Two years into the pandemic, back in New Delhi, I saw a man at a milk booth with his white cat on a leash. Admittedly she was perched on his shoulders at the time, but a cat on a leash is still a rarity. Although I do see cats being walked on leashes down in Goa a lot more often…though that may be more for the fisherfolk’s sake.
You can walk cats on a leash, but it generally takes longer to train them to do that than dogs do – and unlike dogs, when they explore freely away from you a bit, that often means jumping onto a fence or climbing up a tree!
Most people I know who have leash-trained their cats don’t actually walk their cats anyway. Their cats hitch a ride on their shoulders or head, and the leash is just there as added protection from running away.
My husband was made aware of Norwegian Forest cats. He joked about getting 8 of them for sledding. The things are massive. A cousin of mine had 3 Maine c o o n cats. So much hair!
Nope. But I have seen poodles pulling a sled. https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/iditarod/2022/03/06/heres-what-happened-to-john-suter-the-musher-who-ran-poodles-in-the-iditarod/
We travel/camp with a cat. It is always on a leash when it goes outside. When it goes for a walk – it leads (where it wants to go) – doesn’t like to follow – and if you try to pull on the harness to get it to follow, it will slip out of the harness and run away or up a tree. 2000 years ago cats were treated as gods – and they have not forgotten that…
My grandmother used to have the cats on a long rope that was fastened to a lawn statue. It let them explore pretty much the whole yard without leaving it.
Because pulling a sled is useful. Cats have no use except, possibly, as taco meat (I had some delicious but mysterious tacos from a street vendor in Nogales, Sonora, once – I suspect they were tacos gatos; if not, the filthy things have no use).
Cats can learn 120 commands, they just don’t want to. I’ve tried a leash on several cats, same result. They lay down on their belly and refuse to move.
Cactus-Pete almost 2 years ago
Another bad assumption since it doesn’t seem like cats want to be walked – they like to do their own thing.
Concretionist almost 2 years ago
Dogs are team/pack animals. Cats are definitely singletons.
Michael Thorton almost 2 years ago
Two years into the pandemic, back in New Delhi, I saw a man at a milk booth with his white cat on a leash. Admittedly she was perched on his shoulders at the time, but a cat on a leash is still a rarity. Although I do see cats being walked on leashes down in Goa a lot more often…though that may be more for the fisherfolk’s sake.
ajmsdca almost 2 years ago
Yet in Norse mythology the goddess Freya had a vehicle pulled by cats. I think it was Freya, might have been Frigga?
sandpiper almost 2 years ago
And you probably never will see a long-tailed cat in a room full of . . . well you know.
Chrisdiaz801 almost 2 years ago
If she were in a classroom, Miss Plainwell would be able to deal with this girl’s strange musing.
Stray almost 2 years ago
Actually, where I live, I’ve seen a couple of people walking their cats. The cats didn’t look like they were enjoying it much, though.
conuly almost 2 years ago
You can walk cats on a leash, but it generally takes longer to train them to do that than dogs do – and unlike dogs, when they explore freely away from you a bit, that often means jumping onto a fence or climbing up a tree!
Most people I know who have leash-trained their cats don’t actually walk their cats anyway. Their cats hitch a ride on their shoulders or head, and the leash is just there as added protection from running away.
stillfickled Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I had a cat that walked on a leash and fetched a ball.
ewaldoeh almost 2 years ago
Dogs only walk with you on a leash after they understand that it pleases you. There’s the problem.
felinefan55 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
There is a man I follow on Instagram who takes his cat skiing and hiking. The cat’s name is Gary and he decides where they walk.
felinefan55 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
My husband was made aware of Norwegian Forest cats. He joked about getting 8 of them for sledding. The things are massive. A cousin of mine had 3 Maine c o o n cats. So much hair!
AlanM almost 2 years ago
My daughter has a cat that enjoys going outside on a leash.
cervelo almost 2 years ago
Ever “heard” the expression: “this is impossible, it’s like herding cats!”?
cervelo almost 2 years ago
So where did Jane think this was going? Or is that expanded upon on tomorrow’s installment?
e.groves almost 2 years ago
That girl doesn’t have a cat, does she?
daveoverpar almost 2 years ago
We saw 5 dachshunds pulling a guy on a skateboard.
brucer31245 almost 2 years ago
Cats pulling a sled? Snow leopards?
cissycox almost 2 years ago
I have a friend on facebook whose cat loves to ride in the car draped across her shoulders. Mine have to take Xanax for their yearly vet visits.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Nope. But I have seen poodles pulling a sled. https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/iditarod/2022/03/06/heres-what-happened-to-john-suter-the-musher-who-ran-poodles-in-the-iditarod/
raptor almost 2 years ago
We travel/camp with a cat. It is always on a leash when it goes outside. When it goes for a walk – it leads (where it wants to go) – doesn’t like to follow – and if you try to pull on the harness to get it to follow, it will slip out of the harness and run away or up a tree. 2000 years ago cats were treated as gods – and they have not forgotten that…
Ignatz Premium Member almost 2 years ago
They don’t enjoy is as much as a dog. They can be taught to do it, but it takes work, and they don’t take to it naturally.
Ignatz Premium Member almost 2 years ago
My grandmother used to have the cats on a long rope that was fastened to a lawn statue. It let them explore pretty much the whole yard without leaving it.
hmofo813 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
The teevee sitcom “Community” had a gag about the futility of a cat-powered car.
The Legend of Brandon Sawyer almost 2 years ago
So, where is this going
UBBM Premium Member almost 2 years ago
My cat accepts the harness and leash but tugs on it like any dog seeing a squirrel.
Serial Pedant almost 2 years ago
A cat can be trained to do anything it wants to do….
trainnut1956 almost 2 years ago
One of my neighbor had two annoyed pocket dogs and a siamese cat. She walked them all on a divided lead.
Cozmik Cowboy almost 2 years ago
Because pulling a sled is useful. Cats have no use except, possibly, as taco meat (I had some delicious but mysterious tacos from a street vendor in Nogales, Sonora, once – I suspect they were tacos gatos; if not, the filthy things have no use).
SofaKing almost 2 years ago
Cats can learn 120 commands, they just don’t want to. I’ve tried a leash on several cats, same result. They lay down on their belly and refuse to move.
Mermaid515 almost 2 years ago
Lots of people walk their cats. Check out this : https://www.adventurecats.org/
nuqjatlh almost 2 years ago
Both of my cats are leash trained. You just have to start them young.
Not the Smartest Man On the Planet -- Maybe Close Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Cats don’t like to be restrained by a leash.
EdmundBabe almost 2 years ago
There’s a good reason the collective noun for cats isn’t team
PaintTheDust almost 2 years ago
Cats are also smart enough to refuse to take intelligence tests.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 2 years ago
They would have to be much larger cats like tiger, lion etc.
Realimaginary1 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Stray thoughts unleashed!
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Why cats will never join a 12-step program:
Step 1: I acknowledge the existence of a higher authority.