What Are The Pros and Cons of Walking Your Cat

Is it OK to walk your cat on a leash?

The short answer is yes, some cats love it. But only if you’re doing it right.

✅ It’s a good idea if you have an indoor cat with a lot of energy.

✅ A cat with a calm, curious personality

✅ A cat that wants exercise but lacks safety or sufficient outdoor space. 

Avoid if:

❎ Your cat is easily stressed

❎ Hates the harness

❎ Your local area is too loud or busy

We used to laugh whenever we saw someone walking a cat. 

It just seemed so strange. Of course, now, I know that was very small-minded of us. Once we got our own cat, we realised that most owners are just trying to do the best they can for their pets, and that can sometimes mean adopting behaviours that might look a little odd to others. If we lived in a small apartment or in an area with lots of predators, then we’d probably do the same thing.

And it’s definitely more acceptable now. Some people even take their cats hiking or on boats. 

And with so many of us living in apartments or in heavily urbanised areas, it makes sense to seek out safe and cat-friendly ways of giving our feline friends a happy outdoor experience. 

But some animal welfare charities and veterinarians actively argue against it, so we wanted to ask what the pros and cons of walking your cat are, and should owners be encouraged or discouraged from doing it? 

Why do people walk their cats? 

Because otherwise, indoor cats would be unable to go outside. You might live in a busy urban area with lots of vehicular traffic.

Or you might live somewhere more rural with lots of natural predators who might see your cat as prey. Walking a cat can help cats access the outdoors in a way that’s safer and more controlled.

Some cats have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or short-term health issues that make exercise difficult. Walking a pet on a leash helps support their physical health and mobility.

If you’ve just moved house, walking your cat is a good way to help them acclimate to their new neighbourhood. It lets them explore the territory and become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of their new environment. This can help reduce the risk of them trying to find their way back to your old house and becoming lost. In this case, walking the cat on a leash may only be temporary.

Owners travelling with their pets might want to ensure their cats can’t run off. Some owners want companionship when they’re out walking. We’ve met people who use a harness for their cats when RVing.

What Are The Pros of Walking a Cat?

One of the biggest benefits can be mental stimulation, especially for indoor cats. Walking gives them access to new smells, sounds, and textures. It’s a chance to explore an area as if they were roaming freely, but safely. This can be helpful if your cat is showing signs of boredom or if they’ve been over-grooming, scratching, or being a general menace. Letting them burn off some energy outside and engage in typical cat behaviour can be beneficial when you don’t have the space to let them run around inside. 

It can be a great way to introduce indoor or overweight cats to physical exercise. Short walks are great for burning energy, improving mobility, and supporting their overall health. 

It’s a much safer alternative than letting your cat free-roam. There’s no traffic risk, a lower chance of interaction with predators and other animals, and a lower risk of getting lost. 

It can help cats adjust to a new area. Walking with them gives both the cat and the owner confidence and helps reduce the cat’s panic when they’re alone outside. 

It can build confidence in anxious or nervous cats. It can make them less reactive to new environments, but this should only be done gradually. 

It can be beneficial to the owner, too. It can help to strengthen the cat-owner bond, especially if it’s routine-based, interactive, and enjoyable for both parties. 

What Are the Cons of Walking a Cat? 

Not all cats will tolerate a lead or harness. Some will freeze or panic. This is when walking should be abandoned completely. Some cats just don’t want to do it, and you must respect that. 

There’s a big risk of stress and sensory overload. Outside can be intense, especially for cats who are used to being indoors. Dogs barking, loud traffic, strangers, predators, etc., can quickly become too much. The cat may try to escape the harness, which could be dangerous. 

There’s a very real escape risk even with a harness. Cats can wriggle out. They might suddenly bolt, putting them in harm’s way. 

There are increased health risks for outdoor cats, as they may be exposed to fleas, worms, ticks, and diseases from other animals. You’ll need to ensure your cat is vaccinated and up to date with treatments. It’s easy to let things slide if they’ve always been an indoor cat, but it’s really important they’re protected.  

You’ll need to be patient. Walking a cat isn’t like walking a dog. You should expect progress to be slow and punctuated by frequent stops. You’re probably only going to travel short distances, too. 

There will be weather limitations. Most cats won’t take kindly to rain or extreme cold. They’ll struggle in the heat, too and may become overstimulated in windy weather. This may not be practical year-round.

You may get some strange looks from people or even ridicule. It’s unlikely to be malicious, but you’ll probably get stares, questions, and the occasional laugh. 

Walking your cat may create some demanding behaviour. You may find they start meowing for walks constantly, and they may have their own routine that you’re not privy to. 

Is it weird to walk a cat? 

Some people think it is, but honestly, it’s not that big of a deal anymore. You may have already seen people in your neighborhood doing the same. If your cat enjoys it, and they’re walking safely, then who cares what anyone else thinks? 

Is it cruel to walk a cat on a lead?

Not necessarily, but you do need to make sure any lead you use fits safely and securely. You might want to consider a harness, as this may be more comfortable for your cat. Leads can also snag on things, especially if you unexpectedly let it go and the loose cat runs off.  

