Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

People walking cats and rabbits on leads in parks

497 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 05/04/2021 08:50

Utter fools. Do they not like their pets?

I've come across this at least 4 times now - people (all different!) walking cats and, in one case, a rabbit, on a lead.

In all cases, these are parks where dogs are allowed off lead and the vast majority are off lead. Including everything from ex-racing greyhounds to terriers.

I spoke to rabbit woman and pointed out the dangers. She said she'd just pick the rabbit up - while seemingly failing to account for the fact greyhounds can travel at 40mph and jump higher than she could possibly lift the rabbit.

Yesterday I saw this on-lead cat before my own dog did (a small miracle - from a distance I thought it was a puppy), and warned them my dog wasn't cat friendly. They then decided to stop sitting down in the park and instead FOLLOW US through the park.

Presumably when it goes wrong they'll be whining that the dog was out of control - but presumably they'd also be whining if they wandered out blindfolded onto a 70mph road and got run over. It's asking for trouble.

I'm not convinced cats or rabbits enjoy being walked - and surely the much safer / more pragmatic option would be to walk them somewhere where dogs aren't allowed to be off lead?

Let's pray this doesn't catch on as a trend Gin

OP posts:
glassshoes · 05/04/2021 09:44

Dogs don't trump other animals and should be on leads.

Poorlykitten · 05/04/2021 09:46

I’m am afraid, no matter what you think, people are entitled to walk whatever pet they chose in a park. It’s not a dog- only space. It’s entirely up to them but it’s up to you to keep that animal under control.

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 09:46

@LeaveMyDamnJam

Cats aren’t a prey species.
They are both a predator and prey species. It depends on the other species around them.

It's why most vet waiting rooms have separate dog and cat waiting and ward areas. Cats find being forced into close proximity with strange dogs stressful.

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 09:47

@Poorlykitten

I’m am afraid, no matter what you think, people are entitled to walk whatever pet they chose in a park. It’s not a dog- only space. It’s entirely up to them but it’s up to you to keep that animal under control.
Yes of course they are.

And those of us who know about animal behaviour are entitled to judge their selfish behaviour which puts their pet's welfare at risk.

Poorlykitten · 05/04/2021 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Expectingsomethingwonderful · 05/04/2021 09:55

@Iwouldbecomplex

If your dog is not 100% safe to be off lead in all circumstances (including when it is presented with an animal it would consider prey) and does not have prefect recall then it should not be off lead at all. It is an annoyance and sometimes a danger to others, not just those who might be walking cats and rabbits. You do not have an entitlement over other people in the park because you own a dog. Stop being so selfish.
This - why are some dog owners so entitled!
Veterinari · 05/04/2021 09:58

@Poorlykitten

I doubt you know anything about animal behaviour, you are extremely ‘anti-dogs being on leads’ as I saw in the other thread. Stating a lot of nonsense about how they don’t help to prevent bites or attacks. The fact is if all dogs in these open spaces were on leashes, everyone could happily go about their business with whatever animal they wished to exercise and I could eat my picnic in peace without some strange dog running up to me and stealing it. Everyone is a winner. 😊
Please read the thread and don't derail by trying to bring other threads over here. It poor MN etiquette.

Dogs on leads is not the universal panacea you think it is. It wouldn't prevent injury or stress to cats and rabbits on leads for all of the reasons I've already explained on this thread.

You can keep ignoring 'inconvenient' logic and repeating that dogs on leads cures all of society's ills on as many threads as you like. It doesn't make your opinion any more relevant, evidence-based or credible.

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 10:00

@Expectingsomethingwonderful do you not think it's pretty entitled if the owners of cats and rabbits to ignore their natural behaviours and stress reactions and force them into stressful situations where they are at risk even if all dogs were on leads?

Poorlykitten · 05/04/2021 10:03

Nobody’s animal trumps any other animal. It’s not up to you to decide this.

caringcarer · 05/04/2021 10:04

In our park there is a large notice reminding dog owners their dogs should be on a leash at all times. Most parks have this.

wetotter · 05/04/2021 10:06

No, the animals are kind of deciding it for themselves. The rabbits (definitely) and the cats (probably) will be highly stressed by proximity of strange dogs, even when those dogs are on leads. That is an unfair thing to do to those creatures, and it is why it is exceptionally rare to see it happening, because most owners do not put their pets through that.

Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 05/04/2021 10:06

@caringcarer

In our park there is a large notice reminding dog owners their dogs should be on a leash at all times. Most parks have this.
In the parks I'm talking about, dogs are allowed to be walked off lead and indeed most dogs are walked off lead.
OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 05/04/2021 10:07

I think it’s really cruel to take cats and rabbits where you know there are likely to be a fair amount of dogs.

What are they actually getting from it? A huge dose of cortisol Hmm

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 10:07

@Poorlykitten

Nobody’s animal trumps any other animal. It’s not up to you to decide this.
Yep. That's definitely what I said Confused
Veterinari · 05/04/2021 10:09

@tabulahrasa

I think it’s really cruel to take cats and rabbits where you know there are likely to be a fair amount of dogs.

What are they actually getting from it? A huge dose of cortisol Hmm

Exactly @tabulahrasa

It's so frustrating when people treat their pets like fashion accessories rather than living sentient beings, and sad to see people on this thread defending it because 'entitlement'.
Sad

sunflowersandbuttercups · 05/04/2021 10:10

Taking a cat (or rabbit) out on a harness and forcing them to walk surrounded by predatory animals like dogs is bordering on cruel, even if the dogs are on leads.

