HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY A calico cat named Ruby has learned to feel comfortable in a cat walking jacket. Three wide straps hold the jacket on securely, one around her neck and two around her body.

Cat-walking jackets keep
felines safe outside

More and more responsible pet owners are keeping their cats inside. The benefits are indisputable: a longer, healthier life; they don't become unwanted guests in the neighborhood and won't be injured by other pets or people.

The key to keeping an indoor cat content is to offer a wide variety of things to do, including toys and games, a feline companion, scratching posts and plenty of your attention.

If you've provided all this, it's still possible that your cat craves sun and grass, darting for the door whenever it opens.

Here are two worry-free ways to share the excitement of the great outdoors with your feline:

Create an exterior enclosure -- a screened run or cat playhouse accessible by window or pet door. Make it appealing by adding objects for the cat to explore such as tunnels and tubes, tree limbs with multilevel platforms, toys hanging from branches and boxes to hide in or curl up on.

Or, available at the Hawaiian Humane Society for $25 are cat-walking jackets and leashes. Many cats available for adoption at the humane society have been trained to enjoy the outdoors using them. More secure than a harness, the jacket's L-shaped fabric curls under the stomach for comfort and support. Three wide, adjustable straps buckle on one side.

"A cat's ability to walk on a leash is partly determined by her personality," says Marty Hutchins, the society's animal behavior coordinator. "If she's a confident, outgoing feline who loves to explore new things, chances are good that she'll learn quickly. If she is more of a shy homebody, she may need more time adjusting. Your patience and perseverance are important."

Your cat's first experience is most important. If it is frightening, future attempts will be more difficult.

Short, upbeat training sessions are best. Use your cat's name frequently during training. Call your cat to you, praise her and give her a treat.

"We began using a harness and leash when Mukwai was just a kitten," said Christine Oishi, of Mililani, who adopted her cat from the Hawaiian Humane Society. "Mukwai's mom was an outdoor cat, and she would see her go outside and try to follow her. We didn't want her to run away, so we taught her to use the cat-walking jacket."

Here is how to get started:

» Allow your cat to become familiar with the smell of the jacket and leash. Place them on the floor with a toy in the center, or leave them on your lap while grooming.
» Put the walking jacket on your cat and fasten it loosely while petting her. Leave it on for 30 seconds and remove it. Try this a few times (maybe once every five minutes) then adjust the straps for a snug fit. You should be able to get one finger under any part of the jacket. The jacket will slide from side to side if it's too loose, and could cause chafing.
» Let your cat walk around in the jacket, indoors. It could take a few days to get to this step.
» When your cat reaches the point where she no longer seems bothered by the jacket, attach a light leash and let her drag it around. Make sure it doesn't get caught on anything.
» Venture outside and let your cat go where she wants while you hold the leash. Just follow along behind, keeping the leash slack. Start with short trips and gradually increase the time and distance. Choose a quiet spot with minimal human or canine traffic.

Never leave leashed pets unsupervised. Once tied, they are defenseless and could be hurt by other animals or become tangled and frightened.

Felines need time to investigate, so make sure to allow your cat time to sniff and explore at leisure. Be patient if she leaps, runs or rolls across the grass, or stops suddenly to sniff around.

"Now that Mukwai is used to wearing her walking jacket, she will get it for you if she wants to go outside," Oishi said. "Or, if she sees you holding her jacket, she runs over and orders you to put it on her by crying and rubbing against us."