Even if you never plan on taking your cat on a walk outdoors there’s a good reason to leash train. It can help with a new cat introduction, aggressive issues between companion cats, or even when introducing a dog to your cat. If you’re dealing with a cat who displays offensive aggression toward companion pets in the home you can leash train to help him stay “checked in” with you and at a safe distance from the target of his aggression. The fact that the cat can’t actively go after the target of their aggression can also help the other cat relax. This leads to an all-over relaxation in body language communication between the cats.
Start Slow When Training Your Cat to a Leash
You can’t just slap a harness and leash on a cat and expect him to be comfortable and know what to do. The training process involves gradual desensitization. Start by getting a harness made for a cat and a lightweight leash. Don’t choose a harness made for dogs because they won’t fit properly, and don’t just plan on attaching a leash to your cat’s regular collar. A harness is the safest, especially if you ever plan on walking your cat outdoors.
Supplies needed:
- A cat harness that is the right size for your cat (follow manufacturer’s directions for measuring)
- Lightweight leash (don’t use a retractable leash or a long leash)
- Treats (make sure the treats are ones your cat can’t resist)
Initially, just leave the harness and leash on the floor for your cat to sniff and investigate. Place treats near the leash and harness. One trick I do is to take a small cloth and gently rub the cat around the mouth to collect the facial pheromones and then I rub the harness with the scented cloth. You can also spray the harness with a spritz of Feliway spray.
When your cat is comfortable with the presence of those items, you can put the harness on loosely while he gets a super yummy treat, or is engaged in an interactive play session. One method that I use is to put a little Churu paste on a Lickimat to distract the cat. You can find Churu and Lickimats easily online. Leave the harness on for a short period initially. Remove it before the cat starts to get uncomfortable.
Gradually increase the time the cat wears the harness. Work up to being able to adjust the harness so it fits appropriately. Next, attach the leash and initially let your cat drag it around. Work up to being able to hold it loosely while he walks around.
Make Leash Training Fun
Reward the cat with treats when he walks near you. Keep the sessions short and positive. It’s better to do several sessions that end on a positive note rather than try to push your cat’s tolerance by trying to do too much.
If you are leash training to be able to walk your cat outdoors, don’t attempt to step outside until your cat is completely comfortable with being tethered by the leash and doesn’t panic when feeling the tug of the leash. If you’re going outdoors, your cat needs to have identification and should be up-to-date on vaccinations. Flea and tick protection is also essential.
Just because your cat is comfortable on the leash and harness indoors doesn’t mean he will do well outdoors.
Work on the Relationship Between the Cats
Just because you are able to train a cat to a leash doesn’t mean you don’t have to do the behavior work necessary to help cats in a multicat environment develop a good relationship. You have to do behavior work to give them a reason to like each other. Don’t depend on a leash and harness to do all the work for you.
Need More Information?
For more information on cat behavior and training, check out the books by best-selling author Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included Amazon links here on our website.
If you have a question regarding your cat’s health, please contact your veterinarian. This article is not intended as a replacement for your cat’s veterinary care.