Take Your Cat on an Adventure Day
Today is the first official “Take Your Cat on an Adventure Day!” When we heard about this holiday a couple weeks ago, we were so excited. As you probably know, we are big believers in taking your cats out on adventures, as evidenced by the many cool trips we take Sophie on, and now Kylo Ren too.
Unfortunately, Adventure Cats are not very common (yet). People take their dogs out for adventures all the time, but how often do you see cats out on a walk, going camping, or even just going to the pet store? My guess is not very often. There’s no reason that cats can’t go on exciting trips or adventures though. When I’m out with Sophie and/or Kylo Ren, people often remark how strange it is to see a cat out on a leash, or they say that their cat would never like going out. But how many of those people have actually tried to take their cats out on excursions? My guess… not very many.
The best way to train a cat to walk on a leash and to go out on adventures is to start doing it when they are very young. If they grow up doing those things, it will seem normal and natural to them. That’s how Kylo Ren became the Adventure Cat he is. I started taking him out right away and just kind of threw him into it. He went with it and loves it! It’s not too late to have an Adventure Cat if your cats are already grown, however!
If you’d like to train your cat to learn to enjoy adventures, no matter their age, we suggest following these tips:
1. If possible, start training when your cat is young. If the cat is adventuring from the beginning, it will be normal to him!
2. Pick out a comfortable and safe harness and leash set. Start by having your cat wear the harness around the house (always supervised).
3. Once your cat seems comfortable in the harness, try taking him outside on your porch or back yard. You want to avoid the front of your house at first, as it is noisier with cars and people passing by.
4. As your cat becomes comfortable in your back yard, work on increasing his comfort zone. Try the front yard, a neighbor’s yard, etc. Slowly introduce your cat to new situations as he seems ready.
5. ALWAYS pay attention to your cat’s body language and emotional cues. If he starts to get nervous or seems stressed, stop and take a break. Pick back up another time.
Of course we understand that not every cat will enjoy going on walks or even stepping foot outside of their home. Though much of the making of an adventure cat has to do with conditioning and training, there are some cats whose personalities are just not prone to liking outdoor adventures. There’s nothing wrong with that. And honestly, who says you can’t have indoor adventures instead? 😉
If you’ve been thinking about taking your cat out for some fun, now’s the time! If you’ve been thinking that your cat wouldn’t like an adventure, now’s the time to give it a shot anyway! Who knows, he may surprise you.
You have some awesome advice! I might like outdoors adventures for all I know, but my human is not very outdoorsy, so we have more urban type adventures. But I have to say, sometimes I look at what Sophie and Kylo Ren get to do and I am a little envious! What can I say? My human was big city born and bred, I have to go with what she’s comfortable with.
Great tips! We go shopping with Goro sometimes. Niko used to go, but he really doesn’t like harness, so just Goro nowadays. Sophie and Kylo Ren are so lucky to go out and experience many exciting adventures!
we love telling people about your adventures. we have friends who live in Utah and take their cat Jake on adventures….camping and hiking
Our petcretary loves it when she sees kitties traveling with their peeps! Not furry safe but once we saw a kitty furry relaxed and enjoying the view from the back dash. Sometimes on her travels, she sees kitties on leashes too.
But we are not in the travel class, MOL!
(Though sometime with our angel kitties she did try a harness on the young ones…she still has the harness…eek!)
This sounds like a purrfect to cat holiday, and one just made for your gang. We think most of our kitties are too old to become adventure cats as evidenced by Mauricio in the pool. Mom’s getting excited about seeing Mom Emily. Dad is trying to get a decent photo of Astrid for her flat cat. Sampy looks good, but Astrid keeps coming out blurry. Sending love and hugs to all. Astrid is sending Sampy a bazillion quadrillion kisses and all her love. She is climbing all over Mom and the computer right now. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
My original muse, Mr. Nikita, was a stroller kitty.
His grandest adventure was a trip on the bus to a pet store in Long Beach. He got to get out of the stgroller and explore the store and meet some dogs, to his hearts content…
My current kitties are also stroller kitties, though both Elvira & Sneakers have gone out on leashes a few times…
Haven’t tried with 10 month old Friday yet.
guys….total lee awesum tipz…manee thanx for sharin…..we wood like ta take an add ventsures sum day { bee sides de garage !!! } oh…N tell yur mom all iz well with de peter pan kittenz …..how kewl iz that ♥♥♥♥♥
What fun! I bet that sand was nice and cool too! I missed you while my peeps were gone
Hugs Madi your bfff
Great tips for taking your cat on an adventure. I think all my cats are set in their ways, but if I ever get a kitten, I will try.
Those are great tips! And we love to see all of you out on your adventures. It’s nice to add Lucy to the mix so that people can see that dogs and cats can truly get along!
Our Mama hasn’t tried to take us kitties out because she knows once she starts she may have a problem if the cats want to go out every time she takes the dogs out; since we don’t have an actual yard, that is quite a few times a day already. It is a time commitment she unfortunately doesn’t have. But we love to see your babies out and enjoying their adventures!
Has your Mama started to pack for BP yet? She must be getting excited! 🙂
Love to all of you and to your Mama too.
the critters in the cottage XO
We wish we were more brave and could go on adventures.
Very good tips. I missed the window of starting them young, although I did take Dexter out in the backyard a couple times. You’ve inspired me to try again!