# Please Stop Leaving Your Cat Outside Tethered to a Leash **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981 "2002-11-16T03:22:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/21 "2002-11-18T08:23:30Z")
I let my cat’s out in my back yard on a leash once in a while. They never met a dog that wasn’t more afraid of them than they were of the dog. These are big dogs too. But back to the OS, I don’t see why a cat owner shouldn’t be able to let their cats roam about on their own property without having to worry about dogs. If you can’t handle your own dog, then maybe you shouldn’t have one that you can’t control. I’m sure there’s a simple solution to this problem, but it should be up to the dog owners to figure it out. BTW, I have (and had) both dogs and cats… (both dogs I have now are big mutts and get along great with the cats, they even sleep together with the cats nestled next to the dogs). I am NOT bias against dogs, I think they are great pets. It’s just that it’s the property of the cat owner. I would say the same if it were a cat picking on a dog in the dog owners property. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/22 "2002-11-18T11:36:19Z")
I’m not going to trust my cat’s life to “you shouldn’t have a dog you can’t control”. The fact is that whether they should or not, lots of people DO. As for the dogs being afraid of the cats… that’s a very individual thing. I know plenty of dogs that wouldn’t be afraid of a cat no matter how tough the cat was, and they’d kill the cat in about 15 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/23 "2002-11-18T18:34:14Z")
Torgo Gosh I hope you ARE NOT one of my “friendly” neighbors I see walking his/her dog in our neighboorhood. Anyway…our cat(s) are on a harness. There is NO risk of strangulation. We pretty much know to check on them every few minutes. I can see how this would upset anyone, though. But make sure you know all the facts before judging someone who LOVES animals and cats for that matter. Yep. What about those stupid labs running across our lawns in the neighboorhood? DUH! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/24 "2002-11-18T18:45:23Z")
. . . I just can’t shake the horror of what “Hello Kitty” heaven must be like. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/25 "2002-11-18T21:53:12Z")
We never had this problem with our cats. We have two back porches, one on the second floor off the kitchen and another at ground level. The cat gets to go out to the top porch. No critters can attack it (and only HUNGRY coyotes will try to take on a 20+ main coon), it can’t get loose (not many cats are going to jump down off a second story). And the kitty gets to experience out doors. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/26 "2002-11-18T22:02:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*. . . I just can’t shake the horror of what “Hello Kitty” heaven must be like. \*\* Oh they serve waffles from their Hello Kitty Waffle maker, toast with jam (imprinted with Hello Kitty, of course), they chat on their Hello Kitty telephones and write with teensy, tiny, little pencils and pads. They vaccum with their Hello Kitty vaccum . Everything is pink and has flowers- it’s really quite wonderful, I imagine! And in case anyone thinks I’m kidding: [http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/09995.html](http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/09995.html) [http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/65812.html](http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/65812.html) [http://www.fortunecity.com/business/ziff/139/products.htm](http://www.fortunecity.com/business/ziff/139/products.htm) Oh, the humanity! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/27 "2002-11-19T13:59:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*Yep. What about those stupid labs running across our lawns in the neighboorhood? DUH! \*\* I’m not sure what you mean here…? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/28 "2002-11-19T16:42:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > \*\*Oh they serve waffles from their Hello Kitty Waffle maker, toast with jam (imprinted with Hello Kitty, of course), they chat on their Hello Kitty telephones and write with teensy, tiny, little pencils and pads. They vaccum with their Hello Kitty vaccum . > Everything is pink and has flowers- it’s really quite wonderful, I imagine! > > And in case anyone thinks I’m kidding: > [http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/09995.html](http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/09995.html) > [http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/65812.html](http://store.yahoo.com/sanriostore/65812.html) > [http://www.fortunecity.com/business/ziff/139/products.htm](http://www.fortunecity.com/business/ziff/139/products.htm) > > Oh, the humanity! \*\* You forgot the Hello Kitty vibrators. [http://www.hellocat78.1hwy.com/](http://www.hellocat78.1hwy.com/) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/29 "2002-11-19T19:45:42Z")
