Page 19 - Leisure Living Magazine August 2017

Take Your Cat On An Adventure
Whether it’s exploring the great outdoors or within the walls of their own home, cats have a knack for making the ordinary ex-
traordinary.
To help cat
owners rethink
the ordinary
and inspire
them to keep the adventure alive with their cats, Purina Pro Plan is partnering with Adventure Cats to proclaim June 15 annually as National “Take Your Cat On An Adventure” Day.
This day gives cat owners an opportunity to share new experiences with their cats that they may not have considered before—such as leash training. While it’s a responsible choice for your cat to live indoors, leash training as part of a safe outdoor experience can be a great way to enrich your cat’s life.
It’s important to recognize that an outdoor cat adventure is not like walking a dog. Leash walking a cat is about a sensory experience and exploration rather than cardiovascular activity. Leash walking takes patience and practice but can be worth the time and effort. Some cats may nev- er become comfortable with leash walking due to age, personality or lifestyle. If that’s the case, there are plenty of creative ways to have indoor adven- tures as well. For example, you can create a DIY Hideout. Learn how at www.proplan.com/cats.
If you do want to try leash walking with your cat, these five tips can help you get started:
Getting Acquainted: Select a fitted harness and leash (your veterinarian or an associate at a pet store can help you) and leave it out for your cat to smell and investigate. Be aware that the harness may make some new noises, so practice putting it on and taking it off so she can get ac- customed to the sounds. Then try attaching the harness to the leash and use them to play with your cat to create a positive association as train-
ing continues.
Try It On:
Get your cat used to the har- ness by having her wear it a couple times a day for 15-min- ute intervals. It’s completely normal for cats to freeze up, refuse to walk or walk very
strangely at first. She’s likely never experienced the sensation of having something on her back so it’s something she’ll need to adjust to.
Gain Comfort: Next, increase the amount of time she wears the harness around your home. If your cat resists or isn’t adjusting, take a break and try again later. It’s important to remember that leash walking isn’t right for every cat, so fol- low her lead and don’t rush the process.
Practice Indoors: Start by touring the fa- miliar territory of your house. Reward good be- haviors like staying calm after hearing a noise, moving forward and sniffing. Hide toys or kib- ble around your home and have fun discovering them together. Gradually build the duration of your walks inside. Once she’s mastered this skill, you’re ready to get outside.
Take It Outside: Before you walk outside, make sure your cat has her recommended vac- cinations plus flea and tick prevention. Also be sure that she has a collar and tag, or microchip. Start with a short walk in an area with low noise and activity, perhaps your backyard. As she be- comes more comfortable in her new surround- ings, try expanding the territory you’re explor- ing.
Get Inspired: Check out other cats’ adven- tures and share your own by using #MyGreatCat and @ProPlanCat on Instagram and Twitter. To find out how to get involved in National “Take Your Cat On An Adventure” Day and for more tips on how to adventure responsibly, visit www. mygreatcatadventure.com.
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