HOW TO GET YOUR CAT TO WALK ON THE TRAILS
One of the most asked questions we get is, “How do you keep your cat walking on the trail?”. Hiking with your cat can be a great experience that both you and your cat can enjoy together. Training your cat to walk on a leash takes time, patience, and maybe a treat or two! We have a post on how to harness train your cat, and recommend you start there! Once your cat is harness trained, here are some tips to keep your hiking going in the right direction.
1. Start them young
It will be easier to get them into good habits when they are young. Younger cats tend to be easier to train to wear the harness and listen to your commands. However, if you have an older cat that you think would love to go outside, it is still possible, but may take them a bit longer to get used to everything. If you have a new kitten, it is best to make sure you build a strong, trusting relationship with them before taking them outside. You want them to feel safe with you if they become scared. If they do not trust you, it will be hard for them to relax when in new environments, such as outside.
2. Have a harness and leash
Always keep your cat on a harness and leash. This will keep them from wandering off the trails and into potential dangers. Even if your cat comes when called, they could potentially run into unexpected wild animals, toxic plants, or poison ivy – which could be passed onto you. Not sure what leash and harness to get? Check out our post on how to pick the right harness here.
3. Bring a cat backpack
Having a cat backpack is great for a back-up plan. If your cat has known fears (dogs, bikers, etc.), you can place them in the backpack when you see them coming so your cat does not feel threatened. Also, if your cat is tired, they can ride inside or on top of the backpack so you can keep going. We have articles on how to pick a backpack and how to train your cat to love their backpack if you want to check those out!
4. Stick to a hike with paths
Sticking to a marked trail will help encourage your cat to keep following the path and not wandering off as much. It will also help you from getting lost in the woods. Also, bring a map of the trails for yourself, especially if it is your first time there.
5. Walking with two people
If there are two of you, have one person walk ahead of your cat. The “leader” can help to encourage your cat to keep walking. This can be by clapping, cheering, whistling, calling them, or anything else your cat responds to. You want to make sure to praise your cat when they are doing well, so they know they are doing something you like.
6. Distractions
Bringing along some distractions can help as well. Maybe bring along a toy that they love that you can throw for them to run fetch or get them to keep moving. A stick, long piece of grass, leaves, and other things out on the trail can be useful too! It gets your cat thinking they are playing and running around, while you get them going in the right direction. Treats are also a great motivator. Especially when your cat is doing well, you want to reward them! Then they will keep doing what you want, associating it with treats.
7. Encouragement and correcting them
Do not tug hard on your cat’s leash or drag them. You do not want to hurt them or make them feel as though they are being forced to go in a certain direction. If they are not going in the direction you want, encourage them with any of the methods above (toy, treat, whistling, calling, stick/grass, etc.). Cats are sneaky, so if you trick them into thinking it’s their idea, they will do what you want. Sometimes, if you bend down and act like you are going to pick them up, that will get them to go too. You may have to pick them up too and put them facing in the right direction you want. If they still keep turning around, try sticking them in or on the backpack and let them back out after you have walked away from that spot. There may be a smell or something making them want to go the other way, so moving away from that spot can help fix that problem.
8. Keep your cat’s best interest in mind
Do not force your cat to walk on a leash or they will not enjoy it. You want to make this a fun experience for your cat! Walking your cat should always be for your cat, not for you. If your cat does not want to walk or does not enjoy it, it is best to not put them into that situation. Some cats are perfectly happy being indoor only, so do not push them if they prefer that. Check out our post on things to know before you go before you try to see if it is something your cat would like to do and how to be prepared. Also, remember that walking a cat is NOT like walking a dog at all. They need much more patience and time. Cats like to climb things, sniff around, play, and even just lay and watch things. Be prepared that your walk will take much longer with your cats coming along. Your cat may just want to lay in one spot and take everything in. Let them do this so that they feel comfortable. If you need them to start walking, let them ride on top or in the backpack so they can still see everything. The more you go, the more comfortable they will feel and the more they will walk!