Those are microphones, I’m pretty sure. I remember another site where it was pretty obvious. So unless they make vibrator-looking microphones AND real vibrators… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/30 "2002-11-19T19:46:51Z")
oh wait, nevermind. Apparently they do make both, as this place says you can order them 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/31 "2002-11-19T22:25:42Z")
I’m curious about how common leashing of cats (other than to walk them) is in the US - it’s a practise I’d never heard of until this thread. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/32 "2002-11-19T22:29:11Z")
Reprise: It’s not very common. Cats HATE having collars, much less harnesses put on them. And they don’t go for walks. Being a person who tried to walk a cat twice… Only the terminaly insane will try to walk a cat. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/33 "2002-11-19T22:38:37Z")
Actually, I “walk” my cats with moderate regularity. It’s not like walking a dog - we generally stay in the front yard, and there’s not a ton of exercise involved. Cobalt generally crouches on the lawn and chews on the grass for a while, while Rhodium patrols the perimeter and tries to catch bugs. They struggle a little getting the harnesses on, but they love going out. I stay right there holding the other end of the leash the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/34 "2002-11-19T22:40:13Z")
My friend’s cat is probably the weirdest cat in the world. He absolutely hates to have his harness taken off. He will yowl until it’s put back on. I think he feels important when he’s ‘dressed’. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/35 "2002-11-20T02:30:26Z")
My cat enjoys walking on a leash, and is better at it than my ex-dog, an English Bulldog, was. He has worn a harness for about ten years, more or less 24/7. I am taking him to the vet in the morning, on a leash. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/36 "2002-11-20T13:26:06Z")
I took one of my cats outside on a leash once. She freaked out and almost strangled herself. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/37 "2002-11-20T18:50:27Z")
I think it depends on the cat. One of our cats(let’s just call her Satan kitty) hated the harness at first. She now loves the darn thing. Our other kitty (the angel) does not like the harness, but we keep thinking one day she will. She kinda crouches real low while stalking insects as if the harness weighs 100 lbs. Kinda funny. Yes, Satan kitty goes on runs with me in our yard and walks just like a dog on a leash! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/38 "2002-11-20T19:34:47Z")
No animals should be allowed to roam the neighborhood unattended unless you live way out in the coutryside, and even then you ought to think twice. And you should never, _ever_ leave a cat unattended on a leash outside unless you want a dead cat. Cats have an innate flight response to threats, and a staked cat confronted by a dog or another cat will probably strangle itself. Morever, the idea that keeping cats indoors is “inhumane” is moronic, drooling idiocy. Cats with conscientious owners recieve ample stimulation and playtime so that they do not get bored, which can lead to depression in cats. It is truly inhumane fro lazy owners to leave their cats to prowl the nighborshood, leaving their pet vulnerable to parasites, disease, cruel teenagers, dogs, other cats, and cars. According to a study published in Cat Fancy, the average outdoors cat lived 2-3 years, but indoors cats live to 12-15 years, and are generally healthier to boot. Remeber that yoour cat is not a little human being with fur and fangs. It is an animal, and a good owner tries to meet the cat’s needs, not project his needs onto the cat. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/39 "2002-11-20T20:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > **Cats have an innate flight response to threats, and a staked cat confronted by a dog or another cat will probably strangle itself.** I have never seen my cat flee. He either attacks or hunkers down. If it is another cat, he attacks. Small dog? Attack. My backyard is fenced so that dogs cannot enter. Cats can and do enter, then they get chased. If my beast were not tied, he would chase them out of the safety of our yard and into the outside, and open himself up to the possibility of getting attacked by a bad dog, at which point he would hunker down and get killed. he wears a harness, not a collar, and his risk of strangulation is slight. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981/40 "2002-11-20T20:57:56Z")
Thanks Uncle Bill! ;-D [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-stop-leaving-your-cat-outside-tethered-to-a-leash/136981.md?page=3)