Rabbits and cats are, generally, programmed to run from predators - how can they do that if they're on a lead and harness and are being forced to walk among them by their owners?

Even if the dog is on a lead, the animals will still experience fear and want to escape - as is their nature.

midnightstar66 · 05/04/2021 10:21

My terrier can be recalled from squirrels and pigeons however there's something about cats that the desire to chase cannot be over ridden. For this reason I always keep her firmly on a lead in our street. She still frightens them as she whines and yelps but they can go in their cat flaps etc and run away un chased. In the park she can go off lead as no cat would ever/does ever go there by choice! It's think it's horribly unfair to have a cat and even more so, a rabbit in that sort of environment where they can run away and seek refuge if scared. As op said a sight hound will almost certainly spot it before their owner does and many dogs will bark and Lange even if put on a lead. Rabbits are highly sensitive and likely be terrified

cherrybcharlie · 05/04/2021 10:27

hi. would previously agreed with the sentiments of the OP, and others who say that cats/rabbits should not be on leads, however, in recent times there has been a vast increase in theft of animals. Due to this factor I fully intend to walk the cat I am getting this week. The alternative is to let him out and hope that no unscrupulous person steals him. If I do not take this cat out for walks then he will have no chance to go outside. There are signs all over warning of Cat and Dog thieves and on social media there are many sad posts of cats that have gone 'missing' and dogs that are stolen right in front of their owners. In my ideal world I would have a cat flap and my cat would be free, however, as we know the world is far from ideal and sadly this is not possible.

freeandfierce · 05/04/2021 10:32

I walk my cat on a lead. He is a spynx and lives indoors. However, I always take him in his carrier, if the area looks quiet I take him out, if there are any sign of dogs I don't. The carrier comes with me incase he needs a safe place (he sleeps in it at home). He loves going out, I take him on short car journeys all the time. There are plenty of outside places to go where there are no dogs about. We don't walk far, he loves just sniffing about and exploring, scratching the odd tree, rolling in the grass etc. He loves dogs too, we live next to a boxer one side and a rockweiler the other so I'm very careful in the garden as we don't have fences to separate but he is never scared by them. I think it depends on the cats temperament, the owner and where they are walked.

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 10:33

@cherrybcharlie

hi. would previously agreed with the sentiments of the OP, and others who say that cats/rabbits should not be on leads, however, in recent times there has been a vast increase in theft of animals. Due to this factor I fully intend to walk the cat I am getting this week. The alternative is to let him out and hope that no unscrupulous person steals him. If I do not take this cat out for walks then he will have no chance to go outside. There are signs all over warning of Cat and Dog thieves and on social media there are many sad posts of cats that have gone 'missing' and dogs that are stolen right in front of their owners. In my ideal world I would have a cat flap and my cat would be free, however, as we know the world is far from ideal and sadly this is not possible.
If you choose to do this then you need to harness/lead train your cat carefully and walk it in a dog and traffic free area. Otherwise it is likely to be an incredibly stressful experience
Thermalpants · 05/04/2021 10:34

It would be incredibly stressful for a rabbit or cat to be walked past on lead dogs. It would be irresponsible of the owner to put their pet through this experience.

Veterinari · 05/04/2021 10:36

This is a useful article

kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/should-i-walk-my-cat-on-a-lead/

HunkyPunk · 05/04/2021 10:38

Why are you seeking out and posting on dog threads in the doghouse when you clearly dislike dogs

Tbf, you don't have to seek them out when threads appear in active convos. And this particular one mentions cats and rabbits (but not dogs!)

TSBelliot · 05/04/2021 10:39

Parks here are full of off lead dogs - they won’t be used to seeing a rabbit or cat on lead so it’s irrelevant if they should be recallable. Neither party knows how it will go - a woman used to bring her ferret. It was an exercise in some odd showing off as far as I could see and the ferret looked miserable or and scared. Rabbits, who deserve more then being kept in cages, don’t deserve this.

cherrybcharlie · 05/04/2021 10:44

@freeandfierce

I walk my cat on a lead. He is a spynx and lives indoors. However, I always take him in his carrier, if the area looks quiet I take him out, if there are any sign of dogs I don't. The carrier comes with me incase he needs a safe place (he sleeps in it at home). He loves going out, I take him on short car journeys all the time. There are plenty of outside places to go where there are no dogs about. We don't walk far, he loves just sniffing about and exploring, scratching the odd tree, rolling in the grass etc. He loves dogs too, we live next to a boxer one side and a rockweiler the other so I'm very careful in the garden as we don't have fences to separate but he is never scared by them. I think it depends on the cats temperament, the owner and where they are walked.
this is exactly what I intend to do. I am an experienced cat owner and the cat I am getting is a Siamese. I will be taking him in a carrier to a quiet spot and letting him explore , in his harness. It is just in these times that I am anxious about lettting him out. He will be my fourth Siamese. I know that if I do not walk him his life would be stressful and I intend to make his life as comfortable as possible. Siameses like Spynx's are highly intelligent and happy to be walked. I will also take him in the car, in his carrier. Your cat sounds like he has a happy life and that, as cat owners, is all we can hope for.