cat on leash

Q

From Alessa

I have a lovely Bombay cat that I adopted last year from the San Francisco SPCA.  She is wonderful, so lively and inquisitive, and just makes our lives a joy.  She is an indoor cat but I had hoped to leash train her to go for walks with me.  However, I was advised that if I took her outside she would not be happy as an indoor cat anymore and might even get upset and claw furniture, pee on the carpets and the like.  I don't want to upset her, but she seems to love the outdoors because she is always sitting just outside the front door to our apartment when we have it open for air.  Should I forget trying to train her to walk with me?

A

Hi, Alessa!

It always makes me happy to see pet owners taking such an active interest in their pets’ well-being and mental health! 

Many indoor cats are perfectly happy with their indoor lives and get along just fine without ever having to step outside (with the exception of visits to the veterinarian).  This is not to say that these indoor cats do not need exercise and stimulation.  Quite the opposite.  Indoor cats often need more stimulation than their indoor/outdoor or exclusively outdoor counterparts. 

Some indoor cats who are experiencing behavioral problems including urinating and/or defecting outside the litter box and scratching furniture can benefit from ‘environmental enrichment’.  This can include special foraging/hunting toys, scratching posts, or even limited access to the outdoors!  Some cats are satisfied with a simple perch in a window while others enjoy actual time outdoors.  I never recommend off-leash activities outdoors with cats, especially in urban areas. 

Many cats can be successfully trained to walk or play on a harness and leash.  Not only can this benefit your cat’s mental health, but also yours as well as strengthening the human-animal bond.  Since both you and your cat seem interested, and even though your cat does not appear to have any behavioral issue,  I think this is something worth trying out but you can also discuss this with your veterinarian.  Just be sure to have your cat completely up to date on the recommended vaccinations and consider regular deworming and flea/heartworm prevention.

I’m so glad that your cat is bringing you so much joy.  Hopefully this new activity together will bring you even closer.  I know I could never be without a cat … or two.

Craig Galbraith, DVM