Zorro
Zorro is a curious kitty, who loves being outside and meeting people and dogs.
Zorro loves to be outside!
He loves to watch birds, chase bugs, and sniff everything. He’s curious about dogs we meet, and always wants to get closer, but in these unforeseeable situations it’s best to play it safe and just watch.
Zorro likes to explore new places, whether it’s a new patch of grass or checking out the pet store.
Zorro is sociable and likes meeting new people and also belly rubs!
What is Zorro's favorite food?
Zorro loves his Orijen cat treats and dry food, and VOM raw wet food.
His favorite snack is those bones with the dried chicken wrapped around them. He will sneak into the cupboard and steal one if he can!
What about his favorite toy?
He likes to play fetch with his little green squishy ball and chase the feather on the stick!
In the absence of these though, he’ll settle for your feet.
What kind of adventures do Zorro like?
We love to be anywhere there are lots of things to sniff!
Honestly, we spend the most time just out in the yard.
We like to be as close to nature as possible, but exploring new places of any kind is exciting!
Why did you decide to train Zorro?
We knew when we decided to adopt a Bengal cat that they are full of energy and curiosity.
Our apartment isn’t very big and space to run around and climb are limited, so it was a no-brainer from the beginning to to train Zorro for adventures.
There’s so much out there to see, explore, and experience, so we really wanted to give Zorro the opportunity to live as full, enriched a life as we could give him.
We also absolutely did/do not want him to be outside on his own. People can be so cruel, and accidents can happen.
So being on the leash has a lot to do with safety, too.
How did you train Zorro?
We started training Zorro almost immediately upon having him home.
We bought him a kitten-sized leash and harness while preparing for him, and after a day or two of having him home we started harness training him.
First we just wanted him to become familiar with the leash and harness, which included sniffing it and also just wearing it around the apartment for a few minutes everyday.
Shortly afterwards, we starting taking him out for “adventures” in the corridors and stairwell of the building. We then worked up to taking him to the garage where there is room to run around.
We always had his favorite feather toy with us to distract him from biting his leash, and also to redirect and capture his attention.
Once it started to warm up outside from after the winter, we slowly introduced him to the outdoors, which he has of course now come to love!
What has been the most rewarding part of having a catexplorer?
The most rewarding part of having a catexplorer is watching Zorro discover new things and understand how the world works.
We’ve really gotten a sense of just how smart he is.
We know that when we take him outside, it’s the highlight of his day.
I think it helps us form a strong bond and sense of trust as well.
What has been the hardest?
The hardest part of training/having a catexplorer for us I think has been Zorro’s intense desire to be outside all the time. This can mean a lot of howling by the door telling us it’s time to go out now. We can feel so guilty when all he wants is to be outside but we don’t have time just then.
Another difficulty is being hyper aware of our surroundings when we’re outside together. You have to kind of be one step ahead of the cat as well as any other animals in the area, and even other people. Cats decide what they want to do and when they want to do it. So you have to get inside your cat’s head and be prepared for anything!
In hindsight, what would you do differently?
If we could do anything differently, I think we would condition him to more things and maybe work on commands.
The good news is, it’s not too late!
For example, Zorro still isn’t too comfortable riding in a car or other means of transportation. I do believe that it’s possible to achieve this over time though. We have to find a balance between baby steps, getting him slightly out of his comfort zone while at the same time not pushing him too far. Trust and practice are two important factors here.
Off-leash recall would be good for him to learn, particularly if something were to happen where lose sight of him. This shouldn’t happen as we always have him on a leash and harness, but anything can happen. He is pretty good at coming when called while inside though, so there’s hope!
What advice would you give other humans training their catexplorers?
If we could give other humans advice on training their cats to be catexplorers, I would absolutely say patience is important.
Learn to read your cat and understand when they are uncomfortable and stressed, and when they are relaxed and happy.
Respect their boundaries. This might mean that your cat will never want to go outdoor exploring. There are other ways to enrich their lives though!
Is there another catexplorer that inspires you?
We love seeing posts by other catexplorers, showing how they live their best lives! Some of our favorites to keep up with are @sukiicat, @roxythe_kitty, @willows_adventures_, @linus.the.lionheart, @helgaonadventures, @summerstravels, @fantasticflora, @freja_berkano, @arrowbengal, @theadventuresoflumosandnox, @pawprints_on_the_moon, @lifeoflamingtonandjamu, @cashmeowtside, @walkswithzuko, @bobo.the.bengal, @primuscat, @abra_the_bengal, @kazuki_the_bengal, @adventuresoffishandchips, @nala__the__bengal, @kiwi_adventure_cat, @amirathebengal, @california.chibi, the list goes on
Follow Zorro on Instagram (@bengalzorro)