Forever Sassy

by SassyJazmine

The doctor told my mom she has to exercise. My mom doesn't like to exercise, but she did agree to ride her bike every day. And guess who gets to go with her.....

First off you need to learn how to walk with a leash. Well I already know how to do that, because last year after my surgery I had to be on a leash for 6 weeks. But I will give you some instructions so you can learn if you want.

I found this information on the web at About.com. The article was written by Franny Syufy, she says (she is talking to your human) "whether your cat is exclusively indoors, or an indoor-outdoor variety, there are times you'll need to keep him confined with a leash. Even older cats can be trained, given patience."

1. Purchase a comfortably-fitting harness and lightweight leash with a secure clip. Do not use a collar, the cat may be able to slip out of it. You want the leash to pull from the chest rather than the throat. The cats' Walking Jacket is a fine alternative to a harness, virtually escape free, and with the leash attached mid-back, for comfort.

2. Put the harness and leash somewhere near kitty's sleeping area and leave it there for several days to accustom him to it's appearance and smell.

3. Wait until just before his normal mealtime, then put the harness on the cat. You should be able to comfortably slip two fingers between the harness and his skin.

4. Immediately feed him his favorite meal and praise him when finished.

5. Let him wear the harness for awhile. If it seems to bother him, distract him by playing with a favorite toy.

6. When the cat seems to be accustomed to the harness, take it off.

7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for several days, leaving the harness on longer each time.

8. Next, attach the leash to the harness and let kitty walk around the house, dragging the leash. Watch him carefully that the leash doesn't get tangled up around furniture.

9. Praise him for being such a good cat, and give him some loving hugs.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for a few days, until the cat seems to accept the harness and leash.

11. Now, let him walk around as usual, but pick up the business end of the leash and follow him in his wanderings. Keep the tension slack, so as not to restrict his movement.

12. Practice step 11 for a few days.

13. Teach kitty to follow you by talking to him in a cajoling manner and lightly pulling on the lead. Don't fight him. Leash-training should be a pleasurable experience for the cat, not an adversarial one. On the other hand, if he tugs at the leash, simply stop until he relaxes, then move on.

14. You're ready to move outdoors now. Do it gradually, and take your first short excursions in your own back yard, or in a quiet area.

15. Gradually increase his exposure to the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors. Soon, the two of you will be able to enter walkathon's together.

Tips:
1. Patience, patience, patience. Stay tuned to the cat's reactions and let him guide you at his own pace. Don't let this training become a battle of the wills, cat against human, because the human will surely lose.

2. If there is more than one cat in the home, it may actually be easier to train the second one, because he will want to follow the first.

So there you have it, your human can teach you (giggle) to walk on a leash if they follow these instructions. I am not fond of a leash, I hate the harness, but I love my Mom and will usually do what she wants ...after I decide I want to do it that is.