RSPCA express concern after seeing video of cat on a lead being taken for a walk by woman

The RSPCA has expressed concern after a five-second video of a cat apparently being dragged on a lead by a woman in Hertfordshire was posted online. The RSPCA said it was concerned as the incident "appears to be causing the cat distress".



Lilly Dance filmed the cat in Welwyn Garden City. She said she suggested the woman pick it up as it "didn't look overly happy about being walked". Miss Dance said at first she thought it was "quite amusing" seeing a cat being walked, until she realised it was "being dragged". The woman ignored her protest and carried on pulling the animal for "a good five minutes".

Alice Potter, a companion animal scientist from the RSPCA, said: "We have concerns about the handling of the cat in this footage as it appears to be causing it distress. The cat does look like it's kind of being dragged and looks distressed, putting its front paws out like it wants to stop.


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"Without seeing more it's hard to know how comfortable the cat is walking on a lead but it gives the impression that the cat was not particularly comfortable or relaxed." Putting cats on leads took away the animals' "sense of control", Ms Potter said. If harnesses are used they should be introduced gradually from a young age and stopped immediately if a cat shows any sign of stress, she added.