Will walking a cat cure or encourage their desire to escape?
June 7, 2020 8:59 AM Subscribe
We have a cat that is very curious about the outdoors and tries to bolt out the door whenever we open it. We were thinking about getting him a leash and harness and allowing him to play in the yard. Will this satisfy his urge to go outside? Or will it just teach him how awesome the outdoors is, and make him want to bolt more?
Our eight year old Delano has a thirst for adventure and wants to go outside. We think it would be fun for him if we got a harness and leash and took him outside sometimes. However, I'm concerned that if he gets used to going outside that it will only make him bolt for the door more and we'll make him more prone to escaping. Has anyone experienced to this with their cat? Did walking your cat make it more or less likely to try to escape on its own?
For context, we live in the middle of a city. We have a small backyard where we would take Delano to play. When he escapes it's very problematic because he has run into neighbors' yards in the past, and we are always worried about him getting lost or hurt. We don't want to do anything that would encourage him to bolt out of the door more often.
Our eight year old Delano has a thirst for adventure and wants to go outside. We think it would be fun for him if we got a harness and leash and took him outside sometimes. However, I'm concerned that if he gets used to going outside that it will only make him bolt for the door more and we'll make him more prone to escaping. Has anyone experienced to this with their cat? Did walking your cat make it more or less likely to try to escape on its own?
For context, we live in the middle of a city. We have a small backyard where we would take Delano to play. When he escapes it's very problematic because he has run into neighbors' yards in the past, and we are always worried about him getting lost or hurt. We don't want to do anything that would encourage him to bolt out of the door more often.
Comment only: Delano is a mighty feline.
posted by BostonTerrier at 9:59 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by BostonTerrier at 9:59 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
It seems to be cat-dependent in my experience. We've had both ends of the spectrum in the past, and my daughter is currently debating the wisdom of halter-training and outside-taking her 6 month old kitten, because the prior disinterest in outdoors has turned into constantly wanting to go out, just this week. (Worsened by the fact that we live in the city in an apartment... prior halter-cats were when we lived in rural areas.)
posted by stormyteal at 10:44 AM on June 7, 2020
posted by stormyteal at 10:44 AM on June 7, 2020
With a cat that is going to bolt on you, there is a good chance that one day he's going to escape and then you'll need to figure out how to get him back. When I have cats like this I make a point of carrying them in my arms around the house from the back door to the front, and from the front door back in the back a few times so that they get familiar with the yard and the layout so they are more likely to find it if they get out and panic, but still don't get the idea that the yard is part of their territory where they can feel safe and relax. I want them nervous about the outside, but knowledgeable and that's the compromise I came up with. I let them sniff stuff that they can reach from my arms with me standing but did not hold them at ground level.
I had one cat who would go down the stairs and sit just inside the opening if the door was left open but never, ever set paw outside despite several opportunities, one cat who fell off the balcony once and immediately ran around to the front of the house and desperately clawed all the weather stripping off the front door trying to get in, but the moment I opened the door calmed right down and strolled in, and one cat who fell off the porch or leapt out of a broken screen a story and a half up multiple times, and then went into hiding, coming out only to wander around the outside of the house howling at three in the morning. When I left the downstairs hall open he would not come in, nor could you open a door to go out without panicking him into going out of sight and hiding. He had to be captured in a live capture trap. I had to do this four times and each time it took between three days to a week to get him into the trap.
So it's all in the temperament of the cat, and from the sound of it Delano is brave and curious, would be able to find his way home, but would explore further and further outside the more often he got out. My guess is that taking him out on a leash would mean that the first time he could escape without one he would use it as an opportunity to explore further than he can go when you're holding the leash. In my experience leash training a cat simply makes it more curious about the outside.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:09 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
I had one cat who would go down the stairs and sit just inside the opening if the door was left open but never, ever set paw outside despite several opportunities, one cat who fell off the balcony once and immediately ran around to the front of the house and desperately clawed all the weather stripping off the front door trying to get in, but the moment I opened the door calmed right down and strolled in, and one cat who fell off the porch or leapt out of a broken screen a story and a half up multiple times, and then went into hiding, coming out only to wander around the outside of the house howling at three in the morning. When I left the downstairs hall open he would not come in, nor could you open a door to go out without panicking him into going out of sight and hiding. He had to be captured in a live capture trap. I had to do this four times and each time it took between three days to a week to get him into the trap.
So it's all in the temperament of the cat, and from the sound of it Delano is brave and curious, would be able to find his way home, but would explore further and further outside the more often he got out. My guess is that taking him out on a leash would mean that the first time he could escape without one he would use it as an opportunity to explore further than he can go when you're holding the leash. In my experience leash training a cat simply makes it more curious about the outside.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:09 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
And just to illustrate that cats are a land of contrasts....
