Sometimes it would be easier not to walk my cats, but Kato is a cat that absolutely needs his walk. If he didn't have one each day, he'd drive me insane with his asking, and get into so much mischief with the energy he hasn't expended. His drive to explore is also so extreme, that he would become better than Houdini at escaping and going off adventuring. He is also incredibly territorial, so his walks are one excellent way to 'patrol' his domain (and extend it beyond our walls) and deposit his smells around his territory - without this, some territorially driven cats start marking INSIDE their walls (pee-ing, or spraying). As Kato already has a propensity to pee on our bed and couch when he is stressed (mingling his scent with ours to reassure himself), this is not something I want to court. So for all of these reasons - and not that I have simply accustomed him to expect a walk - walking is something we do for his health and happiness, and our sanity.
Ava on the otherhand couldn't care less if we didn't walk, and we can go for a walk one day, and not on another with no problems at all. Her driver is company. So she is very happy to stay at home with everyone - but don't you dare leave her at home if you all go for a walk! And that is why she comes too.
So here's a list of the dangers we have come across as we walk each day, and what I have come up with, so far, to mitigate them.
Ava on the otherhand couldn't care less if we didn't walk, and we can go for a walk one day, and not on another with no problems at all. Her driver is company. So she is very happy to stay at home with everyone - but don't you dare leave her at home if you all go for a walk! And that is why she comes too.
So here's a list of the dangers we have come across as we walk each day, and what I have come up with, so far, to mitigate them.
Dogs
Sadly, at least 50% of the dog walkers we have come across in our walking seem to think they have control over their dog, when they have none. These are the ones who also don't have their dogs on a leash. They commonly think that calling out 'he won't bite' makes everything ok. Terrified people and cats streaking for their lives - because this is what the cat thinks when a dog is chasing them - don't think this is ok. So what to do?? Well, I don't have an iron-clad answer, and everyone is going to have to weigh up what course of action to take. With a cat on-leash, I have tried controlling their freaked out need to run, and even cover their body with mine to hold them down and protect them. This is not good for Kato - he needs to feel in control. So for him, I let him off-lead, and let him run for safety. We are in a location that allows for that - probably not a good idea in a park, or where there is no avenue to reach known safety. Ava also will sense dogs from a long way off, and run for safety (safety is into a gated compound that dogs are too big to get into, and under our car in its garage - or on top of the car if a dog is actually in the compound). With Ava, I can also pick her up and hold her close.
Please be aware, that with most cats, picking them up when they are scared is a bad idea - they will not recognise it is you, and will climb you like a tree or fight to be let free to run. You will be terrifically scratched. Dog owners would do well to understand this cat behaviour too, when they expect you to simply pick up your cat, rather than do anything to stop their dog - I've had this 'conversation' as I put my body physically in the way of a dog as it tried to get to on-leash Kato, while calling for the unfussed owner to come and get it.
However, the BEST way to protect against dogs is to be aware, and be proactive so you don't get into those close encounters. This means keeping an eagle eye out for any dogs (usually with walker), and either going home before they see you, or calling out to the people to keep their dogs on-lead as cats are here. You will need to be very short and clear, as it's not common for a cat to be on a walk, so people hesitate through lack of comprehension. The nicer conversation can come when the dog is leashed, and if all the animals are unphased. MOST dog walkers have responded well to this. Some have hesitated far too long, and their dog has done exactly as instinct dictates (the above situations!). As cat, child, or dog walker, please assume that a dog walker has zero control over their animal if they are not on a leash - safety first.
Please be aware, that with most cats, picking them up when they are scared is a bad idea - they will not recognise it is you, and will climb you like a tree or fight to be let free to run. You will be terrifically scratched. Dog owners would do well to understand this cat behaviour too, when they expect you to simply pick up your cat, rather than do anything to stop their dog - I've had this 'conversation' as I put my body physically in the way of a dog as it tried to get to on-leash Kato, while calling for the unfussed owner to come and get it.
