Can Cats Walk on a Leash?

By Samantha Bell, Best Friends cat behavior expert

Seeing a cat walking on a leash is surprising and delightful. Some people might stop and stare at the novelty, but why is a cat on a leash such a rare sight? It all goes back to the fact that cats aren’t fully domesticated. Cats still have wild instincts, and these instincts can cause them to act fearful and skittish, like a prey animal, during times of stress. And when a cat has spent most of their life indoors, all the new sights and sounds outside can be quite stressful for them.

But some indoor cats truly enjoy leash walking outside, and walks can be beneficial for them. It’s all about making sure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience. 

You can walk a cat on a leash, but that doesn’t mean every cat will enjoy it. And because our cats depend on us to help them feel safe, we want to ensure they’re comfortable with new experiences rather than forcing them.

There’s no exact number, but in my expert opinion I’d say only a small percentage of indoor cats are relaxed and confident enough by nature to feel safe outdoors. This is because every cat is born with varying degrees of boldness and timidity. Yes, how they are raised and socialized can help increase their boldness a bit. But if their timidity trait is high, they most likely will not feel confident in new environments.

Enrichment, like walking on a leash, should always be about the cat’s comfort and not their person’s dreams or expectations. You may really want to walk your cat on a leash, but you may not have any cats who want to be outside. Please know that if your cat does not want to walk on a leash, it’s not because you’ve failed in some way or need to try harder.

I’m a cat expert. I’ve had a cat who enjoyed leash walks, so I have experience with it. And currently, not one of my three cats wants anything to do with being outside on a harness and leash.

Some cats love adventure, and some cats love watching adventure through the window. Both can have amazingly enriched lives.

Leash walking can offer so many wonderful benefits to the cats who enjoy it.

• Sensory enrichment: Cats have only been living indoors for about 50 years. Before that, they lived outdoors for thousands of years, where they were able to use all their senses to navigate the world around them. So our fluffy couch potatoes are missing out on the enrichment that nature provides — the sights, the smells, the sounds, and the textures under their paws. Leash walking can give them a safe way to experience these again.
• Physical activity: Most indoor cats are overweight, so an enriching activity that also burns calories is a win-win. And, just like humans, cats feel better physically and mentally after a walk.
• Strengthened bond with their person: If your cat really enjoys leash walking, they will start to associate that happiness with you. This will deepen their trust in you, and they may seek out more interactions with you.

Here are the steps of a training plan to help your cat get comfortable in a harness and leash. You should mark (with a click or specific verbal phrase) and reward each step five times before moving to the next step. These steps should be broken up into at least 13 sessions or days:

1. Drape a string over your cat’s back to get them used to feeling something lying on them.
2. Drape a slightly heavier material over their back like a sock.
3. Cat sniffs the harness.
4. Cat touches or rubs on the harness.
5. Cat allows the harness to be placed around their head.
6. Cat puts their head though the harness with a slight weight of the harness on the cat.
7. Cat puts their head though the harness with the full weight of the harness on the cat.
8. Clip/attach one side of the harness.
9. Clip/attach the second side of the harness, so it’s fully on and attached.
10. Cat walks around indoors wearing the harness.
11. Attach leash to the harness and let the cat drag it around.
12. Hold attached leash while the cat is wearing the harness (indoors).
13. Try leash walking outdoors.

Some training tips:

• Keep training sessions very short — no more than 4 to 5 minutes.
• Reward calm curiosity at every step: sniffing, touching, wearing briefly.
• Patience is crucial! Some cats take to it in days, some take months, and others never take to it.

Training should be fun and should end on a positive note.

When training your cat, it’s a great idea to figure out what motivates them more than anything else. What is their favorite thing in the world? A specific treat, a certain wand toy? Find that one special reward and only give it to them during harness training sessions.

If your cat's favorite thing is treats, narrow it down to their one favorite treat. Present them with several treat options and see which one they choose most often.

During training, remember to give them tiny pieces of each treat, not a whole treat each time. A cat’s stomach is the size of a ping pong ball. Giving them a bunch of full-sized treats will fill them up quickly, and they will lose motivation to train.

On this note, it can also be a good idea to train before their mealtime when they’re hungry. But do not ever withhold or delay their meals to train. Cats thrive on routine, so please keep feeding times the same every day.

We want our cats to stay as safe as possible when they’re outside, so choosing the right gear is crucial.

Always use a cat-specific harness. Dogs are shaped differently from cats, so cats might be able to slip out of a harness made for dogs. The Velcro vest cat harnesses are known to be quite safe. They distribute pressure evenly and are typically escape-proof if they fit properly.

To ensure a good fit, follow the “two-finger rule” while the harness is on. See whether you can slip two fingers between the harness and your cat’s body. The harness should be tight enough that they can’t wiggle out but not so tight that it restricts movement. If you can fit more than two fingers underneath, the harness is too loose. If you can’t fit two fingers at all, it’s too tight.

Most cat harnesses come with a lightweight, non-retractable leash. If not, then this is the best type to purchase.

And before heading out, make sure your cat's microchip information is accurate, put an ID tag on them (I use an AirTag too, because, as I said before, I’m a bit of a worrier), and make sure they’re up to date on flea and tick treatments.

You can also bring a carrier for nervous cats or if they need a quick retreat from danger.

It’s best to start your cat out walking in quiet, low-stimulation areas where there aren’t a lot of opportunities for them to get spooked. Patios, backyards, and courtyards are great options; the sidewalk of a busy street is not. I would also avoid areas near busy hiking trails or dog parks.

When it comes to how far cats should walk on a leash, it’s really up to your cat’s comfort level and personality. Most cats prefer short outings, 5 to 20 minutes max. Just let your cat set the pace and path. Some will walk a couple steps and then roll around and lie in the sun, and some will meander for a while. Watch for signs that your cat is ready to go back inside like crouching low, trying to hide, tucking their tail tightly under them, vocalizing, or darting to escape.

You walk a dog. A cat walks you. Their leash is for safety, not guiding or steering them.

Release all expectations about how walking a pet should look before you begin this journey. You should not have any goals regarding distance, path, or direction while walking a cat. The goal is simply for them to experience the outdoors. Many cats will stand around, sniff, lounge, and possibly meander, and then they’re finished. And that’s a win!

Few cats will walk in a straight line down the sidewalk like a dog. For most cats, success looks like exploring, not trotting down the street.

If your cat seems distressed outside (if they panic, freeze, or try to hide), please don’t try to force it. Bring them back inside as soon as possible. Some cats will never enjoy being outside, so bringing them right back inside will make them the most comfortable.

If your cat does not enjoy being outside, you can still offer them enriching alternatives:

• If they’re mildly uncomfortable outside, you can try taking them for a ride in a cat stroller. In a cat stroller, they are safely enclosed but can still enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of nature. All three of my current cats are uncomfortable outside on a harness but enjoy a stroller ride.
• If your cat is very uncomfortable outside, putting a bed or blanket near a window can be a great alternative.
• An enclosed “catio” (cat patio) is another great way to allow cats to safely be outside.

Leash walking cats can be wonderfully enriching, but it’s not for every cat. I encourage you to listen to your cat when deciding whether this is an activity they would like to participate in. And if not, please know that your cat is not “less” than other cats. They simply enjoy different activities. We should celebrate their individuality as well as our ability to read their signs and listen to them.

Whether your cat’s adventures happen on a leash, in a stroller, or on the couch, what matters most is that they feel loved and respected.