You’ve probably seen fearless felines on social media going on adventures with their humans, from downhill skiing to mountaineering. If you are interested in adventuring with your cat but unsure where to start, here are a few tips for taking your cat with you on your adventures: the safer way.
1. Assess Your Cat’s Personality Not all cats are meant to be adventure cats. Therefore, the first thing to do is assess your kitty’s personality and determine if they’ll enjoy adventuring with you. Is your cat laid-back, curious and confident? Does it like watching birds and going outside? If so, your cat may be well-suited to exploring the natural world. If your cat lacks these crucial traits, it may not be suited to adventures. You can’t force your cat to be an adventure cat. 2. Purchase a Good Harness and Leash The safest way for your cat to explore the outdoors is with a harness and leash. This will ensure your cat doesn’t wander off or run into some danger, like coming face-to-face with a wild animal or snacking on a poisonous plant. Do your research and measure your cat to find the best harness and leash combo. Note that cats are escape artists, do try the harness indoors before testing it outdoors. 3. Gradually Introduce the Outdoors Start by practising harness walking inside your home to get your cat used to being on a leash, but never leave them unattended while leashed/harnessed as they can get themselves into dangerous situations in a hurry. Once comfortable, gradually introduce your cat to a quiet outdoor space. Take things slow and don’t force your kitty into a potentially frightening situation. Once your cat is comfortable wandering outdoors close to home, try taking them on a short trail expedition with minimal foot traffic. If that goes well, an urban adventure may be next on the list. 4. Make Sure Your Cat’s Vaccinations Are up to Date Before heading into the great outdoors, it’s important to visit your vet. Schedule a routine checkup to ensure your cat is in good health and up to date on all vaccinations, as well as flea, tick and heartworm treatments. This will ensure your cat doesn’t catch a harmful or fatal disease while out and about in nature. Finally, adventure cats are exposed to more dangers and diseases, you will need to book more frequent check ups at the vet to ensure your cat stays healthy.
FULL-SERVICE VETERINARIAN IN SCARBOROUGH
If you’re thinking about taking your cat on an outdoor adventure, reach out to Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital to get the best advice. Our veterinary team can perform a preventative care checkup and suggest the appropriate vaccinations to ensure your furry friend is in tip-top shape to explore with you. Contact us for more information or to book an appointment. We’re here to help your best friend stay healthy.