only are there automobiles and coyotes - but other felines may give them things like ear mites, giardia, and viruses.
My little boy cat "Rey" thinks he's the king. He spent some time out on the streets. He has a taste for it, and he wants out, especially when he hears the stray cats. But he ain't going anywhere.
Cats are extremely territorial. If I were taking a cat out on a leash, I'd be very careful. Because if they get off the leash, they will become frightened and disoriented, scatter, and you may lose them.
13
My Dutch husband and I have a conflict over the indoor/outdoor cat issue. He believes in outdoor cats and I do not. When we lived in the US, one of our cats was 'special needs' so he built a very ugly cat fence so he could go out. Of course that was the cat who got his head caught under the gate trying to get out. Now we live on a very quiet cul de sac in Pretoria and he lets our new cat (special needs cat gone) and our elderly cat out. The new cat disappears for hours, often overnight and the other one goes out for five minutes. I told my husband that this will have to change in our more urban neighborhood back in the US. We have a cat door ready into the fenced backyard there but that fence will not keep in our small adventurous cat. Other measures will have to be taken plus I told my husband that he has to be prepared to walk that cat. He tried here in Pretoria before giving up and just letting her out. By the way, this new cat also has eye problems, which could affect her vision. Not a good thing for avoiding cars, in my view. This should be interesting....both for the cats and our marriage!
4
I have taken my cat for supervised walks for years. For years my neighbor (a cat lover and owner of one cat) and I took our cats out in our conjoined backyards, where they hunted for moles, chased, climbed trees, chased moths, etc. etc. We called it Kitty Heaven.
7
The Birdsbesafe collar cover works to keep your cat from catching songbirds. Plus it's hilarious on them. My cat knows when the collar goes on he gets to go out, so he willingly stands and lets me put it on him. It's got a reflective piping on the edge, so if he happens to still be in the yard after dark I can spot him with a flashlight.
11
I used to feel bad about keeping my cats indoors until I read a study that found cats spend most of their outdoor time under cars and in sewer drains, not smelling flowers and chasing butterflies like we picture them. Cats don't like to be constrained. They always prefer to be on the other side of any door. So if you let them in and out they will demand it. If you always keep them in, they adjust. Especially if they have access to a screened-in porch or window perch.
14
I live where outdoors is not urban at all. Our cats spend a great deal of time outside, self-supervised. By watching them we quickly learn which may be a problem for birds and limit their range, but we encourage rodent hunters - voles especially can wipe out a vegetable garden handily.
But nature has larger predators, and cats have to learn that also. They do well with anything that is on foot, but never learn about owls. So the birds have their own way of settling the score.
5
We used to walk our cat Delilah, an Abyssinian, on a leash when we lived in (urban) Brookline MA. She had grown up in Virginia where she could roam wild, but in a city, she was proud to walk on a leash and fearless when facing dogs and other animals. We kept her on a leash just to protect her from all the vehicular traffic.
9
My free-range cat initially brought home dead birds. After I bought him a collar with a bell, I didn’t have the problem again. But be sure you get a collar that is is both elastic AND has a quick release closure. No other collar is safe.(They are hard to find but I found them online in the UK and had them shipped).
I thought about taking my cat out on a leash, but what happens when a vicious dog runs up and attacks him? That is going to end badly for both you and the cat. I have settled on letting him out for a couple of hours in the middle of the day, when it’s a bit safer. I can’t bear to deny him fresh air, sunlight, and exercise.
6
I have 2 cats. Not in this life would I be able to walk them on a leash. I won't even be able to get a collar on them. The yearly trip to the vet requires 2 people and a lot of subterfuge to get them into a carrier. And I have the scars to prove it.
30
For cats that cannot be controlled well on a leash, like mine, a pet stroller is the BEST thing ever. My cat loves it so much I have to keep it out of his sight. Otherwise, he begs incessantly to go out in it. After walks in the stroller, he always seems calmer and more content. On days he doesn’t get his walk, he tends to be a bit out of sorts. Dogs passing by the stroller don't seem to notice there is a cat inside, so that hasn’t been a problem, but I also always position myself between any passing dog and the stroller just to be safe. Right, no exercise, but I play with him twice a day with wand toys to get out his excess energy. After seeing mine, a friend got her cat a stroller, and he loves it just as much as my cat does.
24
My stepdaughter dressed her new kitten in doll clothes and pushed him around outside in a doll stroller. Jake became a very mellow cat. When old enough spent most his next 16 yrs outside. He did catch a few birds and got scolded. But that was instinct. And mice. He’d leave the hind quarters on step for me! One time he crawled into neighbors moving van and ended up 250 miles away. They brought him back. Only his last few yrs did he need a litter box inside.
We have had two cats. My daughter received an indoor/outdoor cat when she was three. The cat died of natural causes when she was 20 - during her college years. I took the cat after a divorce at my daughter's request because I had a wonderful relationship with the cat - I was somewhat allergic to her but I respected her catness. I love birds, and taught her not to catch birds but praised her for killing rats and mice. Birds could dive bomb her outside and she would ignore them. She understood that I protected the birds and also took care of her. She was an amazing, intelligent animal and great friend.
When she died, I grieved a long time and vowed not to have a cat again. Cats have no place in modern life in cities because they are too hard on bird life which is already too tenuous and declining.
But about 15 years later, my daughter insisted I take her new cat because her bf/husband was severely allergic. She was an indoor cat in cities for 6 years. Then she came to me. Eventually, I built an 8 foot solid wood fence around my property which includes a wild vacant lot next to my house - all native species, no chemicals, some mice and rats. She spends about 90% of her time inside but likes to go outside an nibble her catnip bed. One small cat gate accesses the outside world - also heavily planted. Possibly because she has been so isolated, she has none of the devastating cat diseases. She's now 13. When she dies, I will never again have cats. I give to the Audubon Society.
18
I started walking my kitten on a leash in a busy suburb but when we moved to a house with eight acres I left the leash behind, and now we are companions exploring woods and ponds together every day. We have many predators including coyote, bobcats, fox, owls and hawks so I never let him wander alone. He climbs trees, stalks squirrels, mice and other prey silently and gracefully and I crash through the underbrush after him. It doesn’t seem to bother him. He must think it’s normal to have a noisy person following behind. We have a tenuous understanding that if I let him satisfy his hunting and exploring instincts he will head for the house after a while. I get to spend hours in nature every day and he gets to satisfy his wild side. Ain’t retirement grand?
78
We have a traveling lifestyle: by boat and RV. Our cats are family and each has walked on a leash. If you are in an RV park or a marina, pets have to be on a leash if outside. It takes some patience and understanding... and the results are SO worth it In fact, I wrote a book, titled "Cat On A Leash" (by James Bathurst) about our travel experiences with Molly the boat cat.
Yes, people comment - most are intrigued by seeing a cat on a leash. A good (comfortable) harness is important. And, not having a schedule and a destination... I consider it more of a stroll than a walk... there is grass to smell, birds and butterflies to watch.
15
Love it! I've often thought that when we become urban dwellers once again, we'll need to get a harness and a leash.
Meanwhile, our deaf cat gets supervised outdoor time, pretty much whenever she wants it. She never leaves the deck without a 'friend', and she limits herself to either a jaunt around the house -- always stopping for "the good grass", or just plays with acorns etc within about 15 feet of the deck stairs. Not sure how she knows, but she seems to sense that 'evil things lurk in the forest.' But this time of year? The basket next to the wood stove is her favorite spot; not moving for a few months!
15
For a few years when I was a kid, we lived in Phoenix. This was in the 70's, before the massive development of the area. Our cats went outside every day, unsupervised. They roamed around the neighborhood, which was desert, and brought back all sorts of gifts: desert rats, birds, a baby bunny once, which angered my mother so much, she picked up the cat by the tail until he let go. The female had four litters of kittens in two years. The male disappeared one afternoon, likely to a coyote. As an adult, I keep my cats inside. Outdoor cats belong to the outdoors; they're never really yours. But walking them on a leash -- I like that idea.