However, the BEST way to protect against dogs is to be aware, and be proactive so you don't get into those close encounters. This means keeping an eagle eye out for any dogs (usually with walker), and either going home before they see you, or calling out to the people to keep their dogs on-lead as cats are here. You will need to be very short and clear, as it's not common for a cat to be on a walk, so people hesitate through lack of comprehension. The nicer conversation can come when the dog is leashed, and if all the animals are unphased. MOST dog walkers have responded well to this. Some have hesitated far too long, and their dog has done exactly as instinct dictates (the above situations!). As cat, child, or dog walker, please assume that a dog walker has zero control over their animal if they are not on a leash - safety first.
Cats
When you have territorial cats, you will have cat fights. So this won't be an issue for everyone who walks their cat. But a KATO + ANY OTHER TERRITORIAL CAT = CAT FIGHT. We come across quite a few other cats, and it is just fine and dandy, because those other cats aren't territorial. But there is one cat in the neighbourhood who is territorial, and is an outdoor cat. The second either cat sees each other, it is game on.
The BEST solution I have come up with is, again, eagle eyes. I can often spot Mr Ginger before Kato does (say he's up on a roof), and then I can either guide Kato calmly home before anything happens, or I can keep a watch on Mr Ginger in case he comes over and (if I have to) use my 'uber weapon' (kindly of course). I also make sure i watch Kato and Ava closely - any change in their body language alerts me to what they have seen, and then I can get ready...with the 'uber weapon', aka, a spray bottle of water. I call it the 'uber weapon' not because it causes harm and destruction, but because it is completely and utterly effective at safely PREVENTING harm and destruction. Bad luck of course if both cats LIKE water, but in our situation, one of the cats hates water (sigh, not Kato). So I usually only have to hold up the spray bottle now...and off Mr Ginger goes. In the beginning, I sprayed in the vicinity of Mr Ginger; I tried not to 'shoot' him with arrows of water, but to do big 'mists' of water to encourage him to go the other way to Kato. My heart smites me, as I like Mr Ginger, but it is far better that I humanely prevent a cat fight. Please note I don't advocate a spray bottle of water for 'discipline' or 'teaching' at home - there are far kinder and far more effective techniques for here. This bottle is for an outdoor situation of threat where no other course of action could mitigate it.
You do have to remember to take the spray water bottle with you! I usually have a shoulder bag with the walking needs in it, so that I can be hands free and ready for anything. If you ARE caught in a cat fight with no water (a drink bottle also works), then you will be left with your voice - remember, a cat in fight or flight mode will not recognise you, so you cannot pick them up.
The BEST solution I have come up with is, again, eagle eyes. I can often spot Mr Ginger before Kato does (say he's up on a roof), and then I can either guide Kato calmly home before anything happens, or I can keep a watch on Mr Ginger in case he comes over and (if I have to) use my 'uber weapon' (kindly of course). I also make sure i watch Kato and Ava closely - any change in their body language alerts me to what they have seen, and then I can get ready...with the 'uber weapon', aka, a spray bottle of water. I call it the 'uber weapon' not because it causes harm and destruction, but because it is completely and utterly effective at safely PREVENTING harm and destruction. Bad luck of course if both cats LIKE water, but in our situation, one of the cats hates water (sigh, not Kato). So I usually only have to hold up the spray bottle now...and off Mr Ginger goes. In the beginning, I sprayed in the vicinity of Mr Ginger; I tried not to 'shoot' him with arrows of water, but to do big 'mists' of water to encourage him to go the other way to Kato. My heart smites me, as I like Mr Ginger, but it is far better that I humanely prevent a cat fight. Please note I don't advocate a spray bottle of water for 'discipline' or 'teaching' at home - there are far kinder and far more effective techniques for here. This bottle is for an outdoor situation of threat where no other course of action could mitigate it.
You do have to remember to take the spray water bottle with you! I usually have a shoulder bag with the walking needs in it, so that I can be hands free and ready for anything. If you ARE caught in a cat fight with no water (a drink bottle also works), then you will be left with your voice - remember, a cat in fight or flight mode will not recognise you, so you cannot pick them up.
