Do cats need walks? An in-depth look at why there are so many risks and disadvantages.

Have you ever wondered, "Should I walk my cat?"

The conclusion is that cats do not need walks.

Taking your cat outside can be a great source of stress for them. Not only that, but it also increases the risk of escape, accidents, and fleas, ticks, and infectious diseases.

This time, we will consider the necessity of walks, focusing on cats' instincts and feelings.

Should you walk your cat?

Just a generation ago, it was common for cats to roam freely.

Cats casually spending time on walls or in parking lots might seem relaxed and happy. However, letting cats go outside carries too many risks and disadvantages.

According to a survey by the Japan Pet Food Association, the average lifespan of cats that stay indoors

is 16.02 years, while the average lifespan of cats that go outdoors is 14.24 years. (Japan Pet Food Association 2022 National Survey on Dog and Cat Ownership)

The difference in average lifespan between indoor and outdoor cats is likely due to the risk of infectious diseases and accidents.

Considering a cat's safety and health, walks are unnecessary.

Cat walks carry a high risk of "escape"

The biggest risk of walking a cat is "escape."

Cats have a strong sense of territory and dislike leaving it. In unfamiliar places, they are prone to panic and may jump and escape at the slightest noise.

When checking information on lost cats, it is common to see cases such as "jumped out of the carrier during a vet visit" or "escaped from a new home after moving."

Cats are very sensitive to environmental changes.

Even if you put a harness and leash on a cat like you would a dog, it is not foolproof for a small and flexible cat.

Why don't cats need to be walked? 

Let's consider why cats don't need walks, based on their habits and behavior patterns.

Cats are ambush hunters, dogs are pursuit hunters

Cats are solitary creatures that prefer to hide in high places like trees and hunt by ambush. They display incredible athleticism when capturing prey, but otherwise spend most of their time sleeping to conserve energy.

Therefore, their exercise needs are low, and their territory is not very large. They do not have a habit of traveling long distances, so they do not become under-exercised even without walks.

Dogs, on the other hand, are pack animals. Their hunting style involves chasing prey until it tires, and then cornering it as a team.

Because of these characteristics, dogs require more exercise than cats and have larger territories. Walks are essential for dogs to prevent lack of exercise.

Vertical movement is more important than a large space

A cat's range of activity is narrow, and if it's an indoor-only cat, its home becomes its territory. It is instinctual for cats to love high places where they can observe their territory and spend time alone peacefully.

For example, cat trees, cat walks, and the tops of cabinets or refrigerators are often favorite spots for cats. When a cat stares intently out the window, it's checking to see if there's anything unusual in its territory.

For cats, the ability to move vertically is more important than a large space to run around.

What to do when a cat wants to go outside?

Cats raised indoors, consider their home as their territory and are afraid to leave it. Even carrying them out to the balcony or garden can cause stress, so there's no need to walk them.

However, some cats do want to go outside.

Cats with a strong curiosity or those who have lived outdoors before might find indoor life unsatisfying...

Even so, walks carry many risks and disadvantages. There are many dangers, such as infections from viruses, bacteria, fleas, and ticks, poisoning from plants and chemicals, escape, traffic accidents, and injuries from fights.

First, try to improve the indoor environment and find ways for your cat to relieve stress.

Provide vertical exercise and stimulating play

As mentioned earlier, cats love to climb high and survey their territory.

To suit their natural lifestyle, install a cat tree or cat walk that allows them to jump and climb. You can also designate a part of a shelf as a cat-only space.

Also, try hunting-style play that stimulates your cat's curiosity and instincts.

Instead of just waving a cat toy, imagine the movements of a mouse or lizard. Vary the pace, such as peeking out from behind an object, darting out, or moving it under a cloth, to make it more enjoyable for your cat.

Ensure thorough escape prevention

Cats that want to go outside may jump out at any moment.

Make sure to implement basic escape prevention measures, such as locking front doors and windows, and have your cat wear a collar, ID tag, and microchip. In case of an emergency, remember to get them vaccinated and prevent fleas and ticks.

We also worry about escapes during heat cycles, so if you don't plan to breed and your cat is healthy, we recommend spaying or neutering.

Also, when taking your cat to the vet or elsewhere, it's safer to put them in a carrier after putting on a cat harness and leash.

Summary

As explained above, cats do not need walks. If you make adjustments to their indoor environment and play, they will not accumulate stress.

Depending on the cat's personality, going outside can even cause significant stress, so there is no need to intentionally take them out.

We don't recommend walking cats, but getting them used to going outside with a harness and leash can be helpful if you need to live in an evacuation center during a disaster. Since they can panic if they're not used to a harness, it's a good idea to practice gradually.

Poponeko also carries cat harnesses and leashes, but they are strictly for preventing escape. Please note that they are not for walking.

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