10
@Raf
This is a nice story and true about cats and their rapport with humans. But a word of caution yo all: picking a cat up by its tail can cause severe neurological damage, with paralysis snd incontinence resulting; so it must be avoided if you care for felines.
I've only had one cat (out of many) that would actually come back when I called and needed them back inside. I find the whole walking thing weird as if the cat was really interested in my agenda.
9
I always felt the same way - that cats need freedom and outdoor time. It worked perfectly for Annie. But her successor, Zeke, went out one morning and never came back. I assume a coyote got him but I'll never know. 10 years later I still think about him and wonder what happened. The current furry princesses stay indoors.
16
@democritic
It may have "worked out well for Annie,"but I doubt that it worked out well for the birds.
2
@DJS
Actually, Annie only caught (and ate) birds when she was a stray trying to convince me that I was her person. Once she had regular food she stopped hunting. Zeke on the other hand was quite a mouser but didn't bother with birds. Nowadays, we live in an old house and Eloise catches the mice. Which I consider a win for all of us - she gets to be a hunter and I have fewer mice.
Not all cats are evil bird eaters.
1
I’m one of the “keep your cats inside” crowd. In the past, over a period of time, we’d adopted three different outdoor strays. All died of FeLV, not usually an issue with indoor kitties.
My friend’s cat just recently was hit by a car, resulting in a shattered femur. Amputation seems to have been avoided as has an ugly death on the road. After the $$$ vet bills he will now be an indoor cat.
Then there are our family members who have an outdoor cat because “she likes it.” Chased by a dog a few years ago, kitty ran up a tall pine tree and subsequently fell 40’ to the ground some 12 hours later. Broke her thigh. But after recuperating is back outside. I hope she hasn’t used all nine lives; I’d hate to hear of her being torn apart by one of the coyotes roaming the area.
Our cat will remain indoors. Where we’re moving has a screened in sunroom I think he’ll love. Beyond the sunroom and the generously-sized home attached are alligators. Indoors!!
28
This is an idyllic scenario but utterly ignores things like Feline Infectious Anemia, feline HIV (FIV) shared among socializing and fighting cats as well as coyotes, foxes, raptors and other hazards. Most cats that are inside are kept there for their own safety, if at some expense to their dignity (just ask them).
18
@Scott. This cat is on a leash so it is not going to have an altercation with another animal. Also my cat gets feline leukemia shots doesn’t yours?
1
Both of my Siberian cats love their walks. Of course, they are always leashed and harnessed. However, I manage to get in a walk of my own by placing said cats in a "small pet carrier" (or stroller, for those who haven't encountered us). When a cat wishes to walk, it hops out of the stroller and trots merrily along. If a cat spies a scary object--dog, truck, two-year-old-- the cat has the option of jumping back to the safety of the carrier. Even in the middle of the city, I keep a sharp eye out for hawks and coyotes. Shopkeepers and residents alike greet us warmly, and the cats lead lives of enrichment.
22
I think it does more for the kitty owner to walk outdoors, than for the cat on a leash!
15
Some years ago we visited Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge near Calais, Maine. People there were excited because a pair of American eagles had nested on a platform in the Refuge and produced a pair of chicks. While the adults were off hunting prey a park ranger climbed up to the platform to band the chicks. In the nest she found a large number of cat flea collars. No cats, just collars.
Back home in Massachusetts we have hawks, foxes, coyotes, and reportedly a fisher in the woods around our house. Our two cats are strictly indoor felines.
25
@Lloyd Kannenberg I don't believe this story, and I classify it as a rural legend. The American bald eagle, while opportunistic, is primarily a fisheater that occasionally will eat small mammals and road kill and is extremely unlikely to kill or eat an adult domestic cat weighing 11 to 18 pounds.
16
@Mack -- You may be right in your generalisation. A quick Google search, however, identifies several instances -- filmed -- of eagles preying on cats. One wonders if a particular eagle, or pair of eagles, might exploit an unusual food source, one for which other eagles were not (yet) competing. If that had happened near Calais, that might explain the cat-collar collection in a single nest.
7
Many many cats weigh less than 10 pounds. That’s no huge feat for an eagle. Collars have been cited in many eagles’ nests. In Washington State there was sn incident of a leashed toy breed dog (chihuahua) attacked by an eagle at a gas station.
6
Invisible fence. Works for cats as well as dogs (but training is somewhat different, so consult an expert). My 13 years old cat has spent his whole life roaming his territory by day and sleeping on the bed by night. Best life any animal could have. When I die I want to come back as him.
33
@JerseyGirl
I also have an Invisible Fence. I never would have dreamed that it would work for cats, but it does. Mine do not even try to challenge the perimeters of the yard any more. They go out and in anytime they want, through a kitty door that recognizes them by their microchips. They usually leave the birds alone, but have helped to decimate the neighbourhood rat population. After two sets of “cat fences” at former residences, I finally have the a solution for two very happy cats.
3
@JerseyGirl
An invisible fence may address some of the risks to cats from going outside (getting hit by cars, getting lost, getting abducted), but it does nothing to protect birds and other wildlife on which cats prey.
It also does nothing to protect cats from disease, parasites, fights with other cats, or higher-level predators like coyotes, wolves, bobcats, hawks and owls.
And of course it does nothing at all when the system fails. It's a fairly regular occurrence for me to encounter a free-roaming dog while driving along our suburban streets, thanks to some glitch in the electric fence that was supposed to contain it. An electric fence also fails whenever there's a power outage that lasts longer than the life of the back-up battery. Weeklong power outages are common enough where I live that most people have standby generators, but not all of them have whole-house generators, and as extreme weather becomes increasingly worse, people living in previously safe regions of the grid are going to be taken by surprise with lengthy power outages.
If you've got a yard, I think a catio is a much better solution, for about the same price.
@Elaine, I find it difficult to believe your cats "usually leave the [cute] birds alone," and conveniently restrict their predations to those not-so-cute rats. Or maybe you're using the weasel word "usually" in an self-comforting way. If it's true, then they're very unusual cats.
5
I have an active bird feeder and have trained my 2 cats to hunt only rodents.
I scold them when they stalk a bird and praise them when they nail a mouse/pack rat/ chipmunk. It takes some work - but it works.
One summer my best hunter, Mr W, knocked off one pack rat for each of 4 mornings and displayed them on the kitchen mat for my inspection... and days later I found a bird body tenderly hidden under a chaise lounge. He knew what Mom wants!
In the recent years there have been no bird fatalities, apart from window collisions.
Without my cats to police the rodents, I don't think I could keep a birdfeeder, as the rodents get so much feed of of it.
7
@AnneFarr
To reduce window collisions, you can get a pack of clear window stickers in decorative shapes like deciduous leaves. They're made of a material that refracts light in such a way that the birds see the stickers as opaque, while humans see them as clear.
I never notice my stickers anymore, and after finding 4 birds killed from window collisions, and another 2 left temporarily stunned, I've had exactly zero collisions in the past 7 years. We have sliding doors on one side of the house and a plate glass window on the opposite side, which caused the birds to think they could fly right through the house. So the risk was significant. The stickers eliminated it.
3
If you don't live in a crowded urban area, get a cat door installed. Our cats go in and out at will and pretty much stick to the yard. They love our backyard, with all its hiding places.
20
@Little Doom: I leave my cats out, but I live in a quiet suburb on a street with little traffic, and behind the house is a large wooded space that goes for acres. They all love to be outdoors and hunt.
