Walking the Cat: Would you add this to your list of services?
In his opinion piece for The New York Times—which also made the rounds on social media—writer David Grimm asserts “Yes, You Should Walk Your Cat.” Grimm, a deputy news editor at Science and author of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship With Cats and Dogs, explains that while there’s been a growing movement for the past two decades to keep felines indoors for their safety (which is good), he also feels that “today’s indoor cat is a tiger robbed of his dominion.” His solution?—walking cats on leashes as we do dogs, a practice he and his fiancé started for their own cat about 13 years ago.
So, do indoor cats need outside walking time? Cat-behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett advises that not every cat is a good candidate for leash training and walking. In her article “Should You Walk Your Cat Outdoors on a Leash?” Johnson-Bennett explains that there are various factors to consider including your cat’s age and if she is easily stressed. Other considerations include the unfamiliar outdoor scents, dogs, loud noises, cars and people—all of which could startle a cat.
With the pros and cons in mind, should professional pet sitters consider offering cat-walking services?
While professional pet sitter Pat O’Shea, owner of Kitten Sittin’ in Tampa, Fla., currently has more than 100 cat-sitting clients, none of them have asked her to walk a cat—but she would if asked.
Pat lives with three cats herself and explains that one—“Smokey”—is a sprayer. Smokey was an outdoor cat that was left behind when a neighbor moved, and Pat transitioned him to being an indoor cat.
Photo of Smokey provided by Pat O'Shea
She has neighbors who allow their cats to roam free and Smokey would mark his territory—inside her home—when he saw an outdoor cat. Years ago, she decided to take him around her yard in a harness and leash, so that he could mark trees and bushes instead. She purchased a custom-made harness (Smokey needed a size XL) and uses a red leash, and Pat says this makes it easy to find him if she allows him to roam in the confines of her yard.
Meighan Williams, owner of Dogs about Townsville and Meg and Moggy Cat Sitting in Queensland, Australia, has walked two cats at her clients’ requests and also attempted to walk her own. She says her first cat-walking assignment was “very easy” because the cat had been leash trained and loved to explore. Her second cat-walking request came from a dog-sitting client who adopted a sweet cat named Spook.
Meighan says she was also easily able to harness him up to go out for walks.
Her advice for pet sitters considering offering cat walking as a service? “Don't expect every cat to just walk along beside you as a dog might. Just let them explore and do their thing. It's not about exercise or distance covered; it's about sensory enrichment and outdoor time.”
She also adds that it helps if cats have been trained to walk on leash from a young age.
Photo of Spook provided by Meighan Williams
Even for potential clients who indicate that their cats are trained to walk on a leash, you want to be sure that you are able to get the cat prepared for a walk.
“If a client wants you to walk their cat, allow them to let you put the harness and leash on him during the initial cat-care consultation. I had a client who wanted me to walk her cat and during my first sit, there was no way that cat was going to let ME put on the harness,” explains Pat.
Tips for introducing a cat to outdoor walking
If you have considered taking your cat for a walk, or been asked to take a client’s cat on a walk, keep in mind that you want to introduce the idea of wearing a harness gradually. It’s important that you have a harness that fits the cat properly and you want to make introducing the harness a positive experience.
Consider leaving it by the cat’s food bowl first and let him or her sniff it, then offer a treat. Another day you may put the harness on, but not snap it—but again, offer treats. Over the course of several days, you can try the harness on the cat—gauging his or her comfort level—and then eventually secure the harness to ensure proper fit.
Remember, however, that outdoor walking isn’t a fit for every cat. It’s important to understand the individual cat’s personality and comfort level with new adventures before deciding to take him or her outside.
Safety precautions when walking a client’s cat
Because introducing a cat to the idea of a harness and walking on leash is such a gradual process, it’s unlikely (and not advisable) that you would offer this service for a cat that wasn’t already trained to walk on leash. Even for a client’s cat that is comfortable with outdoor walks, there are safety precautions you should take as a professional pet sitter.
First, make sure the harness that the client provides fits properly (a collar isn’t recommended since a cat may easily escape from it) and that the leash attachment is secure.
Consider where you’ll walk the cat. Because there are so many “unknowns” if you were to walk down the street or a public sidewalk—stray dogs, busy intersections, etc.—the safest path for the cat’s walk is likely within the confines of the client’s front or back yard.
Even limiting the walk to the client’s property, it’s important that any cat you have outdoors has proper identification—a collar with tag and a microchip.
If the cat is relatively new to outdoor walking, you’ll likely find him leading the way and often stopping to sniff the grass. “Go where he wants to go, as long as it’s safe,” advises VetBabble, “but gradually work on making your kitty stop and go while walking with gentle tugs on the leash. Never drag or pull hard on the leash unless it is necessary to get your cat out of danger.”
While walking, be aware of the cat’s behavior and response to the walk. Looks for any signs of stress or panic, and move the cat to a new area of the yard or cut the walk short, if needed.
You’ll want to note the cat’s reactions to the walk in your daily notes to your client and be sure to address any concerns you may have.
Would your pet-sitting business offer cat-walking services? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
Bob K. Lemley
Jean Furs
Shanna Garry
Donna Corlito
The yard is good however I would not be comfortable walking a cat on the st