As with collars, the general rule of thumb is two fingers under the harness for a comfortable fit. Any more or less, and you’ll need to tighten or loosen it.

If your cat does not enjoy being put in a harness or on a leash, or if it displays any anxiety or aggression, stop immediately. If you continue to force your cat to use a lead when they’re not happy being walked, then that would be considered cruel. 

How often should you walk your cat?

It depends on how often your cat wants to go for a walk and how regularly you want to take them.

You should try to keep walks short, especially at the beginning, and pay attention to the weather: cats are unlikely to want to be out in the rain, and during the heat, they may quickly become exhausted.

Having a walking schedule can be helpful.  Cats who enjoy going out may become demanding throughout the day, so it’s worth bearing that in mind, too. 

What cat breeds can you walk on a leash?

You can try to encourage any cat to walk on a leash, but some breeds are more open to the idea than others. Abyssinian cats, because they’re energetic, for example, also Bengals, Burmese, Siamese, and Savannah cats have extra energy to burn. 

Where possible, encourage them to walk from a kitten, as you may have more luck with other breeds when they’re younger. 

Can you train a cat to walk on a leash?

• Some cats will take to walking on a leash better than others, but forcing a cat to try and walk is like shouting at the sun because it’s too hot; you’ll get nowhere.  If they’re not interested, give it up.
  
  
• Kittens will be more open to walking on a harness, but it’s worth trying with adult cats, too.
  
  
• You should introduce the cat to its leash or harness before you try to use it.  Ideally, it should be done days before you intend to put it on them.
  
  
• Cats that are chilled out may let you put it on straight away, but other cats will prefer a sniff and inspection first.
  
  
• You might want to use treats during these first few steps so that your cat associates the harness with something positive.
  
  
• You might like to rest the harness on the cat when they’re distracted or sitting in your lap, so they get a feel for it on their fur.
  
  
• When you’re ready to put them in, then do it smoothly and quickly and let the cat wander about with it on.  You should keep it slack at this point and let them get a feel for wearing it. 
  
  
• After a while, start adding a little tension and direct the cat if needed, but gently.  Let the cat explore the house and the garden, and then, when it’s comfortable, head off your property.
  
  
• It might be slow going, especially if they’ve never been outside before.  For the first time, go when the neighbourhood and sidewalks are quiet.
  
  
• Don’t venture too far, but get a feel for the type of cat you have.  Some will love to wander, whilst others might be happier sticking closer to the house.
  

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and to be honest, the biggest difference comes down to the cat’s personality more than its breed or the type of leash. 

Some cats will love walking. Others will hate it. 

It’s important that you don’t force a cat to use a leash if they’re not comfortable doing so.

We’ll include some links to highly rated leashes and harnesses below.

These are Amazon Affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase. 

One thing to note before you go shopping. Most harnesses will say ‘escape-proof’, but you should still take care when fitting and using any harness or leash. You know how wily cats can be, and the last thing you want is your cat escaping on a walk.

🐱 Rabbitgoo Cat Harness & Leash (Escape-Proof Vest Style)

The Rabbitgoo cat harness is an Amazon bestseller with lots of positive reviews. It looks like it’s a popular beginner-friendly option that balances comfort, adjustability, and escape resistance, making it one of the most widely used starter harnesses for leash-trained cats.

As always, it’s worth taking some time to read through the reviews, as it’s important to see the genuine responses from people who’ve purchased the harness. You’ll find several review videos for this one, which we really appreciated. It can be hard making a decision based solely on words and still images.

You should also note that it comes in different sizes, so make sure you’ve measured your cat before ordering.

Key Features

• Escape-resistant design with 4 adjustable straps for a snug, secure fit
• Breathable mesh fabric to keep cats cool and comfortable
• Soft padded edges to reduce rubbing and irritation
• Reflective strips for better visibility in low light
• Includes matching leash (typically ~1.5m / 4.9ft depending on version)
• Quick-release buckles for easier putting on and removal

You can visit the product page on Amazon here

🐱 PetThem Cat Harness & Leash Set (Escape-Proof Adjustable Vest)

The PetThem cat harness is a lightweight, adjustable vest-style harness designed to help safely walk cats outdoors while maintaining control and reducing the risk of escape.

It features a 360° wrap-around design that secures around both the chest and neck area, helping distribute pressure evenly across the body rather than pulling on the neck.

This one has bright colours and secures to the cat slightly differently to the Rabitgoo harness. We picked it because it has a lot of good reviews. 2000 were purchased last month alone! This is for small and medium cats, so be sure to measure your cat properly to ensure a good fit. There’s a lot of different designs, too, so you can bring out your cat’s personality.

Escape-resistant design with full chest-and-neck coverage

• Adjustable fit for small kittens to larger cats
• Soft, breathable mesh material for comfort and airflow
• Lightweight build to reduce stress during wear
• Quick-release buckle system for easy putting on and removal
• Durable leash attachment ring for secure outdoor control

You can visit the product page on Amazon here