For some owners, cat walks may not be a stretch

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ms Karen Nichols wanted a life unchained to the monotony of twice-daily dog walks, so she got herself three cats. But she still strolls the neighborhood on nice days - with her cat Skeezix.

Ms Nichols took part in a programme recently that encouraged finding ways to bring out the wild nature in her cat. Some cat behaviour problems stem from boredom, which can be stymied by enriching their environment and involving them in activities, experts told the class.

So Ms Nichols started training Skeezix to walk with a leash before he turned one. It took a couple of weeks to get him used to a leash and a stroller. (Skeezix goes into the stroller when a dog approaches.)

"You must be patient and devote time to the training every day, but if it's apparent after a week or so that your cat detests it, you need to give it up," said Ms Nichols, who lives in Castro Valley near San Francisco and is the managing editor of Mousebreath Media and mousebreath.com, an online cat lifestyle magazine.