Research overview: leash and harness walking for cats

Walking cats on a harness and leash is promoted as a way to give indoor cats safe outdoor stimulation, and this overview surveys what is known about the practice. It examines welfare considerations including individual cats' tolerance of harnesses, the importance of gradual, positive habituation, and the benefits of controlled access to outdoor sights, smells and exercise without the risks of free roaming or predation of wildlife. The survey discusses how leashed walking fits within the containment and enrichment movement, the signs that a cat finds the experience enriching versus stressful, and the limits of generalizing, since many cats may never accept a harness. It frames leash walking as one tool among several for meeting outdoor-related behavioural needs while keeping cats and wildlife safe.