I adopted a stray after nobody could find her previous home. She was 6 monthish old and kept waiting to escape so I finally did the cat leash thing.
She was an easily trainable kitty and the outside time seemed to lessen her escape tendencies. I eventually let her wander with harness but no leash under supervision. And taught her that beyond the fence was not allowed by speaking sharply and tossing pine cones past her to shoo her back.
She eventually transitioned to coming back when called (with ocassional pine cone reinforcement.)
She is now rarely interested in going out without her human guardian and has no escape plans. It could be getting older, but....
I adopted a street youngster who is fearless. He is also stubborn and independent. This is one who has gone awol at any opportunity. I can tell that he isn't going to be a harness kitty because he's immune to almost all scary things and even strangers.
YourCatMayVary...
posted by mightshould at 11:47 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
I adopted a stray after nobody could find her previous home. She was 6 monthish old and kept waiting to escape so I finally did the cat leash thing.
She was an easily trainable kitty and the outside time seemed to lessen her escape tendencies. I eventually let her wander with harness but no leash under supervision. And taught her that beyond the fence was not allowed by speaking sharply and tossing pine cones past her to shoo her back.
She eventually transitioned to coming back when called (with ocassional pine cone reinforcement.)
She is now rarely interested in going out without her human guardian and has no escape plans. It could be getting older, but....
I adopted a street youngster who is fearless. He is also stubborn and independent. This is one who has gone awol at any opportunity. I can tell that he isn't going to be a harness kitty because he's immune to almost all scary things and even strangers.
YourCatMayVary...
posted by mightshould at 11:47 AM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Harness training my cat means that now she cries at the cabinet with her harness in it, instead of darting for the door. YMMV.
posted by tchemgrrl at 12:00 PM on June 7, 2020
posted by tchemgrrl at 12:00 PM on June 7, 2020
More YourCatMayVary anecdata:
A friend has been letting her cat out in her garden recently, and unfortunately she's been experiencing the result you fear. He's escaped from the yard a couple of times for a few hours, and he's spending a lot more time meowing at the back door. However, the cat in question won't tolerate a harness, so he goes out without a leash. If Delano will wear a harness and responds to training, you might be able to get him to associate the harness with "I get to go outside!"
I got good advice about holster options and training in this question last year. Maggie eventually took to her Kitty Holster and she's never wriggled out of it. Her interest in getting outside has maybe slightly decreased since she started getting walks, but she's not the escape artist type.
posted by doift at 12:17 PM on June 7, 2020
A friend has been letting her cat out in her garden recently, and unfortunately she's been experiencing the result you fear. He's escaped from the yard a couple of times for a few hours, and he's spending a lot more time meowing at the back door. However, the cat in question won't tolerate a harness, so he goes out without a leash. If Delano will wear a harness and responds to training, you might be able to get him to associate the harness with "I get to go outside!"
I got good advice about holster options and training in this question last year. Maggie eventually took to her Kitty Holster and she's never wriggled out of it. Her interest in getting outside has maybe slightly decreased since she started getting walks, but she's not the escape artist type.
posted by doift at 12:17 PM on June 7, 2020
I use the above-mentioned Kitty Holster to walk my cat and he loves it. So much, in fact, that he wants to go for walks constantly and will make himself very annoying to that end. Something to consider if you enjoy relaxing at home in peace and quiet.
Is there any chance you could fence in your backyard with cat netting and let him come and go as he pleases? That is my eventual goal for my cat in order to regain my time and sanity.
posted by cat friend at 1:00 PM on June 7, 2020
Is there any chance you could fence in your backyard with cat netting and let him come and go as he pleases? That is my eventual goal for my cat in order to regain my time and sanity.
posted by cat friend at 1:00 PM on June 7, 2020
It's entirely anecdotal, but I did it daily for a year or so with a cat who was absolutely desperate to get outside. She was an adult-captured stray and living in a place where letting her out alone would have been a terrible idea. It didn't cure her, or cause any change in her behavior as far as I could tell. But, it didn't hurt, and I'm pretty sure she enjoyed it. (At least after a few hours of getting used to the harness.)
