How to Walk a Cat on a Leash

在户外的时候，猫总是喜欢到处乱跑。事实上，猫咪GPS设备上的交互地图可以证明这一点。问题是，沿着冒险路线，有很多潜在的危险，包括移动汽车、狗和野生动物、传染病、寄生虫和毒素。这就是为什么使用牵引绳是一个更安全的选择。
When outdoors, a cat sure gets around. In fact, a crowd-sourced mapping project that equips cats with GPS devices has the interactive maps to prove it. The trouble is, there are lots of potential hazards along an adventurous cat’s route, including moving cars, dogs and wild animals, infectious diseases, parasites and toxins. This is why leash-walking your cat can be a safer alternative.

带猫外出，特别是对于经常呆在室内的猫咪，可以通过精神刺激和体育锻炼给他提供更丰富的生活体验。运动也有助于保持猫的体重。
Taking cats outside, especially if they are typically only indoors, can provide added enrichment through mental stimulation and physical exercise. And exercise helps keep your feline from putting on extra weight.

你应该注意一下几点：
Here’s how to do it.

不适合胆小的猫
It’s Not for Scaredy Cats

首先，你要确保你的猫具有良好的社会交际能力，可以与陌生人、其他动物和奇怪的噪音和平相处。和任何培训一样，小猫总是更容易进入学习状态，但老年猫也可以尝试学习。如果当门铃响起时，你的猫躲到床下，她可能还没有准备好出去遛弯，但依然值得一试。
To start, you’ll want to make sure your cat is well socialized and comfortable with new people, other animals and strange noises. As with any training, it usually helps to start with young kittens, but older cats can learn too. If your cat hides under the bed when the doorbell rings, she may not be a great candidate for leash walking, but it’s worth a try.

带上零食和奖励
Bring on the Treats and Praise

在帮助您的猫习惯胸背带和牵引绳的同时，以高价值的零食和奖励对其进行引导，让她始终将锻炼与积极的奖励联系起来。
While helping your cat become accustomed to the harness and leash, lavish her with high-value treats and praise so she always associates training with positive rewards.

先帮助你的猫一小步一小步地练习，再逐渐增加练习的时间。如果你的猫变得焦虑起来，那就休息一天，明天再试。
Help your cat become comfortable one small step at a time. Gradually work up to longer training sessions. If your cat becomes agitated, that’s your cue to stop the session for the day and try again tomorrow.

拿好胸背带和牵引绳
Get a Harness and Leash

颈圈可能给户外的猫造成危险。如果你的猫被某些东西惊吓到，那么它可能会迅速地脱离颈圈，对其气管造成伤害。所以，最好从胸背带开始。理想情况下，选择一种轻巧的夹克背带，会比一般的背带减轻给猫带来的压力。如果你的猫从来没有穿过胸背带，不要一下子就把她捆绑住。只要她愿意穿上背带，给她更多的零食和鼓励。
Collars can be dangerous for cats outdoors. If your cat is frightened by something, it may squirm out of the collar or dart quickly so the collar pulls sharply against the trachea potentially causing harm. That’s why it’s better to start with a harness. Ideally, choose a lightweight jacket harness that provides more surface area to distribute pressure than a typical strap harness.If your cat has never worn a harness before, don’t ambush her by strapping her into it all at once.Give her lots of treats and praise for as long as she tolerates the harness.

尝试在室内散步
Work Your Way Up to Indoor Walks

让穿上背带的猫在屋内四处乱走（确保牵引绳没有被抓住或拉紧）。 如果她习惯了，拿起牵引绳，保持绳子松弛，并用零食引诱她继续前进。
Allow your cat to walk around the house wearing the halter with the leash dragging behind her (make sure the leash doesn’t catch on anything and pull tight). Once she is comfortable with that, pick up the leash, keeping it slack, and lure her forward with treats.

户外探险时刻
It’s Time for the Great Outdoors

像其他的训练一样，你应该让她逐渐习惯户外环境。如果是第一次外出，尽量选一天中最安静的时候，并且附近最好没有什么狗。
Like the rest of your training, you’ll want to get her used to the outdoors gradually. For your first outing, make sure it’s a quiet time of day and there aren’t any loose dogs in the vicinity.

可以让你的猫去探索自己的舒适区。她可能需要几天的时间才敢离开院子。在这段时间里，你只需跟着她而不是期望她跟随你。再次，当她获得更多的信心时，给予她零食和鼓励。
Allow your cat to explore within her own comfort level. It may take her several days to work up the courage to leave the yard. During this time, just follow her rather than expecting her to follow you. Again, give her treats and praise as she gains more confidence.

一旦她离开院子，注意周围的狗、嘈杂的交通或任何其他可能会扰乱她的事物，并准备随时将她抱起，如果需要的话。最后，你可以试着走在她的前方，用零食来诱惑她，让她想跟随你走。如果你的猫还未到达那个阶段，也没关系。即使一点新鲜的空气和定期的运动对你们也都有好处。
Once she leaves the yard, keep on the lookout for loose dogs, noisy traffic or any other distractions that may upset her, and be prepared to pick her up if need be. Eventually, you can try walking ahead of her and luring her with treats to give her the idea to follow you. If your cat never gets to that stage, that’s OK. Even a little fresh air and exercise on a regular basis can do you both some good.