2015/10/18

Training Day

Da Goddess @ 17:30

src=”http://dagoddess.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Fletchtraining1.jpg” alt=”harness and leash training a 4 year old” width=”469″ height=”625″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-6048″ />

My current project is training Fletch to feel comfortable in a harness and on a leash so we can take him with us to faire. That’s the plan. Fletch, however, is decidedly undecided about the entire endeavor.

He doesn’t mind being in the harness, thanks to treats and patience. Being outside is sort of okay, too, but just barely. Put Mr. Kitty down on the sidewalk and he loses all confidence. He turns into a wimpy cat, barely moving, almost crawling/slinking his way closer to me. Treats don’t help quite as well when he’s on the sidewalk.

Thankfully, we have time to get him used to the idea of being outdoors, on a leash, and dealing with the myriad of scents and sounds.

God willing, Fletch will soon be a great little travel buddy.

4 Comments

  1. Go Fletch! He looks so handsome in his harness!!

    Comment by pam — 2015/10/19 @ 10:29

  2. He might be much happier in one of these… http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Pet-Supplies-Cat-Strollers/zgbs/pet-supplies/3024134011

    Comment by Omnibabe — 2015/10/20 @ 12:17

  3. You should also get him used to the car by driving him around the block every now and then. Most cats are afraid of the car because they associate that with going to the vet.
    Fletch might protest at first, but if you drive him around regularly, he will most likely chill out.

    As you know, we take our cat everywhere. She even readily gets into her travel bag. Once we get settled in the car, I let her out of the bag. She’ll explore the car a bit…making sure all her smells are still there, then she mainly sits on my lap for the trip.

    Good luck! With patience, I think you’ll get there.

    Comment by DogsDontPurr — 2015/10/20 @ 13:05

  4. Pam, he IS handsome — with or without the harness.

    Leslie, I thought about the stroller, but King Arthur isn’t a fan of the cost. Plus, we kind of want him to walk around with us. Being that he’s only ever been an indoor cat, this entire experiment is contrary to everything he knows.

    Marcie, I’m with you on the short drives. KA wanted to just throw him in the car and take off for Vegas a couple weekends ago, but 1) I nixed that idea as craaazy! and 2) we didn’t go.

    We still have so much to work on! Fletch is really REALLY NOT a fan of outside. We continue to try, though. We must.

    Comment by Da Goddess — 2015/10/20 @ 17:21

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