BURST
There’s a reason the phrase “wrangling a herd of cats” is used to describe something that’s virtually impossible.
The independent nature of felines can make them ill-suited to the fun things people do with their dogs all the time, from going for a walk around the neighbourhood to joining the family on a camping trip.
But many cats are happiest when they get a chance to experience the natural world, say industry experts.
“I think what people are realizing now is that cats really do enjoy being outdoors,” says Jill Connolly, creative director for Vancouver-based pet supply company RC Pets . “But in order to protect them and the other wildlife, you’re seeing a lot more people taking on this adventure cat movement, where they are hiking with their cats, but harnessing them up, similar to a dog.”
A harness not only protects the cat from predators like coyotes, says Connolly, it also protects rabbits and birds and other wildlife from the cat, itself a natural predator.
Indoor or free-roaming cats were the norm for most pet guardians for a long time, but that’s changing. A study on recent trends by the American Pet Products Association released this week shows that cat ownership was up 23 per cent in the U.S. in 2024, and nearly half (48 per cent) use some form of training tools for their cat.
A third (32 per cent) have bought leashes, harnesses and collars for their cat, a jump of 41 per cent from 2018.
Connolly says RC Pets, which specializes in pet leashes, collars and harnesses — along with those hilarious booties to protect pets from irritants like road salt — saw a major uptick in sales of cat gear starting around 2018.
Then, says RC Pets founder and CEO Rory Carr, cat harnesses took off even more during COVID-19, when his company experienced a “tenfold” sales increase. In fact, this year a cat harness model is RC Pets’ No. 1 seller, though dog gear remains a huge part of the business.
Social media played a big part in the trend, says Connolly, as a growing legion of posts started popping up from influencers using hashtags like #adventurecat and #adventurekitty — showing off their furry family members on kayaks, boats, mountaintops and just about everywhere else.
RC Pets’ harness and collar sales have levelled off this year as consumer spending sags in general, but Connolly says it’s definitely a self-sustaining market now that pet people realize leading a cat on a leash isn’t some form of animal abuse — at least for confident and curious felines.
“It just leads to happier cats when they get that outdoor time,” says Connolly. “They are still wild animals to some extent, so I think (harnesses) help them experience that, but in a safe and controlled manner.”
Pet owners have to realize, though, that not every cat is an adventure cat, says Kahlee Demers, a pet behaviour specialist with the B.C. SPCA. So if you’ve had an indoor cat for years, you can’t necessarily leash it up and hit the road.
“Every cat is different, so the ideal enrichment activity depends on what your cat enjoys and feels comfortable with,” says Demers. “Some cats may want to explore the outdoors, so we encourage guardians to do it safely.
“It’s important to note that training a cat to walk on a leash takes time, and some cats may never be comfortable with walking on a harness and leash, and that’s OK.”
Demers recommends taking it slowly, paying attention to your cat’s comfort level and starting with low-traffic areas.
If the cat takes to outdoor adventure, the benefits are there for both pet and guardian, says Connolly.
“Animals have become more and more a part of the family,” she says, noting the days of wandering barn cats and dogs that aren’t allowed inside the house are long past for most pet owners.
“I think it’s just people wanting to do the activities they love, and sharing that with pets they consider family members. So, wanting them to join them on a lot of their hobbies and things that they enjoy doing.
“They want their best friend with them, and in a lot of cases that’s a cat or a dog.”
Don’t have an adventure cat?
What can you do if your cat is outdoor-curious but doesn’t take to a harness or like being out in public?
“A ‘catio’ is another fun option for cats who want to venture outside but are uncomfortable walking on a leash,” says Demers. “These are great as they mimic an outdoor environment by offering new sights, sounds and smells while protecting your cat companion from external dangers.”
If you’re building a catio on a balcony, deck or elsewhere, Demers recommends having lots of perches, tunnels or huts for the cat to explore and hide in. Also remember to always have fresh water available.
Catios can be bought fully assembled at pet retailers and online, or you can get a custom one built by a local contractor like CatiOasis .