As time continues its inexorable march onwards, I become keenly aware of the fact that my beloved senior tabby cat’s days are finite.
Sniffing one of our poor sun-starved spirea shrubs.
I’ve read that if you want to train a cat to use a harness and a leash, you should ideally start when they’re still kittens and much less set in their ways. I’ve also read that while senior cats can be trained to walk on a harness and a leash, it’s often a long, drawn-out process that may never take.
Well, I’m pleased to announce that my old boy – who has a chronic cognitive impairment, at that – managed to pick it up within a couple of months this summer.
Who says you can't teach an old cat new tricks?
There was a considerable amount of dramatic flopping when I first put him in his harness, but he got over it fairly quickly. He also thought the leash was a toy at first, but got over that quickly as well. I didn’t even have to entice him with treats; I simply took him outside once he was able to walk around the house in his harness without tipping over, and allowed him to take the lead.
He absolutely loves it! When I put him in his harness, he knows that it’s Backyard Time and immediately trots over to the back door, meowing up a storm. I mostly let him explore on his own terms, walking with him wherever he wants to go and gently guiding him away with the leash when it looks like he’s going to try to snack on anything. Getting him back inside was a minor struggle the first few times, but now that he knows to follow me when I apply a little bit of pressure on the leash, it’s no big deal.
Watching him sniff the air and luxuriate in the sun (on those rare occasions when it decides to show its face) has made me so happy this summer. I’m not sure how much longer we will be able to enjoy this activity together, but I’m going to continue on with it while I still can.
I only wish I’d thought to try it sooner.