I have three cats. Buster is an indoor/outdoor cat, who roams our and our neighbor's acre yards during the day, lazes in the sun under a bush, stalks birds, chases moles, and sleeps in the garage at night on a warm bed with all his food and treaties. Seven years ago he showed up from somewhere, half the weight he is today, one week after our other indoor/outdoor died. I guess he heard about the job opening. Once he was gone for 10 days, another time for three. Grieved, my husband threw out his dishes the last time, but he ended up coming back. Gracie is our shelter kitty, totally indoor, who finds plenty of space to run up and down our two floors like her kitty-but is rocket propelled. She's happiest in front of an opened window. Tommy, our feral cat, climbed up on our closed porch one August morning five years ago, when my husband left the screen door opened, no doubt attracted by the recycling bucket. Probably no more than five weeks old, he jumped on the windowsill and refused to budge, hissing at use when we'd come near. We bought some kitten chow, a litter box, and some toys, as he wouldn't leave no matter how long we left the door opened. It was three months before we could finally trap him to get him to the vet to get neutered and vaccinated. He's still with us, loves ear scratches and brushings, and still has no interest in an open door. He's been out in the world, and he ain't going anywhere.
22
Cats are very territorial. I tend to find that their territory is about the same size as my yard. I think that I walked them on a leash they would not enjoy being outside their territory and might be fearful. I also would not want to encourage them to go outside their territory or to cross streets. (I have several who are fine indoors, one who wants to play outside on occasion, and a feral whom we are taming. I've had both indoor-outdoor cats and strictly indoor cats in the past.)
10
Some people build fully enclosed areas outside for their cats that are called "catios." Often a window or cat flap is used so the cat can go in and out at will. It gives the cat a safe place to be outside, chatter at wildlife while protecting both the cat and wildlife from harm. I think it's a great option for people who have the means to have one on their balcony or in their yard, especially for a cat that won't tolerate a leash and prefers to dash off away from safety.
17
@Chandra Rogers I have one and it works amazingly well. It's a huge screened in porch. I do still let the cats roam in the yard when I can supervise them and get them back inside with treats, but the catio has absolutely saved me and they adore it.
11
@Chandra Rogers: My kitty loves his catio. He accesses it at will through a flap in a window screen. He can feel the grass under his paws, sun himself, and even hunt small critters. Mine was built by two young friends and was thus relatively inexpensive.
5
@Chandra Rogers
Yes, I have a catio for our two cats, and they adore it. They can access it any time they want via a cat flap. One of out cats goes out there even in the pouring rain and the snow.
It doesn't eliminate all problems (e.g., our cats can still pick up parasites and their diseases). But as someone who invites songbirds to come eat at our feeders, I consider one of the most important problems -- and one I had a moral obligation to solve -- was that of our cats killing birds and other wildlife. Another important set of problems were the risks to our cats, especially from coyotes and raptors. I think a catio a great compromise solution to the indoor/outdoor dilemma.
Even apartment dwellers can rig up a "cat terrace" on a window. It's smaller, but it still allows the cat to experience the smells, sounds and feel of the outdoors, and a lot more of that feline favorite, the sun.
1
Or why not just not keep cats anymore?
I grew up with cats, as many as three at a time, all free ranging predators. I shudder to think of the impact those pets had on the bird life of Tidewater, Virginia.
I remember one winter in particular when, Darcy, short for Darth Vader, (he was just as black and as efficient a killer as the Star Wars villain) delivered a dead bird or occasionally half a squirrel on almost a daily basis. I could never again support such an invasive species in the wild. And yet neither could I stand to keep such a beautiful animal caged up indoors. Darcy lived to hunt. It was his essence. I do not believe that taking him down the block on a leash would have been at all a satisfactory alternative. Better for him never to have been born.
Let’s just all acknowledge that cats were domesticated - or rather domesticated themselves - to keep rodent populations down around human agricultural settlements. They are ill suited to environmentally sustainable urban life. There are better ways to answer the normal human need for animal companionship.
9
@Aaron Walton If you are a Cat Person, no other critter will do....
Our furry feline, Reilly, spent his first 4 yrs. in an apartment and his last 13 on a 1/2 acre spread on Long Island. When Reilly was young we used to take him on road trips up and down the East Coast and in our building he would happily follow us out the door, into the elevator, up up to the 4th floor to visit our friends who watched the cat when we had airplane trips.
At our house, Reilly would spend time with me on our deck and walks around our backyard. My wife used to do the same and one time she went to pick Reilly up to bring him back into the house and he went full-fur ballistic, hissing and clawing at her. I had to put on leather barbecue gloves to be able to pick him up.
Some time later Reilly started to mark his territory in the house and we tried everything to rectify this behavior. At his next vet visit, the Dr. recommended that we let him out and not to worry about his whereabouts 'cause Reilly knows where his bread is buttered.
I tried putting on a harness but that became a test of wills and I gave in and l and let him loose, and he spent his last few years roaming the "hood". Reilly would always come back after maybe a couple of hours and I was left to fantasize about his daily roams.
Reilly never came back with any dead anything, never had any wounds and his in house spraying came to an end.
So I guess the moral of this story is that our cat, lived life on his terms and he is still sorely missed.
32
My cat is trained to go out at night but stay in the yard, no more than 25 ft. from the house. She will come in and out, but is always inside by the time I leave to go to work in the morning. She also sleeps with me on cold nights.
9
@javierg, and you truly believe that the cat hangs out in the garden all night? Really?
2
Growing up I had a pair of cats, one from the ASPCA who had apparently been a lifelong indoor cat, and one we rescued from the wilderness of northwestern New Jersey. They both proved that cats have long memories of their upbringings.
The indoor cat had borne kittens, and for the rest of her life, sometimes at night she would get very sad and carry a sock around, or a furry cat toy, missing the kittens terribly. She was happy in the apartment though, having various favorite places and enjoying them, I think outdoors would have freaked her out.
The outdoor cat walked the jungle's edge in his head, and twice managed to jump out a third story window after a bird, and survive. Jumped off a high loft bed and impaled his leg on a ladder hinge, and survived that too. He was a maniac. If we'd tried to walk him we'd have needed a leash for sure, but I don't think he'd have enjoyed the city unless we took him to a large park. Too much noise, people, dirt, and dogs.
So I think this article is generally right, but from experience I don't think taking walks is ideal for all cats, as cats have rather varied personalities.
21
@Dan Stackhouse Console yourself and your sock-carrying kitty. Cats walk around with toys in their mouths to mark territory, just like dogs do. My female used to pick a different room every week and marked it with a tiny toy cow. Ain't nuthin' to do with infant mortality.
@Carling
I respectfully disagree with your closing sentence that it "Ain't nuthin' to do with infant mortality."
What Mr. Stackhouse described is similar to other scenarios I have either witnessed myself or were shared by many vets I know. While every cat does mark his/her territory, each cat does it in their own manner compared to the one rule fits all scenarios.
1
@Dan Stackhouse
Excellent comment Mr. Stackhouse. Your outdoor cat truly sounded like a maniac who had 9 lives. There's nothing worse than a cat who knows no fear. I've had a few of those and always worried that I would have a heart attack before they met their potentially untimely demise.
Some how cats and collars sound like an oxymoron. By the way, there's wilderness in New Jersey? Who knew? Just kidding of course - please do not vilify me.
1
Good luck with that. Cats don't want any part of a leash, and if allowed to roam for 30 minutes as you suggest, they will decide when the 30 minutes is up. I agree that an indoor cat is taken from his natural instincts. But we've had too many problems, and with two cats, asked them nicely to stay inside. They seem fine with that.
Our last (outdoor) cat found a playmate, you know, an animal with a white stripe down the back. Guess what happened. Another adventure was the cat going up a tall tree and afraid to come down. Worst was a cat being hit by a car.
