Hiking the trails with "The Cats"

 People are often amazed that our cats are leash trained.  Well the truth is we are leash trained to the cats.   You really don't walk cats, they walk you.  

Slippery in the lead
Anna in the rear

Now, they usually respond to a gentle tug on the lead if interested in your suggestion.  But when they have a specific direction in mind there is no budging them towards your suggestion.  You had best wait, suggest going home, or carrying them to another area... careful here as even loving cats can unleash the claws if they are frightened or threatened.

Slipjig is usually easy to walk
but she is now seven

The oldest cat was over five years old when we began the harness and leash training.  Her name is Slipjig, after an Irish music form, with a shortened version of Slip or Slippery.  You guessed it, she lives up to her name and easily escapes the halter when threatened.  However, until I ordered the Lupine H-loop harness her aversion to the harness and rapid escape was legend.  With the Lupine harness the situation changed and she escapes only when she fees threatened.  Warning, always follow the cat as getting in-front of a cat enables the escape artist.

Let's see what is in this hole

Yes, they still try to hunt with you in tow.  

Anna resting on a log
But alert for the 'hunt'

The photos in this article were from two walks on the trails at Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park: Foster's Hammock Trail and the Florida Trail.

Adventure on the trail!
Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park

Cats typically prefer tree canopy and protected areas when walking and lounging.  On lead they feel unprotected and often walk only trails or during the dark hours.  So, during dark hours they have led us through most of the light displays at the "Festival of Lights"... 

The Belle of the Suwannee
a nightly favorite for the cats

...through the light tunnel, past the small pole trees, around the steam boat.  We have strolled around the Museum, Bell Tower, Nelly Bly's kitchen, and the Auditorium.   

Along their favorite trees
on the nightly walks

Another difference from a dog, they walk on roads after dark as there is too much traffic on roads during the day.  Perhaps cats are wiser than humans and dogs with their caution about roads, daylight, and open spaces...

That was fun
When can we go again?