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What Is It Like Walking A Cat On A Lead?

16/12/2015

8 Comments

 
This is a question I'm asked quite often – in person in my front garden as people walk along the pavement and see me, and on social media. I thought I'd answer it here as people seem to be quite interested in it.

First, the reasons for why our cat, Domino is only allowed out on a lead and harness. We have lost three cats on the road outside our house in 27 months, we were averaging losing one cat every nine months. We used to think they knew it was a busy road and would avoid it, and play out the back of the house. However, this was proved wrong three times.

After losing Tigger in 2014, we had a few options with Domino: do nothing, and statistically we'd have lost him in another nine months; keep him as a house cat; give him back to the cat sanctuary so he could be adopted by another family; try him on a harness and lead.

Doing nothing wasn't an option and if we'd have taken him back to the cat sanctuary we had no guarantee he wouldn't get hit by a car with new owners. It seemed irresponsible to continue as we were, because Domino wasn't able to take the decision to be careful of the road, we took the decision for him; to protect him.

We tried him as only a house cat for 4 weeks or so, but he still asked to go outside most days, so we bought a lead and harness and hoped he'd be OK with it.

It didn't take long before he got used to the harness – he stands on the kitchen table by the back door and lets me put the harness on, then he leads me around the garden on the lead.

Although he can't go as far as he could when he went outside without a lead, he does get to experience the smells, the wind in his fur, digging in real earth, eating grass and basking in the sun, as he did before. And I think that enriches his life a lot, while still staying safe for him away from the road.

I know lots of people only have house cats, and it seems this is a more popular option in America than the UK. I certainly find myself having to justify why Domino 'only' goes outside on a lead, much more with British people than Americans.

In an ideal world we'd live in the countryside and Domino could roam far and wide, but we don't live in an ideal world, we live in a world of compromises, and letting him go outside on a lead is another compromise, but one I think is worth making if it means he avoids the thing that killed our other three cats.
How do you feel about house cats? Is it cruel to keep them inside? What about letting cats out on a lead, is that worse than just keeping them in as a house cats?
Until next time,
Liam Livings xx

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8 Comments
HJ
16/12/2015 08:46:31 am

I think you've made the right decision. I don't think most British cats are suited to being house cats and, as you say, Dominic feels the earth beneath his feet and the sun on his back. If you didn't have the road as a consideration I wouldn't be in favour of keeping him on the lead but as you do it's the right thing to do.

Reply
Liam Livings
16/12/2015 10:32:17 am

Thanks, HJ, we think we've made the right decision too. I think it's better than having him as only a house cat, because the outside time he gets definitely enriches his life.

Reply
Marsha
16/12/2015 06:40:56 pm

Hi Liam! We're in the US and have 4 cats, all who are house only cats. They are very happy inside. They have toys and window perches and we buy them cat grass they can munch on. It works out well and they rarely try to go outside. For us, this is what works. Really, it's what works for you and your cat. Who is gorgeous, by the way!

Reply
Liam Livings
9/1/2016 10:38:45 am

Thanks Marsha, I think you're right, it is about what works and Domino as a house cat and on a lead works for us. It certainly means we've not lost him to the road like the other cats *bangs head at own stupidity*. He is very pretty isn't he? xx

Reply
Ravyn Bryce
16/12/2015 09:12:04 pm

Ours have had the choice. Some like it, others haven't. Vash, the current boy, enjoys the outdoors. Live where coyotes roam and not many animals run around, safer to leash. Vash was amusing in the beginning, flopping to his side. Now he enjoys his walks outdoor. Domino is darling and looks satisfied with his adventures outdoors :)

Reply
Liam Livings
9/1/2016 10:40:34 am

Hi Ravyn, keeping cats inside if there are coyotes that would be the most sensible thing. I suppose cars are another danger, which is why he's a house cat now. Thanks, Domino is very darling and loves his outdoor adventures!

Reply
Temple Dragon link
18/12/2015 12:50:27 pm

Domino is beautiful. He looks happy being outdoors on a lead. I have been very happy cat staff all my life, and each cat is unique in their desires. My previous cat slept in a neighbour's shed all night, and when we let him in of a morning, he would weld himself to the nearest person and not go out until midnight. Our current cat enjoys a happy mix of being indoors and outdoors.

My health and disabilities means going out is something of a rare treat, but I enjoy it immensely. To be honest, staying at a friend's house and waking up to different walls is enriching in itself. My life is better with variety, and with the British seasons, just being in the garden satisfies that. And remember, if you had a human child on a lead, no-one would question that you wanted the child to experience the outside with added safety in case they ran into the road.

Reply
Liam Livings
9/1/2016 10:42:44 am

Thanks, Temple Dragon, those are very good points about enriching life from variety. It is true about looking after a human child. Cats are part of your family, and can't look after themselves, so they are like children, and if a series of children had accidents you would be expected to make changes to prevent it happening again. That's what we've done for our furry friend.

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    Liam Livings

    Gay romance & gay fiction author

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