Why some pet owners are taking their felines on the cat walk

I had a friend many years ago whose cat didn't mind at all to be harnessed and walked. She even loved going camping with the family and had a long lead so that she could explore the campsite area without getting too far away. I remember joining them once for a weekend camp on the Sunshine Coast and while we were waiting at the ferry terminal we took her for a stroll. Some woman came up to us and freaked out and threatened to call the police and SPCA because my friend was being "cruel". We were sitting on a bench and her cat was quite contentedly sitting beside us while the woman ranted. Too funny.

My cat comes along with the dog and I, just so long as no one knows he's being walked. He darts from tree to under parked car, across the road behind a rock about 50 feet behind us.