| Shadow had been the cat in our house for over | | | | "You're just going to leave the cat there without any |
| seven years when we moved from the country into | | | | restraint?" one of the clerks asked. |
| town. His usual lifestyle including roaming our five acres | | | | "Sure. He won't move until I tell him he can," I answered |
| whenever he wished. Moving to town required him to | | | | as I slipped the harness on the calm, miniature panther. |
| be a "house" cat, and he managed for two months. | | | | The cat sniffed the harness before yowling softly. He |
| Then one Friday morning as I left for work, he | | | | then lay down to clean his paws as I paid for the |
| streaked out the door. I called him, but he was gone. | | | | harness, one for a medium sized dog. |
| Oh, well, I thought, he'll be back, probably waiting for me | | | | I gave Shadow a few days to become used to his |
| when I get home. | | | | harness before attaching the leash, first just one as I |
| When I arrived home, I asked my husband if he had | | | | held the other end. He didn't like coming to the end of |
| seen Shadow, and he hadn't. I wasn't really worried, | | | | the leash confused him at first, but after a few |
| though, until Saturday came but Shadow didn't. By | | | | "lessons," he learned that the leash limited his activity |
| Monday, I began to worried in earnest. I couldn't call the | | | | space. We would have a time on the leash three |
| animal control office until they opened at nine, and my | | | | times a day for thirty minutes. |
| planning period began at 8:55. Needless to say I was | | | | After a week of times on the one leash in the house, I |
| calling when the clock showed nine o'clock. | | | | snapped both leashes together and one end on |
| "Hello, have you found a large black cat with yellow | | | | Shadow's harness. We went to the front yard for |
| eyes?" I asked. | | | | fifteen minutes to start the next step in preparing the |
| "Ma'am, we have four black cats. Can you give any | | | | cat for "leash life." Each day we lengthened the time |
| distinguishing marks?" | | | | outside until we stayed for an hour. The next day, I |
| "He's a male, weighs nearly twenty pounds, but he isn't | | | | connected one end of the connected leashes to a |
| fat at all. His undercoat is a dark brown, but he looks | | | | post and left Shadow by himself. He did well for the |
| solid black." | | | | two hours I left him on his own. The next outing was in |
| "I think we may have him. Come by, pay the fine, get | | | | the back yard. On a Saturday morning, when I could |
| his shots, and he's yours." The man sounded disgusted. | | | | be home, I placed him on the leash in the backyard, |
| "All he does is sit in the corner of his cage and glare. | | | | and I left him while I did housework. I checked him |
| He was one of the cats brought in that had been | | | | periodically through the window, but everything |
| trapped by one of the landlords in that neighborhood. | | | | appeared fine. Then one time I looked out and couldn't |
| Doesn't like cats." | | | | see Shadow. I hurried to the back yard to find him |
| On the way home, I stopped by the animal shelter. | | | | hanging from the top of the fence. He never tried to |
| Shadow still hunkered in a corner of the cage, glaring. | | | | go over a fence while hooked to the leash again. I |
| When I called his name, he stood and sauntered to the | | | | was glad I hadn't tried a collar around his neck. |
| front of the enclosure, tilted his head and squinted his | | | | Leashing a cat is possible, rewarding, and successful |
| eyes. He allowed me to pick him up, oomph, heavy cat. | | | | for both cat and owner if certain steps are taken: |
| When we got into the car, he sat in the passenger | | | | 1. Use a harness that fits the cat snugly but not too |
| seat ignoring me until we were nearly to the house. | | | | tightly. |
| Then with one bound, he pressed up against the side | | | | 2. Allow the cat to become familiar and comfortable |
| of my leg, his head on my arm. I held him the rest of | | | | wearing the harness. |
| the way home, driving with one hand. | | | | 3. Start lessons with a single leash hooked to the |
| I knew we had to find a way that the cat could go | | | | harness and the other end in your hand while you and |
| outside but wouldn't leave the yard. Shadow was | | | | the cat are in the house. Begin with fifteen minutes and |
| smart, almost human, but he didn't get the concept of | | | | lengthen time up to thirty minutes. |
| staying in the yard. The job became leashing a cat. A | | | | 4. When the cat appears comfortable with the leash |
| collar wouldn't work because if he climbed and | | | | being used in the house, add the other leash to the end |
| became caught, he could strangle. I bought the largest | | | | of the first and move outside. Stay with the cat each |
| cat harness the store had and two long leashes that | | | | trip to the yard until he is comfortable. |
| could be hooked together. Bringing them home, I put | | | | 5. Once the cat is left outside alone on the leash, |
| the harness on the cat. Let's revise that last statement; | | | | check periodically to be sure he hasn't gotten into |
| I tried to put the harness on the cat. It was too small. I | | | | trouble. |
| kept the leashes and returned the harness. | | | | 6. Never leave a cat on a leash outside if no one will |
| The next day, I gathered Shadow in my arms, and we | | | | be home to check on him. |
| drove to a local pet store. I carried him into the shop, | | | | After Shadow was leash-broken, we could take him |
| where we looked at harnesses in the dog department. | | | | anywhere with us, including trips, and not worry about |
| I took the cat and one harness over to a counter. I sat | | | | him. Travel became much easier for him and us. |
| Shadow on the top while I readied the harness. | | | | Shadow also never spent any more time in a cage. |