American Shorthair Cat

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　　1. Walking

　　Some cats may originally have had the habit of going outdoors, or the owner later cultivated this habit for them. However, letting cats roam freely in the city involves many safety risks. Therefore, consider accompanying your cat on outdoor walks, which is called "cat walking."

　　【Training Tips】

　　Cats have strong instantaneous explosive power and can jump and dart around. Residential communities often have many cars coming and going, so when walking a cat, it is necessary to control it well and prevent it from running around randomly. Otherwise, the owner might have difficulty catching it, and traffic accidents could occur. To prevent the cat from getting lost during walks, you should put a harness on it. There are no special cat leashes sold domestically, so owners can choose the smallest size dog harness (as shown in the picture). This type of harness goes through the cat's two front legs rather than directly around the neck, making it more comfortable and safer for the cat. When putting the harness on the cat, be sure to adjust the tightness properly. It should not be too tight or too loose. Otherwise, the cat can slip out of the harness by shrinking its body.

　　At first, cats are not accustomed to restraint. Once the harness is put on, they often lie down on the ground and try every way possible to get out of it. So don’t rush to "trap" the cat. The owner should first drag the harness around indoors to attract the cat’s attention and let it chase it. Once the cat gradually gets used to this item, separate the harness from the leash and only put on the harness (definitely indoors, not outside) to familiarize the cat with wearing a harness.

　　Slowly, if the cat no longer resists the harness, the owner can try attaching the leash to the harness and walk around indoors to teach the cat to slowly adapt to this restraint. When taking the cat outside for the first time, stay in a safe place like downstairs or just outside the home. Don’t go too far; let the cat get used to the surrounding sounds and sights, and be sure to carefully observe the cat’s reaction.

　　If the cat is very fearful, it’s advisable to give up the idea of walking the cat outside and not force it. Excessive coercion will only make the cat scared, which may cause it to accidentally hurt the owner in panic and can have a negative impact on the cat’s personality. This is definitely not what the owner or the cat wants. How your cat behaves depends on its personality. Therefore, before using a leash to walk your cat, understand your cat well and let the cat start walking on its own, instead of the owner pulling it.

　　【Editor's Comment】

　　Frequently taking your cat outdoors for walks is very beneficial to its physical and mental health. When walking a cat outside, the most important thing is not the owner's pleasure but the cat’s happiness. It’s best to start training cats to go outside from kittenhood. First, train the cat to wear a collar and leash, letting it stroll around its own doorstep, then gradually lead it to farther places for walks so it can adapt to this activity. Once the cat gets used to it, you can take it to walk on the street or in the park. If the cat is unwilling, don’t force it; try multiple times instead.