His owners, Sarah and Pete Klassen, take him on many walks in the bustling concrete jungle of Toronto, where they all live, with Gibson's harness securely strapped on him and a carrier and car seat in tow. Gibson is a grey shorthair tabby and a seasoned city explorer. Gibson and his owner Sarah enjoy Toronto's Harbourfront. If they don't like it, I would not do it," added O'Neill. "Some cats would freak out, and those cats may or may not be able to be conditioned to like it. It's also important to recognize that going for a leashed walk just might not be for your indoor cat and you shouldn't force it. "Pick them up by the scruff of the neck, otherwise they will crawl all over you." "People should know how to pick up a cat if a cat gets freaked out," she said. Even if your cat is on a leash, you need to be prepared to pick it up if an aggressive dog comes along. She points out that cats in the country run a greater risk of other wildlife such as coyotes, while city cats must contend with cars, loud noises and more aggressive - or even excessively friendly - dogs. ![]() ![]() O'Neill stresses that you should be aware of other risks that vary depending on where you live. She said the reason cats don't come back when they go adventuring alone is "because they can get stuck somewhere on the wrong side of the fence and can't find their way back … or they get hit by a car." O'Neill dispels the myth that cats aren't bonded with their owners and, therefore, will leave. They just like to be outside and they should be." She added, however, that "it depends on your cat's comfort level" and that "you don't want cats to be left unattended outside, ever."Ī common fear among cat owners is that once your cat is out, they'll be looking to escape at all costs unless they've been trained to stay, like a dog. Rory O'Neill, animal behaviourist and founder of the Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue in Calgary, said, "They're just stuck with all this pent-up energy … Let them explore. Over time, wild cats interacted more closely with people and pretty much domesticated themselves - which is very on-brand for cats. ![]() Dating back to ancient Egypt, cats were considered demi-deities believed to be the physical embodiment of Bastet, the goddess of protection and good health, who had the head of a cat and the body of a woman. The study concluded that human and feline encounters began when cats started preying on the vermin that were attracted to precious crops, which proved to be mutually beneficial for humans and cats. A very brief history of domesticated catsĪ DNA survey conducted by Nature Ecology & Evolution in 2017 found very little change in the genetic structure of ancient wild cats and the common house cat of today. If it's something you're wondering about, we talked to two experts - one in animal behaviour and another who's taken her feline friend on many leashed adventures. Still, the idea of putting a leash on a cat tends to turn heads. Have you wondered if your cat feels trapped or bored inside? Have you considered taking your cat for a walk? Though we're more accustomed to seeing dogs on leashes, it isn't unheard of for domestic cats to get some fresh air and exercise outside the confines of their homes - and there are plenty of benefits, depending on your cat's temperament, and with the proper precautions. Gibson the cat explores the great outdoors.
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