Shall we try again tomorrow?

[Rylie]

So I took Nailah outside for the first time yesterday on her leash with her JOYKATZ walking jacket on (we've been training inside for the past 2 weeks). We were outside no less than 5 minutes when my neighbors unleashed dachshund comes sprinting towards Nailah. I'm watching this all in slow motion.... Nailah puffs out bigger than a raccoon and starts trying to sprint away. When she realizes she can't get away she starts screaming that hideous growl again and claws are flying everywhere. The little dachshund's tail is wagging; he thinks its a game. I'm screaming for the owner to come get him, she's just laughing watching me try and separate the two!

After successfully tangling me up in the leash, Nailah decides the best way to escape is up. All claws straight into me all the up to my shoulders. I'm writhing in pain but trying to bear, to keep the two separated. Finally the owner of the dachshund decides to step in. For some reason she thinks its a good idea to hold Kaiser (dog) up to Nailah while shes on my shoulder panting frantically. Nailah doesn't think twice and she leaps off my shoulders out at the dog. I scream, my neighbor screams, Kaiser screams. I'm sure Nailah was screaming.

We finally got the two separated but poor Nailah was traumatized by the outdoors. She was hissing for a solid 30 mins after we got back inside. Nailah was born into a house full of small dogs so I'm sure she would have been fine had the dog approached her cautiously instead of at a full sprint. Oh man, these claw marks are going to take weeks to heal LOL

I can definitely speak highly of the walking jacket though. Nailah was not going ANYWHERE; that jacket held up through all her frantic writhing and sprinting. I've really got to get together a plan to socialize this poor kitty!

 

[admin]

Awww...poor nailah...but really, it isn't her fault and doesn't sound like she needs a socialization plan to me...your neighbor should have had the dog leashed - period. Taj has been outside walking often, but as a kitten I remember someone coming out of their door with a motorcycle helmet in hand. Taj freaked out...started twisting and turning in his joykatz walking jacket...got out of it and ran as fast as he could...

Lucky for me he ran home and was sitting there waiting for me. I guess what I am trying to say is the first few times are very scary and this did not help...I would bring nailah somewhere very quiet for the second time...JMO...

 

[Rylie]

Thats good to hear. So with time she will get less and less spooked outside? How long did it take Taj to adjust to where he wasn't jumping at every little thing?

 

[admin]

Yes...it does take time...they are in unfamiliar territory outside...it took taj walking every day for a week or two and now he trots around like he owns the outdoors

 

[Patti]

Poor Nailah, I hope she is able to recover. Your wounds may be another matter however, I have scars from cat scratches that have never gone away. Pretty cool too, they look like surgical incisions...
I do love those Joykatz jackets though - they're the best!!

 

[Wyldthingz]

So I took Nailah outside for the first time yesterday on her leash with her JOYKATZ walking jacket on (we've been training inside for the past 2 weeks). We were outside no less than 5 minutes when my neighbors unleashed dachshund comes sprinting towards Nailah. I'm watching this all in slow motion.... Nailah puffs out bigger than a raccoon and starts trying to sprint away. When she realizes she can't get away she starts screaming that hideous growl again and claws are flying everywhere. The little dachshund's tail is wagging; he thinks its a game. I'm screaming for the owner to come get him, she's just laughing watching me try and separate the two!

After successfully tangling me up in the leash, Nailah decides the best way to escape is up. All claws straight into me all the up to my shoulders. I'm writhing in pain but trying to bear, to keep the two separated. Finally the owner of the dachshund decides to step in. For some reason she thinks its a good idea to hold Kaiser (dog) up to Nailah while shes on my shoulder panting frantically. Nailah doesn't think twice and she leaps off my shoulders out at the dog. I scream, my neighbor screams, Kaiser screams. I'm sure Nailah was screaming.

We finally got the two separated but poor Nailah was traumatized by the outdoors. She was hissing for a solid 30 mins after we got back inside. Nailah was born into a house full of small dogs so I'm sure she would have been fine had the dog approached her cautiously instead of at a full sprint. Oh man, these claw marks are going to take weeks to heal LOL

I can definitely speak highly of the walking jacket though. Nailah was not going ANYWHERE; that jacket held up through all her frantic writhing and sprinting. I've really got to get together a plan to socialize this poor kitty!

I loved your story but Poor Nailah. Well, you can only try again. If you continue to have loose dog issues then you can carry a can of citronella spray- it works great to ward off loose dogs.

I had an experience like that once with a flock of sheep and a loose dog trotting toward us. Sheep and dogs don't mix. I jumped up and down and acted like a wild maniac just to turn the dog away. There was no owner in sight for me. At least Kaiser's owner was present to drag him off!

 

[BeSpotted Savannahs]

You can email Arden here: arden@camelottaspots.com and tell her I sent you...she makes all different jackets. I have had a few but love hers...they are very well made and gorgeous!

Arden made me a ton of walking jackets Rylie. They were very nice. Theyre adjustable to a certain degree. You'll love them.

 

[Paul B]

I love Neta's jackets and find of all that I've tried, hers fit best and are the most comfortable. She can also by special request adjust a harness to a smaller size by sewing in a pleat on the straps that you can later let out, so that your kitten won't grow out of it so quickly. You can see her website at: http://www.joykatz.net/walking_jackets.htm

I just ordered a "crocodile" jacket from Neta. I asked her about the pleating and she said that she doesn't and never has done pleating like that (maybe she just doesn't like me... LOL!) She does seem to be a nice lady though and we can't wait to see how Sorte likes his new jacket along with the outside adventures to come.