I'd suggest taking a carrier to quiet place, sitting down with a book, and letting the cat do what they want rather than planning on "walking," though. At least at first, if your cat is anything like mine was. In our case, "walking," mostly involved carefully coaxing the cat out from under parked cars.
posted by eotvos at 2:49 PM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'd suggest taking a carrier to quiet place, sitting down with a book, and letting the cat do what they want rather than planning on "walking," though. At least at first, if your cat is anything like mine was. In our case, "walking," mostly involved carefully coaxing the cat out from under parked cars.
posted by eotvos at 2:49 PM on June 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
We have an escape cat who happens to hate the harness, so she’s either trying to escape the house or escape the harness. It mostly results in her rolling around on the dirty sidewalk in both cases.
posted by Maarika at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2020
posted by Maarika at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2020
My cat is like this and walking outside on a leash in a harness is good mental stimulation for him. He has come to associate the harness with going outside and can tire himself out/get enough stimulation after about 15 or 20 minutes. When he comes back in he is wiped out and just passes out on the floor. He still sometimes is annoying at the door, but we haven't had him bolt yet.
Occasionally we tie him to an immoveable object near the house and let him lounge on the porch/patio as well if it's warm. He is curious about smelling plants and other animal smells outside. Also chittering at birds and squirrels and stuff.
It's worth trying to put your cat in a harness and walk him on a leash. My cat gradually was willing to go longer and longer distances as he felt increasingly safe on our block and got to know the various spots he wanted to stop at.
posted by zdravo at 5:00 PM on June 7, 2020
Occasionally we tie him to an immoveable object near the house and let him lounge on the porch/patio as well if it's warm. He is curious about smelling plants and other animal smells outside. Also chittering at birds and squirrels and stuff.
It's worth trying to put your cat in a harness and walk him on a leash. My cat gradually was willing to go longer and longer distances as he felt increasingly safe on our block and got to know the various spots he wanted to stop at.
posted by zdravo at 5:00 PM on June 7, 2020
Just checking: your cat's been neutered, right?
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:04 PM on June 7, 2020
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:04 PM on June 7, 2020
Every cat is unique. Ours are (neutered) Highland Lynx brother and sister. They loved getting out on harness and EVERY DAY since they have longed to do it again. I think it's a serious commitment for some cats -- best that if you do it, assume you ll need to keep doing it.
posted by bearwife at 9:17 PM on June 7, 2020
posted by bearwife at 9:17 PM on June 7, 2020
I realized I didn't really answer your question. He is much less bolt-y now than he was before we started walking him. The few times he's gotten out, he seems confused that we are not escorting him and is easy to capture. He is not the brightest little cat, though, so ymmv.
posted by cat friend at 9:25 PM on June 7, 2020
posted by cat friend at 9:25 PM on June 7, 2020
I have two rescue cats. Both are allowed outside; I go out with them. Both have Kitty Holsters, but...
... one I often don't bother putting the holster on because she understands the boundaries and doesn't often trespass over them (maybe once a year?). The other has to have holster and leash because 1) he'll jump the gates if unleashed (and sometimes even when leashed!), and 2) he's already gotten himself lost for two weeks and I do not want that happening again.
So I concur with other posters: there is no rule, only cat.
posted by humbug at 2:56 PM on June 8, 2020
... one I often don't bother putting the holster on because she understands the boundaries and doesn't often trespass over them (maybe once a year?). The other has to have holster and leash because 1) he'll jump the gates if unleashed (and sometimes even when leashed!), and 2) he's already gotten himself lost for two weeks and I do not want that happening again.
So I concur with other posters: there is no rule, only cat.
posted by humbug at 2:56 PM on June 8, 2020
Building a 'Catio' (enclosed window box, where cat can come and go inside and then out into their very limited outside space) greatly reduced cat #1's interest in escaping. It did very little for Cat #2's escapism. However, training cats to come to the sound of a bell (like a little school teachers bell) to get preferred treats has made catching said Houdini esque cat much easier. If your space allows for a catio (basement window maybe? ours is up on stilts up a 1/2 story) it might be worth considering. Our guys love it. Otherwise, even an outdoor cage to allow for limited outside free time, in safety.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:47 PM on June 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:47 PM on June 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
Our kitties loved it when we brought out their monkey suits and leashes. They ran around like excited dogs, and then sat still to be suited up.
And the point about showing them where they live if they bolt is a great one. One of our guys did just that, and was able to find his way to the front door (a not inconsiderable way) and wait for me to come looking for him.
I would/ will do it again when we get another.
And he is a beautiful guy. Congratulations.
posted by Tunierikson at 7:30 AM on June 9, 2020
And the point about showing them where they live if they bolt is a great one. One of our guys did just that, and was able to find his way to the front door (a not inconsiderable way) and wait for me to come looking for him.
I would/ will do it again when we get another.
And he is a beautiful guy. Congratulations.
posted by Tunierikson at 7:30 AM on June 9, 2020
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One thing I do worry about is that now she's more familiar with the outside of the house, if she does get out she might not stay near the house to explore. But she really enjoys going outside, and it seems like a really enriching activity for her, so... I still take her out.
But cats are cats. I don't know that it'd be the same for a different cat.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:33 AM on June 7, 2020