Our vet has had similar misadventures (including a cat that was killed by another animal) and she now has two INDOOR cats. She makes the point that cats are adaptable, and while we talk about their "need" to be in the wild, they get used to the inside and like it.
Open a window or two and let them take in the outside air, watch for criters -- content to be indoors.
22
@Jfitz My darling girl is sitting on my lap right now, purring and happy. My boy is in his king sized bed. The last thing I will do is take them for a walk in Brooklyn. They don't need to be in the wild any more than I need to be climbing trees.
10
@Jfitz. Yes!! My cat will spend hours at the window, watching who knows what (often, nothing is happening). The only problem: He likes to circulate from one window to another, an annoyance when the weather is not warm.
1
We had a beloved cat who would run after my husband and I when we walked out the door and follow us down the street. This started a tradition of walking him up and down the block several times each evening. He would only follow us when we were together.
31
@Suzy
My neighbor had a cat who would follow behind when she walked the dog. A charming sight.
1
My feline companion, The Wiz, was an indoor/outdoor cat. She lost a game of chicken to a car. I buried her under her favorite tree. Twenty years later I still can't decide if keeping her indoors only would have been fair to her.
But one thing I must emphasize: an outdoor cat can not have a collar unless its a breakaway one. Too many cats are hanged by their collar on bushes and fences.
50
@DP,
So sorry to hear about The Wiz. Sometimes I think the love of my life was Minou, an indoor 'Himalayan' orphan, who loved people, and was only afraid of mice. We once went to the countryside together for a weekend, and on hearing birds, she came dashing up the stairs.
A stray kitten, hanging out with a feline gang, adopted me when he saw my climbing the hill three years ago. He pounced on my feet, invited me up the driveway and down to my house where he rose on his hind legs, and tried to turned the knob of the front door.
Jeremy Ironsides sends you warm purrs. He is out and about as I write, a large giant, a handsome tuxedo, with no collar, but carries his I.D. between his ears in a micro-chip.
Some day he may never come back, but neither of us would have it any other way. Perhaps he is in search of wizards and dragons, standing in a tree, guarding his castle, but what I have noticed, DP, is that he carries an invisible wristwatch on his paw and comes home in time for his breakfast.
21
When I was in my early teens, we had an indoor apartment car that we took upstate, where she became an outdoor free-range cat. She used to love going on deep woods hikes, never venturing more than a dozen yards away on miles long hikes. A few months after our return to the apartment, she used the fire escape to flee to the roof and was never seen again. Probably couldn't find a way to return, she was an otherwise very happy cat. My wife's sister lives upstate, has three free range cats that still compete for attention when they come in for the night.
Our four strictly indoor cats seem okay with the sedentary life, constantly playing and wrestling together when not sleeping with us. I think the crux of the biscuit is, cats are hunters but they crave interaction and play and if they get enough, they're okay in a city environment. If not properly stimulated, they lead unfulfilled lives.
13
I had two cats in succession - neither had front claws (a frequent requirement in apartments). I did not have them declawed; they were rescues. That means that neither could have survived alone outside if she/he got out and didn't come back. As to offering treats, one of mine never cared for them.
That said, I did feel sorry for them a bit (though they were laid back, contented lap cats). If I had a secure fenced yard I'd have loved to let them out. Doubt they would have tolerated a harness, though.
6
@Anne-Marie Hislop
I "inherited" a declawed Himalayan who had never been outside. I ended up letting her go outside and she loved it--she used to roll on the ground.
1
We have an homeless cat that comes to our door two three times a day. We feed him, brush him, let him play for a while and then let him go. He sometimes takes a nap in the cat bed that we got for him. It appears others in the neighborhood is feeding him as well. We went away for a week, and he didn't look famished when we returned.
We are grappling with whether we should take him with us when we move to a place that allows cats. He is familiar with the neighborhood and he seems to be happy with the current arrangement of freely prowling the neighborhood and then using us as his restaurant. So we are not sure if taking him with us and then confining him in a house is best for him. Unfortunately, we can't event get him into a carrier let alone leashing him, so we may not have a choice of taking him with us anyway.
4
@TK Sung
My friendship with my cat started the same way, and when I moved, he (Benson Darwymple by name) came with me. He was happy where he was, yes - but largely because he had regular affectionate contact with another mammal and a steady supply of food. If you were to leave him he would linger by your old house for weeks and be cut off from his main source of socializing & nourishment. Suffice it to say, I strongly suggest that you let him come with you! all the best
19
Perhaps there is a local cat rescue or neighbor that could set up a feeding station. I’ve also live trapped ferals (your local humane society could lend you a trap) taken them to a spay/neuter clinic & socialized them after with good success.
17
I think you used the right term-your friend is homeless, not feral. If you can brush him and pet him, it is likely that he was a former pet who somehow got “evicted”. I think your friend would be very lucky for you to take him with and provided he is neutered I think he will do well inside. Cats are territorial, but their territories are generally pretty small, a few hundred square feet. An apartment would be plenty. Also, no offense to cat people out there, but the critical territory in most cat’s lives are you, the person who feeds rather and rubs them and sleeps with them. This is the reason they mark their people like they mark furniture, rubbing the scent glands on the sides of their heads on your leg. Cats love people like some people love money-a pure and all encompassing love, whatever else you might say about it. And you are the territory that your cat can take with him when he moves.
2
Letting a cat out into the grass is fascinating. Their posture and entire attitude changes - they show that amazing predator, experiencing and seeking every smell and texture. I only let them out in the fenced and small back yard, but it is quite a difference.
12
@Details
Dangling a string has the same effect. Even the most lethargic cat instantly becomes alive, eyes bright, muscles all lithe, fluid motion, or tensed in readiness to pounce. Pure predator, every fiber of their being focused on the prey.
2
I remember for awhile in college I lived with a roommate who had a cat and a dog. We would regularly go on walks with them around the block - neither on leashes (well the dog had a leash but it wasn't really used). It always amazed me how the cat would just keep up with the rest of us, smelling and exploring nooks and cranies in bushes as we walked along, just like the dog.
I think it was secretly a dog born in a cat's body.
20
I tried this with my little Abyssinian. When I first put the leash on her, she fell to the ground on her side, stiff as a board with legs extended, and remained that way until I loosed her. Despite many attempts over several months, with every enticement I could think of, she never accepted being leashed. But I have known cats who were OK with the leash and harness, so it's worth a try.
16
@HR We have 2 cats who walk on leashes. They enjoy it; one more than the other, but he (Seamus Keebler) would rather be out than cooped up inside while his brother (Maximus (the) Moose) gets to have ALL the fun!
1
Perhaps walking a cat might make sense in a suburban environment but in the desert this is the quickest way to tragedy. We have predators that would not hesitate to snatch Pluto even if I was right there at his side. Hawks, owls, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, javelina, and bears roam free and every property hides a rattler or two. My 24-lb. Maine Coon prefers to stay inside and act tough behind tempered double-paned glass when they visit.
50
@stacyh
I, too, live in the desert part of the year, and my cat would love nothing more than to go outside and roam. My solution for many years has been to use a large dog cage, which we put four small wheels on, and roll her outside in the sun and watch the birds and other critters around the garden, windows open so I can hear her when she meows to come back in. She
L-0-V-E-S this ritual, races to her cage first thing every morning, and seems perfectly adapted to just sitting and watching the natural world around her. Occasionally I put her food in her cage so she can dine al fresco in the process.
92
Another method - we had a rather fierce black cat named Georgie and a safe outdoor environment. She loved to go outside , but kept killing birds and rabbits. My mom made a collar with a warning bell on it which she kept hanging on a shelf near the door to put on Georgie if she wanted to go out.
