Encountering Dogs When Walking Your Cat

“Is that a cat?” is a question many of us get asked a lot when we are walking our cats. That is because walking a pet has always meant walking a dog. Until now! So many people are starting to take their cats for walks with them. But what does that mean for our cats in terms of their safety? We need to always be on alert and make sure we can protect them when they get scared. And unfortunately, one of the biggest dangers is encountering dogs when walking your cat, especially if they are off leash.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week:

Did you know that next week (April 11^th-17^th) is National Dog Bite Prevention Week? This is such an important topic for adventure cat owners. Unfortunately, there have been many accidents involving off leash dogs attacking cats who are out on walks with their owners. Often times, these attacks are occurring on trails that are labeled as “On Leash” trails. This means the dog owner was breaking the law and the cat owner had to pay the price. With March being Cats On Leash Awareness Month, we hope that awareness for cats out hiking will continue to be spread. Many dog owners just never expect there to be a cat on the trail. But just because they did not expect that, does not mean that the dog should be taken off leash where leash laws are present.

Leash Laws:

Leash laws are in place for a reason – to show respect for fellow hikers and nature. They are meant to help protect you, your dog, other people, children, other pets on the trails, and the natural wildlife that inhabit that area. 

People may be afraid of dogs and cats or allergic to them and do not want to be approached by them. Children may be scared of dogs and cats too, or if the dog is much bigger than them, can get knocked over or hurt on accident. Wildlife is a big concern too, as both dogs and cats may try to hunt squirrels, chipmunks or birds. But also, some wildlife may try to hunt your pet, like bobcats or hawks, and having your pet close by on leash can help save their life. When you have your pet on leash, you have full control in the event of an emergency or unexpected situation. And simply, if the park is “on leash”, it is the law to keep your pet on leash, no matter ho well behaved or friendly they are.

We highly appreciate and respect those who keep their pets leashed up on the trails. Following the leash laws can help prevent many unfortunate accidents. Walking a cat is not a very common practice (yet), which is why people are surprised to see cats on the trails. We know that it is not the intent of a dog’s owner to cause harm to our cats, but it can happen and keeping all pets on leash is the best way to prevent this!

Encountering Dogs When Walking Your Cat:

There are a couple of different scenarios that can occur when encountering dogs on the trails. We split them up into 3 categories, where one of the two is happening:

1. Your cat likes dogs vs your cat is scared of dogs
2. The dog is leashed vs the dog is off leash
3. The people are nice/respectful vs the people are rude/disrespectful

The ideal scenario would of course be that your cat is okay with dogs, the dog is leashed, and the people are friendly. Even if your cat fears dogs, if the dog is leashed and the people are nice, it can still be a good experience. Worst scenario would be your cat is scared of dogs, the dog is off leash, and the people have no control and are mean about the whole situation. In these times, it is up to you to speak up for you and your cat’s safety. This can be scary, so know the laws for the park or there is a park ranger present that you can call.

Tips To Help Your Cat Stay Safe:

Now time to share some tips on how you can keep your cat safe on the trails. Hopefully, this can help you feel more prepared before you go hiking and when you meet some fellow pet hikers!

Before you hit the trails

1. If you have a friend or family member with a dog that is good with cats, introduce them in a controlled setting.

   1. Getting your cat to feel comfortable around dogs can be very helpful when they meet unknown dogs while out.

2. Get a cat backpack and make sure your cat feels comfortable in it. The backpack will act as a safe spot for your cat.

   1. If your cat is afraid of dogs and you see one approaching, put them in the backpack so they feel safe. Here is our article on How To Get Your Cat To Love Their Backpack if you need some help getting them used to it.
   2. The backpack also can serve as a barrier if the dog is trying to get to your cat.

3. Look up the park rules beforehand.

   1. Make sure it is pet friendly and “on leash” to help minimize chances of off leash dog encounters.

4. Know your cat’s body language.

   1. Knowing how your cat expresses fear/anxiety versus happiness is very important. If you notice your cat is getting stressed, put them in their backpack, get to a quieter spot, and let them relax. Or head home if they are very stressed.
   2. If meeting a dog, knowing these signs is important in order to prevent a bad experience. If your cat gets scared and swats/hisses, it can not only hurt the dog, but provoke it to fight back.

Encountering dogs

1. Keep your distance.

   1. Whenever someone is approaching, you can step off the trail a bit to keep your distance. This is not only respectful to them in case they are scared or allergic to cats, but if they do have a dog, it is a great way to make sure they do not interact if your cat is scared of dogs.

2. When you see someone coming with a dog, speak up and let them know you have a cat.

   1. This gives them time to leash their dog if it is off leash. It also makes them aware of the situation in case they know their dog does not like cats.
   2. If your cat does like dogs, but their dog doesn’t like cats, they can let you know and you can put your cat in the backpack so the dog does not see it.

3. Respectfully ask to leash up

   1. If it is an on-leash trail, let the owners know they need to leash their dog. If they give you trouble, know how to report the incident if needed.

4. Controlled meetings with dogs

   1. Not all cats like dogs and not all dogs like cats. And that is okay. If your cat is not scared of dogs and the dog owner’s know their dog is good with cats, you can maybe allow them to interact. This is risky, as any animal can suddenly not be okay with the situation. Make sure both animals are leashed and that all owners are close by if need be.

5. If there is an off-leash dog coming after your cat, know how to protect them

   1. If you have time, get your cat into their backpacks to have a barrier between them and the dog. Keeping the cat out of the dog’s sight will help.
   2. Get a physical barrier between you and the dog. If you can get behind a fence, car, tree, etc. where the dog cannot reach you, get there. Or if you can safely get your cat up in a tree where the dog cannot reach it. You can also carry an umbrella to open up at the dog and get them to stay back.
   3. Try calling out commands – sit, stay, stop, down, back – to see if the dog will listen. And call out for the owners too, as they should not be letting their dog out of their sight.
   4. Carry dog treats that you can throw to distract the dog
      1. We have to admit, we see this trick everywhere so we thought we would mention it. But if a dog is running after you with its eyes set on your cat, treats are likely not going to stop it.
      2. If it is a friendly dog, giving it some treats can probably work to distract.
   5. Carry sticks, hiking poles, compressed air cans, or citronella spray that you can use to get the dog away if needed. You need to do whatever you can to protect yourself and your cat. While harming the dog should be a last resort, it may need to come to this. If you are on an on-leash trail, the dog should not be off leash and you have the right to protect yourself.

Conclusion:

We love all animals and believe that anyone has the right to take their pet with them hiking. No species has any more of a right to enjoy the outdoors with their owners than another. But in order for us all to be able to share the trails respectfully, we need to all be aware that any pet can be out with their owner and we all need to do what we can to keep everyone safe. Like we mentioned, keeping your pet on leash is the best way to prevent any incidents. So, leash up, be respectful, and enjoy the beauty of nature with your loved pets!