Cat walking off lead

How does putting the cat in a carrier or on a lead stop dogs from coming at him? Quite interested. My cat follows me for walks. If a dog chases him, he runs away and hides (not sure why, he's bigger than most of those dogs) rather than being scared out of his wits and unable to escape.

THIS!!!!!!

My goodness I didn’t realise this was a nature reserve. Presumably neither the cat or dog should have been off the lead.
I really cannot comprehend the attitude of some dog owners.

Your dog should not be scaring or chasing any animals including squirrels why do you think that’s ok?

Exactly.

OP said it chases small animals and so it should have been on a leads in a place where there are definitely going to be are small animals.

The nature reserve is literally there to protect nature and it’s a shame that people walk their predator dog off the lead, knowing it’s going to chase animals and cause distress to them.

One of my old cats, and one of my current cats enjoys following us for walks. The old one would wait outside if we went to the corner shop. Current one used to live in a countryside B&B and would often follow the guests on walks.

Put your dog on a lead.

Exactly. I would be surprised if the nature reserve that OP goes to actually allows off lead dogs. Most have signs saying dogs should be kept on a short lead. Our local nature reserve is constantly having to appeal to idiot dog owners to stop them from letting their dogs run rampage. The damage caused to ground nesting birds and other wildlife is terrible. Not sure why OP thinks it is okay for her dog to chase wildlife, it really isn't okay.

So how do you control your dog normally whilst it’s off the lead? What about other wildlife? Do you consider hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, unaccompanied cats, or ground nesting birds fair game? If so shame on you.

I've seen a 'cat going for a walk' because our neighbour used to do that with her cat in a field near our houses. Dogs were supposed to be on a lead because it was sheep country, but of course they often weren't (don't get me started on that). For that reason I discouraged our cats from accompanying me when I went for a walk.

why hasn't your dog got a proper recall?

Your dog needs to be under control in a public place. That's not up for debate, it's the law. That includes Nature Reserves, with or without cats in them.

If your dog is moving toward at a cat/squirrel/human/horse/dog/another dog's squeaky ball and it doesn't stop dead and return to you on command, it's not under control and it needs to be on a lead.

YABU

Your dog chased their cat.

It doesn’t matter if it was their cat, dog or child.
Or whether your dog has never done it before.

The facts are that you were unable to control your dog, which was your responsibility, so it was your fault.

You also knew that your dog chases small furry animals and so I’d argue that it’s even more your fault.

I’m not judging as my dog chased cows and she had never chased anything before in her life.
But it was still my fault because she is my responsibility.

The fact that the cat wasn’t on a lead is irrelevant because your dog would not have not chased it just because it wasn’t on a lead.

Cats have a right to roam, dogs must be controlled at all times so it could be argued the cat had more of a right

Why won’t you answer the question about putting your dog on a lead as soon as you saw the cat? You know your dog is a chaser so you need to
be prepared.

I’m in Team ‘both animals need to be under control’

both can chase and harm other things - whether wildlife or another pet - so surely same rules should apply? Admittedly in law it’s only dogs but this is the place for ‘what should be’ not ‘what is’ discussions

That said, despite there being lots of people saying they’ve walked their cats or know people who have, it’s clearly very unusual cat behaviour, so I’m not surprised the OP was surprised!

when I was at Uni in the 1990s some guy used to attend gigs with a cat on his shoulder which seemed to be happy to be there. Doesn’t mean that’s expected for a cat!

One of our cats regularly comes on our dog walk. It is quite a long walk and he just follows us. It’s on our own land though so we don’t look like weirdos.

our old cat used to walk DH to work (only a five minute walk) when we lived in a town centre location

If it's a nature reserve then both cats and dogs should be on a leash

Dogs who chase and don't recall should be on a lead no matter where

You have no idea what is around a corner or coming through the next gate

A cat lead would have made no difference though. Your dog would still have gone for it. Put the dog on a lead instead (especially if it's a nature reserve and it's bird breeding season).

That is a very well-trained cat to jump into his owner's arms. I've had a cat that would follow me on walks near my house. Have a look at Gary The Cat (greatgramsof gary) on Instagram, it's nice to see a cat have bigger adventures.

OP said it was a nature reserve though, surely the purpose of a nature reserve is to protect nature and the dog shouldn't be off a lead chasing wildlife and any passing cats.

You absolutely cannot have a dog that chases animals off lead in a nature reserve! The reserve is there to protect wildlife, which your dog is chasing about and distressing.

I don't think I've ever seen a cat ON a leaf

How bizarre. Our cats used to trot along behind sometimes until they got bored

Sounds like the dog is the issue.

YABU. Cats don't get 'walked'. They have a right to roam and therefore could turn up anywhere.

Legally, dogs are deemed to be under human control.

If you are unable to stop your dog chasing after any other animal, doesn't matter whether it is another dog, a squirrel, a cat or a horse, then you lack the control necessary to walk your dog off lead.

To be honest owners like you are a huge problem. You are letting a dog you cannot control off lead in public. There is never a issue...until there is.