Georgie got so every time she wanted out she would jump up and ring the hanging bell so someone would put her collar on and let her out. So no more “presents” on the doorstep. She wasn’t ever sweet or affectionate, but we all loved her.
20
@Nancy
I have personally reprimanded a cat (I fed every day, twice a day) for having bird feathers in its mouth.
It worked.
It may be a great idea to walk cats but not to let them out free for 30 minutes. Despite their best intentions, owners won't watch their cats every minute they're out, many cats will escape and - most importantly - they will definitely kill birds. I'm much more concerned with protecting the birds that belong outdoors than giving domesticated cats their romps in freedom.
25
I trained my cats to walk on a leash when they were young kittens 4-6 weeks old-at that age they follow you everywhere & get used to going for a walk!
20
@Sheila,
My feline companion, whom I call 'The Lovable Nuisance', always invites me to walk with him after his kibble at dawn. When I hedge inside at the entrance, he turns and lets out a quiet meow.
He does like to act as housing inspector for The Wren Family but is unable to climb the metal pole and peep into their door.
Once an outdoor cat, he cannot be happily confined to nine lives of indoor luxury, and he is the go-between in introducing me to the wonders of nature.
9
@Sheila Sorry, but I've had both cats and dogs for many years and a cat can quickly leap a fence, go over a seemingly too high wall, and be gone in an instant. Not a good idea at all to put them in harm's way. Yes, if you want to try walking your cat on a leash/lead, fine...but a cat on it's own will soon be gone!!
They are an independent breed; I have a wonderful Abysinian cat, named "Mr. Darcy." I can't even allow him out on my spacious patio...as soon as he hears/suspects a bird is near....he'll be off!!! And mind you, he can leap very high all on his own some.
1
Do you think that the cat is going to be satisfied on a walk? The cat will be aware of a bazillion things in those few minutes which he will never be able to satisfy. Once, while walking my dog, he almost pulled me off my feet because of a few frozen french fries sitting in the curb. That's the situation of a cat on a walk, a million temptations, none of them fulfilled.
16
I had the same philosophy as the writer of this article about my cat Fender. I knew he had to see more of the world than my one-bedroom apartment in Paris. Animals are wild. I hate zoos too. I bought him a body harness and walked with him around the Palais Royal garden several times a week. He climbed those beautifully manicured trees - high enough that I could still get him down. Of course he was the only feline there. We stayed far enough away from the pooches. Most people must have thought this was an eccentric exercise. I suppose it was, but a natural one to me and a world-widening one for my dear Fender.
90
We live in NYC, so this advice isn’t really practical for us. So we got a cat-sized hamster wheel for our cats and they love it, galloping at full speed whenever they want. The best of both worlds! I don’t want to plug a product here but search for it; it’s incredible to see them move as God intended. They are indeed Lambourghinis!
58
$200+! Whew.
To some extent this is cultural. Here in Phuket most stores have resident cats. I assume it is for pest control. That sure beats chemicals and traps. My companion cat spends many hours on a leash as it is the only way to constrain him to my sailboat. But in my unusual case he gets lots of exercise coping with the natural motion of the boat.
21
@Sailboat Captain
My friend's cat loved sailing! and when he made a long move he was happiest riding in the towed sailboat.
Our local hardware store has two cats, Nail and Hammer.
20
We tried this with our cat, but he was too scared of the cars and airplanes. Maybe our next cat will be less anxious.
7
I have a cat who spent nearly 8 years indoor/outdoor, with free access via a cat door. Living in a hilly area with lots of canyons, he was free to roam the neighborhood and always had food and water indoors here. In fact, he had never had a litter box at all.
After moving to a condo in our downtown core, I felt bad having him cooped up all day, so I began taking him for walks as described here. Although he's no fan of the leash, nor of the physical act of going downstairs, he enjoys time to enjoy the outdoors and when we come back he's always a bit calmer and complete.
Sadly, the leash is a requirement due to the fact that he'd easily run off somewhere I wouldn't be able to follow (behind a gate, etc), though I don't think he'd really be in any danger otherwise; he seems to have picked up on traffic patterns pretty well. In fact, if I lived on the ground floor with patio access, I'd probably let him in and out as he pleases.
If you haven't tried walking your cat, it's definitely worth a shot. It's a fun world out there.
17
Our previous cat enjoyed outings on a leash for about 10 years. People thought it was quite remarkable. When young we would walk about 2 - 3 blocks away from home, less when older. He could catch small rodents when on the leash. Any cat should be in a harness instead of a collar to avoid choking. However cats are flexible and can easily back out of a harness or collar, don't let a cat turn around to face you when on a leash. Our current cat (and the previous one too) enjoys a fenced yard with supervision but will not tolerate a leash. It's very easy for a cat to jump a 6' wooden fence.
12
@Tibby Elgato,
So true as I was taking a catnap and heard a thump on the roof, where my indoor/outdoor cat was trying to enter my room through the skylight. He now has long learned to jump onto the balcony and play 'Dinner for Romeo' at 4:00 a.m.
Cats have their own individual characteristics, and the one to whom I belong, would put up quite a cat fight if a leash were in the picture.
6
@Tibby Elgato
I agree, cats on a leash is tricky and I would NOT recommend it- they are NOT dogs. cats are quick, curious, scared, & spooked at every sound & movement. good luck trying to get them in a leash-
DO NOT LET THEM EVER off the leash when outside.
EVER. they can dart into the street hit by a car. dogs can chase them. running after squirrels is their nature so is hiding under bushes & darting into traffic if spooked-
once they get a taste of going & being outside they will dart out whenever the door is open. even if you are right there- there ALOT of dangers outside.
It is tricky to get them to accept & into a leash. Many cats have escaped their lease when outside. Too many missing or lost cat posters are a result of not accepting that cats can be harmed, or not come back from being outside
Cats don't miss it. I brought my long time outside stray (former feral 6 years ) in when I moved & she loves being inside but can go outside in 2 enclosures I built-
one with a cat door onto a side deck (top & sides hardware cloth ) the other cat door through basement window opens out into enclosed garden- with 10ft high fence &hardware cloth secured at bottom attached to house.
they enjoy fresh air, smells & sharpen claws on raised wooden beds for the herb garden (catnip!!) & I don't worry they won't come back-
I tried to put a leash on Felix- he hated it. end of story
9
We live in a relatively quiet residential neighborhood. We let our two adopted cats out only when we are home and can check in on them. We started when they were about eight months old with heavy supervision. They learned about their outdoor environment over a long period of time. Each cat has a radio frequency tag attached to their colllar so we can keep track of their location. They are spayed and neutered. The spayed female has a territory comprised of our yard and the three on both sides and the back (radio frequency tags show us this). Cats are creatures of habit and will stay in their territory once it is established. The neutered male cat never has the desire to leave the fenced yard. We keep them up-to-date on their vaccinations, flea and tick treatments. Once a month, our female will catch a lizard or mouse or rat and leave it at the back step. Their presence has kept the rodents away. They end up going out from 1-4 hours a day, depending on whether it is a weekend or weekday. I truly see the difference in their quality of life. They absolutely love the outdoors. They sniff the air, the soil, the plants. It is infinitely more interesting than the sterile home environment. They are in excellent health, and at ten have good muscle tone and weight.
We are just beginning to learn the benefits to humans of having a good gut microbiome, not living in a sanitized environment. I think cats must also benefit from having a good gut microbiome, which they can get outdoors.
43
Cats, even our sweet domestic ones, are predators first and foremost. It's their reason for being, lodged in their DNA. Aggression in domestic cats that can't be attributed to fear or illness is usually caused by pent-up hunting (or play) energy that needs to be spent.
Vigorous play with wand-type toys is great for indoors, but walking on a leash really allows cats to express their natural behaviors and "own" territory in a meaningful way.
