nerdiness

cats and walks

Since I've raised my kitten, Isis, an egyptian mau, I knew my cat was smart. We had a communication and a relationship. I also taught her how to sit and how to beg (stand up on her feet) so in a sense, I suppose she retains an easily conditioned response as well to commands she wants to listen to for certain positive stimuli (treats), like a dog. She also sometimes plays fetch. I will throw a toy mouse or a hairband, and she will chase it down and bring it back with her mouth and drop it at my lap. Anyway, last night, I came to my grandma's house. She seemed to recognize it and my grandma. She got pretty quickly comfortable and even showed affection for my grandma which I haven't seen her do much to other people. But last night and tonight, I went to go outside to have a smoke and Isis (like usual) wanted to come outside with me. So I put her leash on her (chest strap kinda deal) and took her outside. I even got her to follow the direction I wanted to go. She's a bit more stubborn than a dog but not as eager and forceful. She wanted to sniff her own tracks and learn the area by scent. I could gently pull her back and she would start to come my way. But if I pulled too much she would lay down in protest.But I was able to lead her around with the leash. I imagined it's bit like training a tiger minus the threat of being mauled to death. I think cats respond better to respect and positive stimuli than fear or being harshly yelled at, like dogs sometimes respond more quickly to.