Training Kittens to Walk Tandem

Tandem Cat Adventuring

1/3/2019

To Stroll or Not to Stroll - A Purrsistent Question

So, ya'll have probably figured out by now - I really love the Pet Gear stroller that I purchased for the cats a few months ago. It has completely opened up the adventuring world for us in more ways than I could actually cover in one short blog post. But the biggest improvement of all has been my ability to take out both of my cats at the same time for short neighborhood adventures.

Many mornings my girls and I now take a break from our homeschooling routine to pop the cats into their harnesses, grab the stroller, and walk one of the long blocks around the area we live. Neighbors are actually getting quite used to seeing ShiShi and Haku, and stop us to ask how they are doing. And the cats, while still nervous of strangers on the street, are in turn becoming much more used to new people, dogs of all shapes and sizes, and even traffic. ShiShi usually comes running when I get things ready for our walk (and often spends the rest of the day once we are home sleeping either on top or inside her precious stroller).

The really huge part of this spectacular stroller story, though, happens after that first walk around the block. That's when I drop my girls off at our house so they can get back to school, and I take the kitties off by myself to visit the Bridge.
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The Cat Buddy System

Two amazing (and critical!) things are at play on these new adventures that ShiShi, Haku and I take to the Bridge. Well, three if you count the fact that we wouldn't be able to go together at all without the means for me to transport two cats at once. (Tandem backpacking did not work well at all for us!) This stroller has felt a minor miracle, since I don't often have a backup person to help me walk two cats at once, but very often have cats begging to go outside.

Best of all, my kitties are riding together. This might seem obvious, but it means that there is far less for ShiShi and Haku to be nervous about as we stretch their comfort zone more and more. Whenever something happens that would normally make one of them feel worried, they have the other to take cues from. If something strange or unexpected happens (all the time!) they recover their happy curiosity many times faster than they would if on their own with me.

And, both kitties have quickly grown to associate the stroller as a 'safe' place. It happened quite naturally as both dogs and people are held at bay while the cats can peer out curiously from inside. Also, once they are out and walking on their own four paws, there have been times when I spotted a bigger dog heading our way (big dogs make them nervous) and quickly popped them back in for a safety break. Incredibly for both them and myself, they seem to feel invincible once inside. Now, if I'm even thinking that either cat is acting a bit nervous (for instance when ShiShi heard a startling sound while we were out today), I just stick them back in with the screens still partially open, and then they can choose when they want to hop back out again.

And - hopping out really is the best part of all! Our habit right now is to stroll to the edge of Turtle Bridge, then open up the compartment for the kitties to hop out and explore. Note here - sometimes Haku elects to just stay in the stroller and observe from his safe perch! After a bit I tell them it's time to go back. My adventure cats then actually lead the way home, sometimes at a pokey/sniffy pace, but are generally pulling me along by the time we hit the sidewalk. They've even (mostly) figured out that they need to wait for each other and walk together. To put it mildly, I am so proud of them and impressed.

Mind you, I'm still in love with our longer park adventures too. But it's impossible at this point in my life to have that kind of adventure on a daily, or even weekly, basis. I also adore the idea of real backpacking/camping with my guys one day. But the very real benefits, right now, of day-to-day outdoor explores are ours thanks to that well-beloved stroller. Pawsome!

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Dual Cat Adventuring Strategies

1. Always have a few favorite treats with you - just in case! It's amazing how a nervous kitty, or one who needs reined in a bit, can calm down with treat break.

2. Start with short, confidence building adventures together. When I first started taking the cats out together by myself, we practiced many times going to our favorite place (Turtle Bridge - very close by) before starting to venture further on our own.

3. After several months of practice, ShiShi and Haku are getting better all the time at walking tandem with the leashes. We only do this going home though, as we are still training - that way there is lots of motivation for both cats to go in the same direction! I recommend carrying/packing/strolling one way and then tandem walking on return for happy training.

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