NIGHT WALKS

In addition to varying the places you walk, you should also vary the times. If your cat finds his daytime walks daunting, give a night walk a shot. You may find that your cat comes to life once the sun goes down. If nights don’t work for you, try predawn. Even cats who have begun to enjoy their regular daytime walks may get a serious thrill out of walking after the sun has set or before it’s risen. Cats, being crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at dusk or dawn, love going outside when there’s no sun. The only downside is that your cat is likely to see a lot more stuff than you do, so remember to be the leash and don’t give in when your cat pulls. I’ve given this its own section, because it’s a really important step in getting your cat comfortable with walking on leash. Alternating between dusk or dawn walks and daytime walks may help your cat get over his fears more quickly. Also, because the sounds of the neighborhood are at their quietest, your cat will likely be less anxious.

My cat Puma, who is still afraid of people when out walking, is positively electrified by night walks. Every ten feet or so he stops, turns and looks behind, and then turns back and continues on his way. The first time we went out on a night walk, I thought the constant looking back was due to nervousness, but quickly realized it wasn’t. I was watching a predator at home, fully aware and excited by his surroundings. The night was his time to shine, and I watched, amazed and happy, as he took in the sights and the sounds of the night that were hidden from me. When we arrived back home, his tail was held high and he was happier than I’d seen him in a long time. I gave him some treats and told him he was a good boy. And then, instead of heading for the porch, he turned back toward the neighborhood, eager to go exploring some more.

Depending on where you live, summers can be brutally hot, and though your cat may want to go out, the pavement may be too hot for your cat’s paws. At those times, dusk and dawn may be the only real options, so this is another reason for varying the times you walk your cat.

CAT WALKER: SARA FABEL

TATTOO ARTIST, DAD JOKE ENTHUSIAST, AND CAT WALKER

Sara Fabel and Dawn, her ebony ticked Oriental Shorthair, have been going on walks for a couple of years now. Oriental Shorthairs are known to be talkers, and Dawn lives up to the breed trait. “We talk to each other a lot and she follows me from room to room. When she’s in another room she’ll call for me and I’ll call back, and then she comes to see me.”

Fabel’s next challenge: “I want to get Dawn a safety jacket so I can try taking her kayaking with me.”

Dawn was three years old at the time of the interview.

TRAINING DAYS

Sara began to train Dawn when she was about six months old. “It took about 10 days for her to get used to the harness, and then another month to get her used to our trips to the pet store.”

She continues to get better at walking on a leash, but progress has slowed. “In the beginning, change was quick, but once she’d reached a certain point things slowed down.”

“I’m happy to have Dawn as my best friend.”

—Sara Fabel

When ruminating on Dawn’s training, Fabel says: “Early in her training I took her on a weeklong RV trip and she made a lot of progress.”

In addition to the RV trip and trips to the pet store, they’ve also gone camping. When at home, they regularly walk through the neighborhood. They live in a gated community that sounds like a cat walker’s dream. “It has an aviary surrounded by benches and dogs are not allowed in the community. Everyone has a pond, so there are lots of things for Dawn to explore on our walks.”

As for how Dawn deals with the weather, Fabel says: “She won’t go out if it’s raining or it’s windy. She won’t even go out on the porch.”

FOLLOWING THE LEADER

Fabel and Dawn have worked out a pretty wonderful compromise. When they leave home, Fabel leads. On the way back, Dawn leads. “When she’s had enough, she’s very determined. Sometimes on the way home I have to ask her to slow down. She loves to jog, so I jog along beside her.”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Fabel uses walking jackets with Dawn. “They provide a lot of coverage. Straps are uncomfortable and you have to make them really tight. Dawn wouldn’t walk with the straps; we went through four different harnesses until we found one that she found comfortable.”

Fabel uses a retractable leash with Dawn. “The traditional leashes touched her, and made a sound when it dragged, which bothered her. I switched to a retractable one.”

CAT-WALKING TIP

Fabel says to take it slow and make the training something enjoyable. With Dawn, she only gave her treats and played with her when she had the harness on. Then she began to play with her on the patio, associating her time outside with playtime. It’s important, Fabel says, to make it something your cat will look forward to.