Can cats be trained to walk on leashes?

Factual Questions
21

[hijack]
As an avid horseback rider I can vouch for animals doing this. It is common for a horse to inhale (or puff-up) when they are being saddled. An experienced horseman (or horsewoman) will tighten the girth again several minutes after saddling the horse. The unwary rider who doesn’t do this may find themselves riding upside-down somewhere down the trail (I’ve actually seen it happen…most riders jump before it gets too far but I saw one saddle spin fast enough that the rider was literally upside-down between the horses legs).
[/hijack]

For all of my experience with horses we have had our cat do a Houdini on her harness as well. It never occurred to me she might be pulling the same trick. Houdini could dislocate his shoulder to escape and I figured since cats shoulders are already detached (no ball and socket joint…just kinda floating freely) that they could do the same thing naturally.

I’ll pay closer attention next time. Thanks for the tip Yarster!

22

yesterday, saw a cat on a leash taking it’s owner for a walk on a hiking trail, the cat had many distractions and had to be refocused on the trail many times

23

Yes, a cat can be trained to walk on a leash. However, they can’t necessarily be trained to like it.

I don’t dare try this with my cats. On the extremely rare occasions when one of them escapes, it is literally months before they stop scratching at the door for another “adventure.” And I have to be extra vigilant when coming inside.