Imagine if people applied the “outdoor cat” logic to dogs too. We’d have a bunch of dogs running outside freely, collecting parasites and diseases, getting hit by cars, harassing/killing any smaller animals and breeding like crazy. And when you told someone that they probably shouldn’t let their dog outside without a leash because it’s not exactly safe, they’d just be like “oh well you know he’s happier that way and all that stuff is just a normal part of a dog’s life lol what can ya do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯”.

Our neighbors have a dog that literally roams the neighborhood. She has been hit by cars twice. She’s been infested with mange. She shits in every yard but her own. The difference is that… like, most people would agree these people are shitty, irresponsible pet owners for allowing their dog to do this. We have leash laws, etc., for dogs, and if it was anywhere but Kentucky where animal welfare laws are shit, law enforcement would probably come make them keep their dog confined to their own property. If she bites someone, they’d sure as fuck be liable. But everyone jumps up in defense if it’s a cat living the exact same life because “oh he’s got freedom, he’s happy, he’s not as ‘domesticated’ as a dog!”

nonbinary-axolotl

Can I then apply dog logic to cats? Because something I’ve noticed is that cats don’t get socialized… like at all. The whole “Asshole cat” stigma? It’s because said cat was never socialized and desensitized to things!

When I got Holly, I socialized her the same way I would have socialized a puppy. She got to meet a bunch of new people, she got taught how harnesses and leashes work, and she got exposed to a TON of ‘uncomfortable’ situations. Car rides? Exposure. Going with me to Petshmo? Exposure. Being around a large group of people? EXPOSURE!

Wanna know the result? I now have a cat that’s perfectly comfortable going on walks, going on car rides, and actually prefers her leash to being in a carrier! She loves people, and she’s friendly and not shy or defensive even if the person approaching her is a total stranger. She likes going places, even the vets office, because those aren’t terrifying experiences to her anymore because she got used to a lot of the stimuli as a 5 month old kitten (which is how old she was when I adopted her from the shelter). Every person who meets her remarks about how friendly and confident she is. That’s directly a result of how I socialized her as a kitten.

My other two cats weren’t socialized this way and they’re skittish around other people, don’t really like going anywhere other than “home,” and would rather die than be on a leash. They fight going into their carriers (Holly sleeps in hers like it’s a bed), and going to the vet is a terrifying experience for them (I only take them places that I absolutely HAVE to).

Socialize your cats! It’s not as common as socializing dogs, but it’s really important to do, your cats will be way more confident and adaptable.