Where are you going to walk Jasper that you are afraid of snakes, wild dogs, rabid animals that might try to attack? I don't think I would walk myself in places like that because critters like that would be just as likely to attack a human.

Ticks can come in on your clothes so it is always a good idea to use Frontline or Advantage, at least during the warm months.

As for walking Jasper on a leash. I walked my cat Sammy on a leash all the time and it only took her about 5-6 days to learn. For years she would go the two blocks with me in the morning to get the kids on the school bus and in the afternoon to get them off the bus. When the kids didn't have school we would walk the block to where the community mail boxes were to check the mail. Even the neighbors who hated cats thought it was amazing and thanked me for giving her the outside time she wanted without letting her run wild.

The only time she didn't want a walk was when she saw a lot of snow. Rain didn't bother her (she loved water), but she hated snow.

I taught her to like the leash by first using it as a toy. I would drag it around so she could chase the people end of it, then I left it lay on the floor. After a few days of that (do not do this without constant supervision) I hooked the pet end on to her collar and she didn't notice because now the people end was chasing her, she would pounce on it and act like she conquered the world, after about an hour she curled up on the people end and went to sleep. She gave me a Cat dirty look when I woke her up unhooking it from her collar. The leash spent the night laying right there, I woke up around 3am and she wasn't in bed, I got worried and went looking for her, she was curled up on the leash and gave me another cat dirty look for disturbing her.

The next day I hooked it on her collar again but this time I held the middle of the leash and let her chase the people end for about 30 minutes.

The next day I planned on trying the last step for more than 30 minutes but she was sitting at the screen door so intent on watching our oldest playing the yard, that I hooked the leash on her and the rest his history.

All cats might not be same but leash training Sammy was fast and easy and we both loved it. She loved her walks and I loved that she got her fresh air without running wild.

Hi! There are woods behind the complex... so the wild critters could come from there. I think that I will just walk him in the court yards. Did your Sammy follow behind or walk in front of you during the walks? How fast a pace did she take? Thanks :o)

Years ago we had a cat that I took out on a harness, not collar. Can't really say we "walked"... not like walking a dog certainly, but she did like to mosey along for a few houses, then back.

If you want to end Jasper's desire to bolt out the door, taking him out the door will not do that.

I'm sorry I also had to wonder at "snakes, wild dogs, rabid animals" -- I was also thinking where the heck does this person live and why do they ever leave their house???

I am thinking the greatest threat would be someone walking their dog on the same path -- how would your cat react and more importantly -- how would the dog react??

I have thought about this but decided against it. I even have enough points,,(litter) to get a free kitty buggy but thought I might be laughed out of town. Since none of my cats want to go out, I think this may invite behavior I don't want. I worry about dogs and the noise cars and trucks and motorcycles might make. I only have two cats I would even consider doing it with. Once on a ferry to Nantucket , I met a woman with a Siamese tucked in her backpack. I even took a picture because at the time I only had one cat, a Siamese ,left at home. I thought how cool if Simon could have come with us. Sadly my cats never get a vacation however brief. Once about 15 years ago, we did take a small kitten on a trip to Boston. She was a rescue and too young to leave alone so she got to stay in a 4 star hotel and sleep on a king sized bed with a gorgeous view of the city from her windowsill. And as I recall, she even went thru Sturbridge Village because it was 100 degrees and she couldn't be left in the car..Traveling kitty.

vacuumfreak, some days she walked ahead, some days behind and some days next to me. It all depended on what she found interesting that day. I walked at a normal pace. Walking with her was just like walking a dog. Sammy was... lets say different. She also loved water. I would get the kids down for a nap after lunch and that was when I would get a shower. I had to leave the the bathroom door open so I could hear the kids and Sammy would come running and jump in the shower with me. She was different. LOL

elly_nj is right, because he wants out so bad, taking him out will probably only make it worse. Has Jasper been neutered? That is the first step to stopping the roaming instinct.

This thread is so funny to me cuz I have never heard of a cat stroller.I can try to imagine what my cat would look like if I put him in one,LOL.
I think a cat harness would be better (unless that is what you mean) most cats dont like to have a collar and leash.
It will make your cat more curious to go out though.Lots of stimulation outside like bugs and birds.
Our cat goes out on our front porch with us,but only with us and never by himself.He is mainly an indoor kitty.I hope you dont let the cat out by itself,alot can happen to a kitty out there.
Great to want to involve him in walks though! Be some nice quality time for you both.If you see a dog,pick up your cat and run!

I saw those cat buggy's. They are cute. But,I'm with the lady who thought she may be laughed out of town. It's really a great gadget and idea, but, I don't know. I think an indoor kitty should be just that, an indoor kitty. They are safter and out of harms way. But, I still think the buggy is cute.

Star

No. I don't "walk' our cats. They go outdoors pretty much whenever they want to; this means they pretty much "walk" me, lol. Or my elderly mother. or the helpmeet...