Teaching a cat to walk on a leash...

[Cuban_Liberal]

Our old cat is leash-trained, but our new cat isn't-- yet. I decided that today, being a prototypically beautiful Midwestern spring day, would be the perect day to start Buddy's leash training. The scenario unfolded as follows:

1. Call Buddy.

2. Buddy comes.

3. Put figure-8 harness on Buddy.

4. Buddy permits this, after biting the harness once or twice.

5. Pick up leash.

6. Watch Buddy bat at leash.

7. Clip leash to figure-8 harness.

8. Receive weird look from Buddy.

9. Stand up and gently tug on leash.

10. Watch Buddy do imitation of a boat anchor.

11. Tug again.

12. Get dirty look from boat anchor/cat.

13. Tug gently yet again.

14. Cat stands up, looking annoyed.

15. Cat takes off like an F-16, dislocating my wrist.

16. I curse and rub my wrist, and cat looks amused.

17. Open door.

18. Cat looks out through door with interest.

19. Cat looks at leash with resignation.

20. Cat leads human servant out door, takes a few timid steps.

21. Cat looks back at human, still annoyed.

22. Cat takes sudden interest in tree beside front porch.

23. Cat climbs 8 feet up said tree.

24. High school kids walk by, look, then snicker.

25. Cat descends tree and returns to front door.

26. Owner opens door, removes leash and regrets Lesson #1.

27. Owner extracts promise from s/o to take Lesson #2 off his hands.

:P

[purr]

1. LOL!!

I put a leash on my calico and she flopped over, played dead, and didnt move.

My sphynx was easy to train.. she followed me everywhere anyway so putting a leash on her and walking wasnt a big deal unless she saw a dog. Then she turned on killer mode.

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Our old cat likes it.

He thinks it's cool. Somehow, I think Buddy is going to be a harder sell.

;)

[ronnykmarshall]

3. I wish I would have done this my our cats.

But I don't really want to take them outside anyway. City traffic would scare them too much.

[MADem]

4. Try encouraging him with Pounce Treats! n/t

[Jersey Devil]

5. LOL, had to put a cat on a leash once

He was an outdoor cat and bit someone who stepped on his tail so he was "quarantined" for a while and had to be walked on a leash. He hated it more than I did!

[Catshrink]

6. Great story....

matcom has a leash trained cat. Wonder how he did it. Well, maybe it's better not to know.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. Our other cat likes it.

He thinks the leash is cool. I dunno what Buddy's problem is. Maybe the newness of it?

:shrug:

[sparky_in_ma]

8. LOL

Almost as much fun as trying to get mine to swallow a pill.x(