A Walk On The Wild Side

The benefits of taking your cat for a walk

Why you should take your cat for a walk and how to get started.

Walking a cat on a leash? As a cat owner, you’ve probably heard of this phenomenon by now. To some it may seem absurd, but to others, exploring the great outdoors with their leashed feline is a normal part of their daily lives. And it turns out there are some very good reasons to consider it. Cats usually do quite well living inside our homes and never setting a paw outside, but if you think about it, the cat is not designed to be stuck in “captivity.” Our cats’ wild ancestors lived outdoors for thousands of years, exploring and hunting—but there were also many dangers they encountered that our inside cats will never experience. Letting our domesticated cats run amok throughout the neighbourhood unsupervised can provide extra exercise and enrichment, but because of serious outdoor hazards, I do not recommend it. Instead, I promote keeping cats safely inside to help them live healthier and longer lives. Yet there is still an occasional twinge of guilt that many cat owners feel for not letting their cat outside to experience all that nature has to offer. This is where walking a cat on a leash comes in. It may not be suitable for certain cats, but for many, walking outside on a leash is a great way to provide the enrichment that only outside can provide, while at the same time keeping your cat out of harm’s way.