Cars
Walk in a safe, low - zero car area. Chances are, your cat won't like to walk in a high car area in any case! But even presuming where you walk is safe, there are still car dangers. The biggest we have noticed is noise. Kato absolutely freaks out with diesel engines and will bolt for home. He is so freaked out, that to stop the bolt is almost impossible - I've had the lead jerked out of my hand (not a happy cat with a thing bouncing around after his running form), so I quickly learned that a leash could be a liability and I had to be AWARE. I had to get down over Kato, and just about pin him to the ground with my body while a diesel car went by. I much prefer of course to have those eagle eyes and PREVENT the situation from arising. If I see a truck or a big car, then we head for home pronto, before it can come near us. We were once caught out with no way home, by the garbage truck coming up our narrow lane. Garbage trucks go past very slowly, so I had to get in a position to keep Kato safe - I took him as far back into a vacant lot as I could, and pretty much wrestled him. Meanwhile, Ava was quite fine on the lead, just kicking back in the grass!! You just have to know the triggers for your particular cats!
With one person walking two cats, walking on lead is no longer possible, so we now walk off lead. I still have the leads with me - and pop them on quickly if there is a situation I need to control; a situation as above, that does not involve walking, but staying still. But of course, walking off lead does present more chance of dangers from cars. We walk in a shared pedestrian/car lane, where cars are supposed to only go 20km/hr, and where the sides are bordered by thick garden beds, with a vacant lot also on the strip. Every 2-5m, I have a 'safe haven', and my cats instinctually know that getting hidden in greenery is nice and safe. So I have had occasion to leave one cat in a garden bed, and go keep the other safe when the rare car has come down the lane, way too fast. In this instance, I walk/jog in the middle of the lane. The car can't get past me. They often get annoyed. But I am far more visible than a grey cat on bitumen; and they should be going slow anyway, so if they get too annoyed and have a go at me, I have recourse to the shared signs that also dictate a low speed. If I were walking a dog, I would also use this defensive tactic of being highly visible in the middle of the road - where the road is a 'lane', has no footpaths, and cars should be slow - it is more than easy to get out of the middle of the road with a quiet and unfussed animal if the car turns out to be going slowly. Safety first.
With one person walking two cats, walking on lead is no longer possible, so we now walk off lead. I still have the leads with me - and pop them on quickly if there is a situation I need to control; a situation as above, that does not involve walking, but staying still. But of course, walking off lead does present more chance of dangers from cars. We walk in a shared pedestrian/car lane, where cars are supposed to only go 20km/hr, and where the sides are bordered by thick garden beds, with a vacant lot also on the strip. Every 2-5m, I have a 'safe haven', and my cats instinctually know that getting hidden in greenery is nice and safe. So I have had occasion to leave one cat in a garden bed, and go keep the other safe when the rare car has come down the lane, way too fast. In this instance, I walk/jog in the middle of the lane. The car can't get past me. They often get annoyed. But I am far more visible than a grey cat on bitumen; and they should be going slow anyway, so if they get too annoyed and have a go at me, I have recourse to the shared signs that also dictate a low speed. If I were walking a dog, I would also use this defensive tactic of being highly visible in the middle of the road - where the road is a 'lane', has no footpaths, and cars should be slow - it is more than easy to get out of the middle of the road with a quiet and unfussed animal if the car turns out to be going slowly. Safety first.
Stuff on the ground
Once again, you just have to be aware and keep your eyes skinned. We have come across various nasties on the ground - and I just usher the cats away from that area, or pick them up (I can carry both at once!) and deposit them in a safer area. Watch out for dog poo - cats like to sniff it, and dog poo is one way that cats can get a bunch of parasites that never normally affect them. Watch out for spilled substances like oil, or the use of poisons - weed poisons are often coloured. Ant poisons aren't often visible, so it pays to get neighbourly so you can tell each other plans and goings-on. Our postie drops big red elastic bands - highly attractive to Kato, but also known to be ingested (very dangerous). And the last horrible thing I've seen are used syringes, discarded on the ground. Keep your eyes open.