There has been an apparent increase in people walking their cats in London recently.
A growing number of people on TikTok and Instagram have been posting videos of their cats in harnesses and on leads, walking around in parks or even in the Underground in London.
Oliver Lovick, 31 has been walking his Syphix cat Satan for two years. He started walking with Satan because he lives in a flat and thought it would be nice for him to have the opportunity to go outside.
Lovick said: “ I’ll be holding the lead, I’ll be walking where he’s walking unlike a dog.
“I just follow him around.”
Lovick bought the accessories for walking Satan when he was just a kitten with the intention of eventually taking him on walks.
He started off taking him to a green space outside for 20 minutes at a time and then built up his confidence over time.
Now, Lovick says he and Satan can go everywhere in London.
He said: “I’m quite lucky with Satan, he really just took to it.
“I feel like I got a bit lucky there, because people always ask my advice, and I feel like, actually, he just took to it quite well.
“He’s naturally very curious, and outgoing.”
Lovick also posts videos of him and Satan out and about on Instagram, but while this has connected him to other cat walkers in London, he is yet to come across another out and about.
When he is out, he and Satan receive a positive response.
Lovick said: “People’s reactions are really great. I talk to everybody when we’re out and about, and most people just want to say ‘hi’ and give them a stroke and say, ‘oh, isn’t it amazing?’
“So, on the whole, it’s really positive.”
Of course, walking a cat is not like walking a dog and Lovick says he takes lots of precautions to keep Satan safe.
He said: “I stay really aware – I guess I was worried about things like dogs, or how we’d react to busy roads or the tube.
“But he really took to that, I’ve never had a bad experience.
“He does spend 90% of the time in his bag, even when we’re out. He likes to be carried in his little bag lots of the time, he’s tucked up in there very safely.”
For advice to others, Lovick says he can’t really give much as he thinks it differs from cat to cat.
Apolis, a staff member at Pet Pavillion in Chiswick, is one person who has noticed an increased interest in cat walking.
He said: “In the last couple of months in particular, I’d say a lot of people are coming in for cat harnesses and the leads.
“I think it’s just become a bit more trendy to walk your cat.”
However, the cat charity, Cats Protection, doesn’t recommend walking cats.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, central behaviour officer at Cats Protection, said: “While some owners explore harness walking with good intentions – often to spend more time with their cat or to offer a controlled outdoor experience – it may not always align with a cat’s natural needs.
“Harness and lead walking can limit this natural behaviour and may introduce additional stressors, such as unfamiliar people, dogs, traffic and noise, without allowing the cat full control over how they respond.
“It is also worth noting that social media often presents a selective picture.
“While some cats appear comfortable on a harness, this may not reflect the experience of many others who find the process unsettling.
“For owners concerned about outdoor safety, enrichment within the home can be a positive alternative.
“Regular interactive play, puzzle feeders and creating vertical spaces such as shelves or walkways can help meet a cat’s behavioural needs.
“Neutering can also reduce roaming, and keeping cats indoors at night lowers the risk of road traffic accidents.
“Ultimately, any approach should prioritise the individual cat’s comfort, choice and sense of security.”
Lovick agreed it is not for everyone, but said: “Some people are really against it.
“I’ve always found that as long as you do it safely and your cat’s okay with it.
“At the end of the day, you probably know your cat the best.”
Featured image: Lucy Giles
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