Leash/Walking Jacket Training??

[John Popp]

Sorry, I disagree - if you put tension on the leash you give them leverage by giving them a force to pull against, with a slack leash there is no backing out because there is nothing pulling the jacket over their head as they back away from you.

Sorry Patti, typo. Typed of and meant off.

Definitely want to get the tension off their lead.

 

[Patti]

Phew - thanks for the clarification!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Sorry, I disagree - if you put tension on the leash you give them leverage by giving them a force to pull against, with a slack leash there is no backing out because there is nothing pulling the jacket over their head as they back away from you.

That's been my experience also...if the jacket isn't snug enough around their chest, when there is tension on the leash (the cat is pulling back) they can easily wriggle an elbow under the jacket and then out of the jacket in an instant :-(

 

[SwallSavannah]

Hi Everyone, back to the leash training question- I have an F2, 5 months old and he was doing ok with the leash.. and then he got scared (loud noise) and flipped out. He was all fluffy tail and hissing and spitting at the end of the leash. Leaping and jupming and trying to get out of the harness. I got him calmed down and he went right back into the house but hid for many hours. Unfortunately this happened again. (garage door opened- and he was in my arms, same flipping out but got out of the harness and I got the door opened for him and he ran back in. With a few good scratches on me- and he wasn't as traumatized- he didn't hide as long) Then we did have a third and relatively successful attempt, I had him outside, with the back door open on a retractable leash and he ran back in the house after about 10 minutes (stayed near the door) But when he felt the tension on the leash and harness he just kept running away from me I didn't try to restrain him too much. I just followed him and he would freeze then see me and try and run. Ended up under the bed again, but let me touch him and I got the leash off and left the harness on, but that's when I said, I need to learn more and make sure I get a walking jacket on him not a cat harness. Any thoughts or suggestions? I am thinking food treats and a short leash in the house with the racket. Also I was going to get him a walkign jacket first before we started up again. They are much more secure than the regular cat harness, which he doesn't mind at all, but its got some pretty big gaps. I should also mention that we did have 2 excursions out before The Big Scare. I posted this question to Leonard and he told me most F2's can't be leash walked? Is that the case? a reall bummer if its true.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think that not all CATS can be leash walked...not all enjoy the experience, but I don't think it is based on generation imho....just their individual personality.
Here's my f1 Nina...she'd not been on a leash for about 6 months (and that was at a cat show) nor walked outside I think ever...but she's confident and curious enough that it was fine.

I think mostly the issue is that your boy has had some scary episodes when out and about on a leash hence that trauma may be hard to get past. He's likely now associating being on a leash with scary things happening and may well have reached the conclusion that the outdoors is scary and nasty and he doesn't want to go there. Which can be a good thing, he likely won't be a door darter in that case!

 

[cbain]

I think that not all CATS can be leash walked...not all enjoy the experience, but I don't think it is based on generation imho....just their individual personality.
View attachment 12071 Here's my f1 Nina...she'd not been on a leash for about 6 months (and that was at a cat show) nor walked outside I think ever...but she's confident and curious enough that it was fine.

I think mostly the issue is that your boy has had some scary episodes when out and about on a leash hence that trauma may be hard to get past. He's likely now associating being on a leash with scary things happening and may well have reached the conclusion that the outdoors is scary and nasty and he doesn't want to go there. Which can be a good thing, he likely won't be a door darter in that case!

 

[Patti]

You might want to start with just putting on the harness (or jacket) every day with the leash attached, and while it's on play with him and give him snacks. I also agree with trying to desensitize him to the loud noises during this time. Start with short periods of time, e.g., 5-10 minutes and increase a bit every day or so. Once he seems comfortable do the same with outdoor excursions, start with brief periods of time and gradually lengthen them. I would not use a retractable leash to start with but take a wand toy with you and use that to catch his attention if he gets too distracted. If he starts looking tense or nervous take him back in before he has a chance to flip out.

 

[cbain]

Well put Brigitte, I tried to walk with our 2 F3 and it did not work well with waking them, the Savannah cat is a Hi performance cat as I know you know more than me on Savannah cats so rather than fight with them I built them a outside cat enclosure and they love it, 2ways cat on a leash, our a free cat in a safe jungle type enclosure

 

[John Campbell]

Well put Brigitte, I tried to walk with our 2 F3 and it did not work well with waking them, the Savannah cat is a Hi performance cat as I know you know more than me on Savannah cats so rather than fight with them I built them a outside cat enclosure and they love it, 2ways cat on a leash, our a free cat in a safe jungle type enclosure

Before Elsa's health episode, I was working with her on the leash... She did surprising well in the house. Have taken her out of the house by carrying and she does ok... Will start back i a couple of weeks to see how it works out. I am still trying to let more fur grow back before using the Jacket again.

 

[Eddies]

Our graceful little Eddie loses all coordination while in his Safety Katz Walking Jacket...when he see's either the wand or () beef/chicken/fish treat...& turns into a .... We are now wearing our "wind breaker" daily for 2 half hour supervised play times...We have not been outside yet as I wanted him to get over the clumsy act....Eddie is in a xs jacket...and he has a small waiting on another growth spurt...