Sunny the Ragdoll Finally Walks on a Leash

At first everyone at home laughed when I said I wanted to take Sunny for walks on a leash, since cats aren't supposed to follow people like dogs do. But I'd read that some breeds, like the Ragdoll, are calm and people-oriented and can be trained if you go slowly. So I bought a well-fitting harness and let him wear it indoors first.

For the first week he refused to move at all. He flopped onto the floor and gave me a look as if I were the cruelest person alive. I changed my approach and used treats to lead him just one small step at a time, so he'd learn that moving brought good things. I did this ten minutes a day for about two months.

The most important lesson was not to push. If he starts to look stressed, with his tail up or ears flat, I stop right away. Now Sunny can walk a few dozen metres outside our Sukhumvit condo and still acts like he owns the street. If you're training a cat, start with the lightest harness you can find and be more patient than you think you need to be.