Cats have a certain collective reputation for existence fastidious groomers, moody, particular virtually the visitor they keep, and enjoyers of luxury, relaxation, and sleep. So it may be surprising that adventure cats are at the center of the latest outdoor photography trend. Take a quick wait at Instagram and y'all'll see that there are almost 729,000 posts nether the hashtag #adventurecat — i.e., cats who ditched the comfy cushions and met the great outdoors with the spirit of their wild ancestors.

These and then-called adventure cats can do information technology all. They swim, army camp, kayak (in a life vest, of grade) hike, continue road trips, and even brave the snow. And they are wildly popular public figures on social media — for example, Reinhardt from British Columbia is a top Instagram adventure cat with 285,000 followers. In addition to beingness ambrosial, a second upshot of the growing number of Instagram adventure cats is that in that location'southward at present an increased interest in transforming indoor cats into traveling companions.

The idea that all cats volition automatically be miserable outside is just incorrect, says a leading vet. "Cats often get seen as the kind of pet that doesn't want to go outside but I call back we've kind of forced them to exist that fashion," explains Chicago-based veterinarian Dr. Lenyr Muñoz . "A lot of them actually thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically when they get to become outside and experience the current of air on their whiskers."

All the same, before you tin strap a harness on your cat and have her on a hike, you tin to follow some guidelines and tactics to ensure your cat is safe and happy. Wannabe adventure cat owners might exist eager to capture that perfect shot of their life vest-clad cat at the prow of a kayak like a fearless explorer, simply these fickle creatures require months of do, training, and patience before they tin can call themselves true gamble cats. Hither's what you demand to know (and potentially buy) if you want to train your cat to enjoy the outdoors.

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Adventure cat training requires patience

Archer adventure cat near the ocean

Photo: Courtesy Tony Yu

If yous're interested in bringing your cat on your side by side outdoor excursion, kickoff planning months alee of time, specially if your cat has never been outside earlier. If you're planning on adopting a kitten to eventually become an adventure cat, it'due south best to start training right abroad.

"If you have the ability to start super young, people demand to take advantage of that, simply that'due south not ever possible. The key is to take them out every unmarried twenty-four hours, put the harness on them, and go outside," says Muñoz. "That regular repetition of going out every day is very helpful to get them a picayune more than curious each fourth dimension."

Cat owners still demand to respect their pet'south temperament and tolerance for the outdoors until they get accustomed to the change in environment. Let your cat have the lead.

"This is not something yous want to force a cat to practise. If the cat is running or hiding, and so utilize that as your cue to say, 'I respect this and tomorrow we'll try again.'"

One way to assistance your cat get acclimated to the outdoors is by setting upwardly a soft-sided mesh playpen on your porch or in your backyard where your true cat can find and odor the environment while still feeling safe. From there, you can introduce a harness and ternion, but be prepared to commit to a months-long procedure.

Vivian, Toronto-based "cat mom" to Archer, knows from experience that forcing a cat outside before he's ready doesn't work. Vivian describes Archer as "very curious and very brave," but he immediately hid nether the couch the offset time she opened her backdoor to run across if he might be interested in going outside. She put a harness on him when he was most iii months old, which inspired him to flop on the ground like a fish and reject to motion. Merely eventually, he began walking upwards and down the stairs in his harness and leash. Once he was used to that, she reintroduced the backyard.

"When it comes to training [a cat], sometimes we look results very quickly, merely with a cat, patience is and then of import," she says. "We were just very consistent, taking him out every few times a week. It took six or seven months to build upwardly his confidence."

Lindsey, cat mom to Arizona adventure cat Aries, noticed that he spent all solar day looking out through her apartment window, which she took as a inkling that he wanted to spend more fourth dimension outdoors. She started the training procedure by walking him up and down the stairs of their edifice before venturing onto the patio. Only before Aries could even get to the patio, he needed to get used to the harness.

How to train your cat to article of clothing a harness

Archer adventure cat harness

Photo: Courtesy Tony Lu

A harness is the most important tool in your adventure cat armory. Cat owners cannot clip a leash to the cat'due south neckband — leashes tin can strain cats' necks and cause injury. They're as well not every bit secure effectually a cat every bit a dog; cats can hands skid out of collars and bolt into traffic, resulting at all-time in a scared or lost true cat. Only cats are infamously intolerant of fabric touching their fur or anything else that might make them feel trapped or constrained, and then it takes some preparation earlier they go accepted to the harness.

"We left [the harness] past his food, and he was smelling it and biting information technology, and playing with information technology. And so we put it on loosely for ten minutes, gave him a care for, so took it off," explains Lindsey, who as well recommends measuring your cat earlier purchasing a harness then that y'all're certain to buy the correct size. "And then nosotros attached the leash [to the harness] and let it drag behind him."

Lindsey and Aries practiced this routine, gradually introducing him to her backyard and front porch. Six months subsequently, he was set for his first hike.

Nearly cats take heightened senses, and then the smells of other animals and noises from birds and traffic might be triggering at first. The first time you lot take your cat on a walk, information technology should exist in a quiet place close to home without distractions like ducks or passing cars. From there, your cat tin graduate to more difficult hikes.

"My advice is to observe your cat's torso language, and endeavor to understand how they feel at that moment," says Vivian. "Your message to your cat when you're outside is that they can trust yous."

Why every chance true cat needs a backpack

Archer adventure cat kayak

Photo: Courtesy Tony Yu

The second-most of import detail for whatever gamble cat is a cat backpack. We love the PetAmi Premium Backpack Dog & Cat Carrier from Chewy, which is both affordable and super durable.

"Cats need to take breaks," says Vivian, "if it's too noisy or if they're in a new surroundings. They need to have a place where they feel prophylactic. So the backpack is a safe haven for them."

Vivian says that Archer stays cozy within the backpack during the winter, especially when there'due south snowfall on the ground, and fifty-fifty rides on top of it sometimes. She finds it especially useful if a dog approaches Archer on the hiking trail.

"I pick him upward right away and put him on top of the cat haversack," she says," and so that in that location's altitude betwixt him and the dog or the bicycle, or any information technology is that he feels uncomfortable with."

Lindsey says she finds the true cat haversack virtually useful when Aries gets tired. Usually after almost two miles, Aries needs to rest, so Lindsey moves him to the backpack while she keeps hiking.

How to go on your adventure cat safe

Aries adventure cat hiking

Photo: Courtesy Aries Run a risk Cat

Before introducing your cat to the outdoors, brand sure your true cat is current on vaccines and that they've been treated for fleas and ticks (topical treatments and pills are available at pet stores).

Vivian coats Archer's paws with a protective wax before hikes and cleans his sensitive toe pads of rocks, dirt, and other droppings afterwards reach hike. She too carries treats and a collapsible h2o basin. And she recommends conveying a cat beginning-aid kit during hikes with, among other items, a pair of tweezers and bandages.

"The other matter I recommend is a dog spray," adds Lindsey. "It just scares the dog abroad, only it doesn't hurt them."

I more thing to keep in listen: White cats are more susceptible to sunburn, so if you lot accept a white cat you'd like to hike or paddle with, be sure you've train your furbuddy to tolerate a sweater or a jacket beforehand every bit they'll need the extra protection. Dr. Muñoz also suggests that you equip your risk cat with a brightly patterned collar birds can spot from far away, signaling to them that your cat is a potential predator.

Lastly, recall that the training process — and ultimately exploring the wonders and dazzler of the planet together — can bring you closer to your true cat.

"Aries and I have become a lot more bonded and connected," says Lindsey. "I tin read him like a book."

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