The key is to introduce them to the harness and leash little by little when they're very young -- without force and by rewarding with treats until they get used to it. Most will ask to go for walks after a while!
23
We have walked our cat daily on leash over the last three years. He has his favorite spots/areas and looks forward to the walk. The largest area he covers in one walk is two street blocks (of course, still lots of standing and waiting around for us). He is known in our neighborhood; the cat walks on leash!!!
There is another cat in our neighborhood who follows his owner when he walks his dog. No leash. Nothing! It's amazing!!
32
@J He Had a cat like that when I was young. Sometimes a territorial female cat that prefers people over cats, will follow their humans around better than many off-leash dogs.
In all the years of cat companionship I have never felt my cats were deprived of the great outdoors. Lots of toys, playtime and snuggles kept them satisfied. Having had my dog attacked while on a walk, I can't imagine the damage that may occur to me, much less to my cat, trying to hold a frightened cat much less fight off the dog. The fox that visited my very suburban neighborhood was more than happy to snack on available outdoor cats.
34
Had my first cat-on-a-leash 40 odd years ago. After kittenhood, he did fine on his own at my side, except for the time he followed me into our apartment elevator and didn't heed the closing door! Crooked tail for the rest of his life. He camped with us and even enjoyed a sail boat on a Maine lake.
Our current cat came with instructions from the pound: keep him in for a year then out on a leash until he knows the neighborhood. It worked. He has been kept from the road but gets to run up trees (look how high I can go!) and help with the gardening. He does hunt, but in farmland all appreciate the reduction in mice and voles. Sadly, he hasn't learned not to leave innards on the front mat. At seven he plays like a kitten and is as affectionate and loving as ever. He comes when called. Would follow the same indoor, leash only, gradual autonomy regime on any future cats.
18
Dogs and cats evolved to rely on us for food - cats a bit more recently, so they're a little more wild and adaptable (and predatory).
We have two almost-seventeen year old lady cats. I tried to take them outside on a leash at various points over their long, happy lives. One hunkered down, every time, like a cow, and gobbled as much grass or leaves as she could, then barfed. The other, bottle-raised, naturally skittish, and used to the indoors, hid under the first thing she could find, every time, shivering, with dilated pupils.
So... yeah, Godspeed.
46
I show the cat the leash. When he's in the mood we visit park and playground in Manhattan. He catches city park rats while leashed.
Or he travels by bag to the pet food store, which he enjoys exploring. When he's ready for home, he hops in the bag and back we go.
Get a clever cat from the shelter - they're the best.
127
@Charles Yup, my cat used a cotton bag I had to indicate trips in the car (loved car rides), visits to the bookstore (sat on the printer surveying the store), walks (never a hesitation with halter and leash), and was on my lap for air travel. She hated the beach tho where I think she felt too exposed with all that sky and no cover. She also knew "no humming birds" which used to come into my apartment through an open door then sit on house plants and played with the opossum babies on my deck with the mother opossum's approval (sat next to each other). Used the dual sink as a cat Jacuzzi tho had to limit this. She made it to 21.
10
@Charles
NYC parks are baited with rat poison - anticoagulants. Your cat sinking its teeth into one of these rats will be, likewise, poisoned. You've been lucky, thus far.
8
One of our cats enjoys romping in the back yard. We only let him out during daylight on dry days and under supervision. He can stay out for quite awhile if we are working in the garden or doing yard work. or he might just want a few minutes. He's never tried to climb the fence but once went up a tree after a squirrel and then couldn't figure out how to get back down. We eventually coaxed him down and he fell into a blanket we stretched out to catch him. Luckily, he didn't attempt that again. He wears a collar and is microchipped.
24
Many cats will not tolerate being on a leash. In most cities, a cat that spends any time outside will get exposed to infections (worms and other parasites, etc) as well as serious diseases from other cats (FeLV and FIV), as well as other dangers like cars. Lots of people don't fix their cats and letting them outside will result in feral cat colonies, which is a whole other problem.
Better to teach people to give their cats exercise indoors
39
@Ben I know that cats aren't people, but I still believe this is a more-than-fair comparison: If someone said to you, you can never, ever go outdoors. But here's a treadmill and some weights. How would you feel? You might be physically healthy, but you would be far from mentally healthy or happy.
50
@Ben I had a cat that was a nervious wreak until she was able to spend time out doors. She was neurotic, would intentionally antagonize the neighbors downstairs, and play games by darting out the door and into the hall when ever she could, evading capture to the best of her ability. Things like running all around the apartment at full speed just as I got into bed.
Once I moved into a house with a yard, I started letting her out. Never wanted to be out more than a half hour, never hunted. But she relaxed and stopped playing mind games. She needed more stimulation that any cat toys could give her.
45
@Ben I totally agree and have been involved with feral cat rescue in New Mexico. Up until two brave women received some pet store grants to make a difference in the feral population of my community, our animal shelter was euthanizing approximately 500 cats per month, mostly feral. Due to these women's fine and difficult work (plus hundreds of volunteers like me), the feral cat population is more or less manageable. I take care of a small outdoor colony and have rescued a mother and kittens. I kept the mother and one kitten, gave two to a rescue organization for adoption. Those street cats would ditch their outdoor life in a heartbeat for the life of my indoor cats. In five years' time three have vanished. Not a good life. Nor is allowing domesticated cats to wander outside unless in totally enclosed spaces. A friend watched a cat hit by a car die last month. This would not happen if cats were kept indoors. If they have space and windows and catios they are content. Yes, there are exceptions, but from my observations of indoor and outdoor cats, very few.
8
I have two cats, male and female. The male wants to go out. Female, not so much. So I took the male cat for walks in my backyard. He loves it. It was boring to do though. He sniffs everything and will sit down for long times to just look around. When I let him out, he will sit patiently waiting for me to put his collar on. Then starts purring, knowing that door will open and he will go outside. I do not walk with him anymore, but put him somewhere where he likes it, put a brick on the end of the leash and leave him alone. The leash is very long and he can walk around quit a bit. About every 15 minutes I move him to another place, usually he let's me know where he wants to go. After an hour or so, we go back inside and he is perfectly happy with that. Only when it is very warm weather, will I take my female cat for a walk. She is okay with that, rolls around on the patio stone, sniffs around but is glad when we go back inside. This has worked for us for many years!
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Consider yourself fortunate if you have a cat that would do anything at all aside from roll over and act dead, after a leash is clipped to the collar.
103
Just getting a cat into a harness can be an ordeal. Instead, I recommend building a "catio", a screened enclosure accessible via a partially opened window. You can see lots of examples on Pinterest. All they really want is to sniff the air and see the sky.
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@jonno I have a cat enclosure by Purrfect Fence that attaches to the house and accessed by a cat door. I access it by a sliding glass door. It also has an outside gate. It is filled with plants and little walkways. They love it, and they are safe.
1
Try a halter for kitty, rather than a collar. Less restricting, evens out pressure, harder to slip out of, and an eight pound cat doesn't have the same pulling power as a forty pound dog.
My neighbor walks her cat nearly every day. She says the big drawback is kitty yowls loudly and incessantly if she doesn't get her walk.
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@The Poet McTeagle
My cat from Mau'i had a Harley Davidson halter and leash!
His name was Doogle and he was smarter and had more personality than any cat I have ever known. A big black male, Doogle was "owned" by my friends John and Sue. When I visited them in northern California, Doogle would wake me up at almost exactly 7 AM by pawing my chest each morning. If we were late getting back from a day of touring, he jumped up on a 7 foot tall breakfront, pacing back and forth and there was no wake-up dance the next morning.
But Doogle's best "trick" was going on walks. I doubt he would ever tolerate, a leash, but by just saying, "Doogle, you want to go for a walk?", he would go to your right side and walk slightly ahead. He never wandered off and after 20 minutes or so, we would both head back.
