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Yes, even Fluffy can learn to enjoy accompanying you on your morning strolls. Cats, by nature, are very independent. This is why most people give up before even trying to leash train their cat. Most of us have a preconceived notion that a cat is an independent creature that does not respond to training, has a mind of its own, and is too high strung to enjoy being 'walked'. So, we bring home Fluffy from the store/shelter, and let her strut about the house, allowing kitty to hide and sit wherever she pleases. We feed her and pet her.....at that's our cat. STOP. Fluffy is YOUR pet. A cat usually won't walk on a leash because we have not taken the very first steps to asserting our own dominance. In the animal kingdom, there is a constant vying for leadership. You must be your cat's leader. Your cat will then respect you and look forward to anything that you provide that makes the cat happy and safe. Sound familiar? It should, cause that is how we instinctively react to owning a dog. At first this sounds harsh, but really its not. If you have a kitten, you are miles ahead of the game here. A kitten will learn to accept just about anything at a young age, as long as you make it a rewarding experience. So, the first step in this process, is to bond with your cat. You must also achieve an understanding of your own cat. Is she lazy? Is she frisky? Is she aggressive? Keep in mind that every animal is different - they do have personalities (which often result from the personalities in the humans they are around everyday). If she's overly aggressive, you will need to work hard at asserting your dominance. If she is lazy, you will need to spend more time playing with her. So, spend time talking to your cat, playing, and even just observing his/her behaviour. This is crucial, because if your cat is not comfortable around you, how is it going to be comfortable 'tied' to you 5 feet away? When playing with your cat, assert dominance by rolling kitty onto her back and placing your hand on her stomach and holding it there for a few seconds. This type of behaviour is identical to what's seen in the wild with all types of felines and canines. Do this naturally, during play...not as a forced move. After several weeks, you will see that you will be able to keep your hand there longer. The act of an animal baring its stomach, is an act of submission. As soon as you have conquered this, you have become the leader, and have earned the cat's trust. The

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