“The cat needs to explore the territory at its own pace, not to be taken wherever you want on a leash”

If you have Instagram or TikTok and you like cats, I’ll bet you have had videos of them cats that leave the house tied with a leash and harness. Some even go on trips around the world, exploring forests, jumping, running and they even swimas if they were dogs. How is it possible? Is it advisable to walk the cat? To resolve these and other doubts we have spoken with Paula Vanascofeline therapist and president of the association ResCats Borges Blanques.

The phenomenon of adventurous cats

It began to become popular in the 2010s on Instagram. One of the first was Vladimirthat He was traveling with his owners in a motorhome throughout the United States. Also Skattya Maine Coon who traveled on a sailboat with his owner, who was completely deaf and relied on the feline to know when ships were approaching or when they were sending him messages.

“Cat harness”, “Adventure Cat”, “Cat leash training”… Today, any of these searches on TikTok or Instagram return hundreds of results. Walking the cat is in fashionbut it’s not easy. Otherwise, many of the reels that appear would not be tutorials and tips for getting the cat used to it. And if there is one thing that anyone who has tried it knows, it is that, unlike dogs, cats They don’t like being tied up at all.

Understanding the nature of cats

Paula is part of the team feline therapy and in your day to day treats cases of cats with behavioral problemssome of them caused precisely by these walks. Their positioning is clear: it is not a good idea to put a leash on a cat. “Cats are hypersensitive animals. For them, a harness is stressful, which is why when you put it on them for the first time, many of them fall to the ground.” In addition, he adds that “for it to be safe it has to be very tight, which makes it even more annoying for the animal.”

You have to understand that the nature of cats differs greatly from that of the dog. They are territorial animals and they feel safe within their territoryit doesn’t matter if that territory is the countryside or an apartment in the city. When they leave their comfort zone, they always do it very little by little: “The cat needs to explore the territory at its own pace, not for you to take it wherever you want on a leash.” On the other hand, walking a dog is more natural because its nature is to move in a pack. They are social animals and security is provided by their pack, so when we walk them they feel safe.

You’ve probably seen cats rubbing against the corners of furniture or other objects. It’s the way they have create a safe space. When exploring, cats rub different spots where they They leave pheromones that serve as olfactory references. “This is how they explore the territory feeling safe. If there is any scare they retreat, then they go out again… and so on until they have it under control.”

We must also not forget that, although cats are predators of small animals, they are also prey for larger ones. “When we take the cat out of its territory, it adopts prey behavior. If there is a loud noise it will try to run and if it is tied it cannot do so” says Paula.

It’s not that the cats we see in Instagram videos are all stressed, some enjoy those outings, but according to Paula “they are the exception. They are cats that have learned that their environment is that way and they also have a very balanced character.” Getting them used to it from a young age is key because “cats don’t develop fear until they are 5 or 6 months old,” but he insists that this is no guarantee that they will enjoy it and it should never be forced.

What we don’t see on Instagram

If you are outside your territory and get scared, The cat’s instinct is to run and get to safetybut what happens if we have him tied up? Two things can happen: “he escapes from the harness or he attacks you.” In this video You can perfectly see how the cat tries to escape and, failing, ends up biting its owner. It is what is known as redirected aggressionan episode in which the cat has a very violent response, in this case for a clear reason: trying to escape and not being able to.

The other scenario is that he manages to get out of the harness and runs away (the most common, because we already know that cats are liquid). When being in a environment you don’t know“it has no visual or olfactory references and there are many cases of cats that end up getting lost.” If it is also in the city, the risk of being hit by a car or attacked by a dog is very high.

There are people who choose carry the cat in a backpack-type carrier and walk it this way. Here it is much more difficult for the cat to escape, but Paula does not recommend it either: “I had a case of a cat that was taken out inside a backpack. The cat did not show stress at the time, but when it got home it became aggressive. They are very frustrated by being locked up.”

Another problem is that many people who take their cats outside do not know how to understand the language of cats. “Just because a cat is still doesn’t mean it’s calm.” In other words, you don’t have to go crazy like the guy in the video for it to be causing you stress. Cats communicate through their pupils, position of their ears, tension of their tail… “You have to make an effort to understand them,” says Paula.

Access to the outside yes, but controlled and without a leash

So a cat doesn’t benefit from going outside? “Going outside is life for cats and for everyone. We live better in a chalet with a pool than in a 30-meter apartment, right?” Paula says between laughs. The cats They benefit a lot from exploring the outside. They receive much more stimulation and They reinforce natural behaviors such as hunting, marking or exploration. They also have fewer obesity problems and contributes to your emotional well-being.

Yes indeed, Any trip outside carries risks.but a rural environment is not the same as a city. The Experts recommend putting protections always. In the case of an apartment, nets on windows and balconies, and if we live in a house there is also the option of putting anti-escape fences or build a catio (cat+patio). They range from very simple to others that seem authentic amusement parks.

Indoor cats can be happy, but you have to work hard

Many people who want to take their cats for a walk do so because they believe that they are not happy in an apartment. Is that so? “No, a cat can be very happy in an apartment, but you have to work hard,” says Paula. A cat’s emotional well-being depends on more than just going outside.it also depends on whether you live alone and have a feline companion to play with, what your relationship is like, etc.

We all know that an apartment is not a cat’s natural environment, which is why we must provide them with what their species needs. That is why it is very important environmental enrichment.

One of the best ways to enrich their environment is to offer them surfaces to climb on, for example a tall scratcher or place furniture so that it can be raised to different heights. Catify the house It is very fashionable and is also an excellent option. You don’t have to spend a lot; By placing some shelves on the wall you can create a circuit so your cat can run and jump. This has a double benefit: they love to climb and we also greatly expanded its territory.

Another very important aspect is the game, but not a game in which we simply make them run. Paula recommends the olfactory games as olfactory gardens either interactive toys where we can hide prizes and they have to look for them: “That’s where they disconnect the most. They get more tired than if they spent an hour running.”

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