Amazing cat.
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@John Archer Many years ago, we had "Polo" a half-Manx gray kitty who, when still very young, decided go to on walks with us and taught us to deal with it. He invited himself, so we kept to quiet streets close to home. He explored all the territory during the walk, and preferred following us to leading the way. I think we all enjoyed it very much.
8
Oh geez. Irresponsible op ed. Just last week on my walk home from the train station I had to walk past the splayed guts of my neighbor's cat.
On a leash, sure, go for it. But please, please do not let your cat roam free, which is what they did.
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Screened porch. With ever increasing super hot temps for more months of the year, few people enjoy or ought be sitting out on decks in the piercing sun - with an increased number of mosquitoes.
We had to rebuild our large older deck, which wasn't constructed well by the previous owner. Screening in part of it at the same time was one of the best things we've done to this home. It's provided near year 'round additional living space for us, offers privacy, and our cats are so in love with it they want to hang out there even in cold or questionable weather.
43
I'd always heard that house cats could become depressed because the need to hunt and stalk for their food is deep in their DNA, and they all do that quite naturally. But putting a bowl of food on the floor for my cat twice a day deprives them of the hunting they so dearly crave. I make it a point to give Mongo playtime each and every day with the laser light toy for cats. He loves it and I can only hope it compensates for his indoor existence. He likes spending time on the enclosed porch, but again, he's unable to "roam the streets". And every so often, I come home to find a dead mouse on the floor as if a gift from the master hunter. It's all good.
15
@Radio Guy Thanks for your comment. I have read many of these comments and most do not apply to my cat. She's pure Siberian and she lives only to hunt. She completely ignores "cat toys" that are not alive. Cuddles from humans do not compensate. When it is warm she is almost completely an outdoor cat and is supremely happy. When it is cold she mostly stays in (voluntarily) and is depressed and grumpy, because the world is sterile of things to hunt. She clearly blames ME for this state of affairs. When she was less than a year old I decided she could either have a short happy life or a long miserable one, and I started letting her out. She is now 5. We are in rural Vermont. Cars are far away. My windows take a bigger toll on birds than she does. (Yes, I've tried the stickers.) Moles, voles, mice, rabbits and red squirrels are much more fun. I think, like with people, all cats are different, and it all depends on the personality.
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@Radio Guy
As a volunteer catcare giver, many of my adoptees who were abandoned by other humans, were ratters. They hunted and killed rats, not mice. And I fed them regularly tasty and kind of expensive cat food. Feeding cats does not take the ratter out of them.
1
A dozen years ago, I adopted a feral cat--or should I say she adopted me. Once I gained her trust, I brought her inside and refused to let her out. It was for own good, I told her. And it was for the good of rodents and birds, too.
After a week of her howling, screaming, climbing up the curtains, and basically destroying the house, I relented. I had no choice but to let her return to the wild.
But then the funniest thing happened: she would be gone for an hour or so every day, then come 'home' and cuddle in the most domesticated way. She is spayed, and sees her veterinarian regularly.
We live in a semi-rural area, so it is unlikely she'll meet her demise by a car. But even if her life is shortened a bit by being gone for that hour a day, she will have had a real life. I could not deprive her of that.
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@Delphine
Been trying to do this for a feral cat who chose me for 6 months! I brought a feral in 14 years ago, and they will never be lap cats, but they will eventually appreciate a warm, loving home in their own way.
6
@Delphine Hear hear. It's only fair we allow our pets *their* real life, in exchange for what they bring to us. They only live so long, and only have so much time to enjoy being the creatures they are, rather than forced versions of ourselves.
11
@DelphineThat kind of arrangement can work well for most, but not all, neutered females. Most stay close to home and are deferential enough to avoid being bitten by intact Toms, who often carry deadly viruses contrcated by fighting with other males. A few females wander far and wide, and they tend to get into the same kind of trouble as males. And a few are not so deferenertial, and though they do not fight like a un-neurtered male might, I've seen them bitten as they try to flle after a territorial confrontation. Even neutered males tend to wander and stake out a territory much larger than a female would. They're much more at risk being bitten and contracting viruses, and if they're around roads, streets, and traffic, it's just a death sentence. Your cat sounds happy. I'm glad it wirked out for her.
6
We have a pair of cats who are brother and sister. The boy cat is delighted to have a collar and leash put on him and we walk him around the back yard. He enjoys sniffing at bushes, trying to eat grass (which we discourage as then he barfs it back up later, indoors) and taking a pee against the neighbor's fence. It does attract attention and neighbors are impressed at "the people who can walk their cat." The cat does not take to letting strangers walk him, however. When we go out of town and have someone look in on the cats, cat walking is not included with the cat sitting instructions.
His sister refuses to walk on a leash, put it on her and she will plop down sulkily and refuse to move, you might as well be trying to walk a football. She does like to go outside sans leash, under supervision, and is good at staying in the yard, mostly.
So it all depends on the personality of the cat. Both cats are happier and calmer with short but daily visits outside of the house.
17
I live on a busy four lane street with no fences. I let both my cats out for an hour or two every day, unless the snow is too deep. The older one (who was once killing birds for food after being dropped off in my neighborhood with one weaning kitten) just sits around by the back porch, but the younger one roams the neighborhood chasing squirrels up trees, brings me the occasional mouse from the nearby restaurant dumpster, and sleeps under a blackberry bramble to ambush bees (and get a yeast infection). Both never go anywhere near the street. They're healthy and happy and I would never dream of putting them on a leash or keeping them indoors.
11
If you agree with my piece and want to take the plunge, here’s some advice on how to do it http://davidhgrimm.com/2018/12/05/so-youre-ready-to-start-walking-your-cat/
5
I walk my 3 year old cat in our apartment complex. We tried it one day and discovered she loved it. When she sees me grab the leash to go out she is so happy. She will rub against the concrete for a minute or two when she's out - then begins looking for her squirrel and bird friends. I can't get her out much especially since it's getting cold, but when I can I do. Most people are intrigued and ask questions. I do have to be careful because there are times when she gets frustrated to be on a leash so she will try to attack my ankles! Contrary to what a couple of neighbors think, she does not pee or poop outside...
13
Cats are social creatures, they enjoy meeting one another. I had a rescued cat Herbert here in Hove and duly took him on a leash in the garden to get used to his new place. He wriggled to be free of it. And so I did so. He had a great time, going to and fro in nearby gardens and became great friends with another cat. Herbert must have told that cat about the great house in which he now lived, for one evening, at the top of the house, I was startled to find that the other cat had worked out a way to walk along several rooftops and come in by an open window. A cat that could, in America, have found a place in the Navy Seals.
68
I thought for many years that a cat "should go outdoors" because it is their nature, etc...but I always felt sad that my cat killed so many birds, chipmunks, etc. I thought that was the price to pay for having a pet cat. Then I moved to an apartment, was reseignedly catless for a while, and then adopted a new cat who had been badly injured and therefore couldn't go outside even if he had had access. He was perfectly happy to take supervised trips onto the balcony and stretch out in the sun; he never even asked to go outdoors. Coyotes, large hawks and even owls can easily take a cat, not to mention cars. Protect neighborhood wildlife by keeping your cat on a leash if you take it outdoors, and protect your cat at the same time! There are few enough birds left in the world as it is...
48
I understand this article was written for city and suburban dwellers. But in rural areas, outdoor cats are a critical way to control rodents that would otherwise infest your home and other buildings.
It's true, as noted in an NYT article recently, that cats don't control adult rats very well. But they do hunt for baby rats and eat tons of mice, keeping the populations down. My cats also hunt gophers, which are a major nuisance in the garden. And while they do catch birds, they are usually ones that fly into windows and are maimed.
