This article was originally published in the August 2022 issue of Tiny House Magazine.
I have been fortunate to share my adult with special felines. For 17 years, we lived with a hairless cat named Piglet. She moved several times throughout her life, enjoyed riding in the car, and was good on her harness and leash. She even lived in the tiny house with us full time. When we lost her in the summer of 2018, we were devastated. But we knew one day we would be able to open our hearts to another cat.
Although all cats are different, we were hopeful that our next cat would enjoy going on adventures. We welcomed Toast, a Devon Rex, into our lives in 2019, and we did not expect the level of adventure she craved. We’re firm believers in keeping cats indoors, except when we can have them outdoors safely. We stay aware of their comfort levels and secure at all times.
Many cats are born for excitement. Here’s how to know if your cat is an adventure cat and keep them safe and happy.
Curiosity Levels
Is your cat super cool with new people coming into the house? Are they curious, or do they hide away? This is probably the best indicator of whether your cat will acclimate to adventure. Cats who would rather be left alone or are uncomfortable in new situations won’t enjoy leaving the house.
In our case, we were lucky with both cats. When people came to the house, they wanted to be a part of the action. For Toast, that extends to hanging out at breweries where new people always ask to pet her.
Comfort with Carriers
For the safety of your adventure cat, they should be comfortable with cat carriers. There are a lot of carriers on the market. Hard-sided carriers are suitable for extended car rides as they offer protection from accidents. Soft-sided carriers are easier to transport, especially as a backpack.
Here is one way our cats were different. Piglet didn’t like the carrier at all. She would fight aggressively, and eventually, we gave in and would take her in the car on her leash. She was good in the car and would ride in my lap, covered in a blanket. We understood this was risky, so when we brought Toast home, we wanted her to be comfortable in the carrier. She took to it quickly and sometimes slept in her carrier at home.
We still have the original hard-sided carrier we bought when we first got Piglet. It’s over 20 years old now, but Toast loves it. We use it for long car trips. We also have a soft-sided backpack carrier to take her out locally. She jumps in immediately when she sees the backpack because she likes to go out with us.
Harness Training
Many people avoid harness training their cats because it is nothing like putting a leash on a dog. Cats don’t generally love to be restrained, so getting used to a harness can take longer. The first step is choosing a suitable harness for your cat. Some prefer the walking jacket style, while others like a lighter harness. Never use just a collar with a leash for a cat. Start when they’re young and put them in the harness for short periods in the house. They may fight it at first and even act like they don’t have bones, but they’ll get used to it. Once they’re comfortable in the harness, only use it when you’re going on an adventure.
Piglet hated having the harness put on, but as soon as it was secure, she’d run to the door because she knew she could go outside. Toast fought the harness at first, but now she is perfectly chill while I put it on and has no problem. When we’ve arrived at our destination and can open the backpack, we secure a leash to her harness so she can explore, though she often decides to hang out in her bag anyway.
Keeping Kitty Safe
Some cats are even more adventurous than ours. Our community has several cats who enjoy outdoor sports like hiking and paddleboarding. Just follow your cat’s lead and don’t encourage them to do things that make them uncomfortable and afraid.
You should also keep them safe by putting a tag on their harness and maintaining the information on their microchip. Take them to the vet for their annual checkups, make sure they have preventative medications for common outdoor pests, and keep them vaccinated.
While a cat will never be exactly like a dog, they can make great companions who enjoy visiting local spots with their people. Our responsibility is to read their body language, determine how much they can handle, and not force them to fit a mold they’re not designed for. With these tips in mind, you can evaluate your cat on their adventure scale.
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