I've read pieces saying that cats don't eat their prey; mine certainly do. We feed them once a day but the rest of their diet is fresh meat. And these are not feral cats, just happy domesticated cats with an important job on my farm. If I am an irresponsible cat owner, so is every other rural dweller I know.
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@Paul
Ever since our neighbors got a big cat to control the rabbits in the garden, we have not had a gopher problem. I am very grateful to that cat!
21
@Paul
Yes.
But coyotes will eat cats--that yummy cat-food-fed fat--and hawks take off with them as well.
But my neighbor's cat was dropped, and vet pointed out distinctive piercings!
4
@Paul Farm cats who routinely live outdoors are service animals, not pets. I would think it's hard to develop an attachment to an animal you hardly ever see and who does not regularly cuddle up. Most of the farm cats around here are not or barely acknowledged as household members.
5
My lovely and lively Siamese cats are just as fulfilled and feral indoors as they might ever be outdoors.
Being indoors is inconsequential when there are jungles under every bed, and cloth creatures filled with catnip every here and there.
They still have territorial imperatives over favorite laps and sunny windows.
The only difference is that Sweetie and Zoey have a lifetime caregivers.
15
@MGU: every cat....every human owner...and every situation is different.
You have two cats to entertain one another; a good thing. You sound like you have a large house, with plenty of room to explore.
That is different than a person who lives in a quiet country house -- or a person who lives in a tiny city apartment, where a single cat is cooped up ALL DAY every day, bored out of its mind.
We have a fenced yard and bought a harness and leash, which we attach to a retractable dog leash. Our 1 year old cat begs to go out, and we move her around the yard. I work from home so check on her every so often and occasionally detangle. She loves watching the hummingbirds and other birds at the feeders, but can't get to them. We do, however, have a sticky note on the inside front door to remind ourselves to check if she is inside befiore leaving the house so she doesn't get left out in the rain (which happened once).
12
I've been walking my cat on a leash every day since he was a kitten (he's now 9). I did the same with his predecessor. It's not safe for him (or for the birds/chipmunks/squirrels/voles he wants to kill) for him to go out alone: we live on a quiet street, but all it take is for one car to go by while he is crossing, and he may be killed. We also have the occasional coyote visit the yard, and he would make a delicious morsel. On the other hand, it is inhumane to keep a cat permanently indoors--never to feel the sun on its back or the grass beneath its feet, never to smell the delightful smells out there, never to stalk prey. Animals need mental stimulation just like we do. For most cats, there is nothing in the house to stimulate it. What an awful life some indoor cats live.
The solution? Get a harness and leash, and take the time to walk it. And to all those who say, yes, I've tried, but he hates the harness, please know that they all hate the harness at first, but then they get used to it (especially when you drop them down outside and they start getting distracted by the wonderful things out there). My cat fought like mad when I first used to put the leash on him, and refused to walk normally. Then he forgot all about it and just enjoyed being outdoors. Nowadays when I go to get the leash, he comes running, and purrs like crazy while I am putting it on him. It just takes perseverance--and kindness.
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@EB I have cat TV (bird feeders) and an open screened window for 3 seasons, plus I have a house with many doors and I leave different ones open and closed so there are many places to explore and hide. It will have to do. I prefer that he not try to bolt out, and so far, he seems content with his large indoor roaming zone.
4
@EB: it depends on where you live -- how much traffic -- the kinds of wildlife (coytotes, etc.). It's a judgement call. There is no right answer for every pet owner or every cat.
I've had cats who practically lived outdoors and only came home to eat -- and others who would look around on the deck for 10 minutes and howl to come inside again.
If you want to walk a cat on a leash....you gotta start with a very young kitten, and do it daily until the cat adapts. Cats are very adaptable. But you can't take a 2 year old, free-roaming cat and just think you can stick him on a leash, and he'll conform. He won't.
3
My husband just recently started taking the cat (Will Feral) along with the dog on their morning walk. The cat is unleashed and he loves it. The dog doesn't seem to mind and I get hilarious photos of them on the other side of the block. What's not to love?
16
@Pdxgrl
What's not to love is when it all goes terribly wrong in mere moments. I don't know where your husband is doing this, but even the most "trained" cat, seemingly predictable and calm, can and will do something completely unpredictable sparked by any number of things. And other things are also liable to do the same thing putting your cat in jeopardy. Too many variables. Put the cat on a leash unless you are prepared to accept the consequences.
25
@Pdxgrl
That is a freakin excellent cat name. Almost as good as Marlon Bundo lol
13
@Sam Rosenberg
- Yes, but not better than my two cats, Calvin and Hobbes...
4
I put one of my cats in a harness. It was the easiest way to control her. I had to carry her out and it was like kryptonite to her; she stayed flat on her side the entire time I was out with her. I then carried her inside and took off the harness.
The other cat meows to go outside, sniffs around and then bolts back to the door when she hears any noises.
12
@SK:
you have to start them young, and be consistent, and give rewards.
Not wanting to annoy the neighbours, we put our cats on leashes 20 years ago. Amazing how often our cats were accused of various misbehaviours while we walked them. And the people’s disbelief when we responded “Nope, this is an inside cat and is definitely not guilty.”
18
This is silly. If you are walking your cat on a leash to protect them from running into traffic and getting killed, why would you let them roam free outdoors? You can't have it both ways. Better to keep you cat indoors where it will be safe. I also disagree that cats have not evolved to sleep in your living room or bedroom. Mine does it all the time :)
21
@Rebecca
Please do a search on the BBC on tracking domestic cats at night. Cats are just fine at night outdoors. They search an area, make a "map" of where they are going, and they stick to that map. Oddly, they make straight lines in terms of their movements, not squiggles or curvers or circles, just straight lines. And they travel very far, which would scare any cat owner.
11
@RR Saw that documentary about two years ago, it was brilliant. Some cats had very short ranges, some much larger and in shared spaces, the cats would time-share the area, attempting to avoid one another as much as possible.
8
@RR: I have cats and I have dogs. My cats go out at night in summer (not so much in the cold winters here). I would be walking the dog at night, some blocks from home and encounter my own cats! they recognized us, and would come up to greet us! -- and then follow us home. They can roam several blocks, and perhaps more. They have a great sense of direction and they also have "cat friends" and hang out and socialize at night.
1
Cannot agree. The initial idea was the right one, use a collar and leash. Many cats will adapt to that. But leaving them alone...no.
Cat feces are not good for the environment, and if you can't get them to come in when you want, it might be because they are killing a bird.
Litter is a great invention. There's nothing like it for dogs. There's a good chance you won't even have to pick up feces. So make walking your cat a thing--YES. But just letting them out will only continue the status quo.
In Houston there are thousands of feral cats.One will see them guarding the corpse of their kill sometimes. They should be captured, fixed, and adopted out to people who pledge not to let them out again. Fixed cats still enjoy the hunt, the kill...
Or get a dog. 10-12 pound dogs are the same size as the cat in the picture!
13
actually, litter is terrible for the environment, which is something I haven't sorted out yet for my cat. so far, putting her on a leash has resulted in much unhappiness and meowing. we should have started when she was younger. we use litter but feel guilty.
7
@priceofcivilization
One of the most dangerous, toxic substances is dog feces; umpteen viruses and parasites there that can cause blindness, particularly in kids. And yet, most dog people refuse to act responsibly with their supplicant canine mini-me.
16
Try pine wood shavings as litter.
My cat is safe. He goes from my house, across the narrow lawn, to the neighbours. She leaves the door open for him so he goes to visit. After an hour he returns home and lets himself in. He is happy and I'm glad he gets outside, even for a short time.
24
I take my cat on walks in my apartment building! He likes sniffing under everyone's doors and listening to the sounds of the building. He now demands to walk down the hall every night around 11. Not quite as exciting as a forest or a yard, but he likes it.
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