Dogs have ruled the sport of fetch for centuries… wouldn’t you say that cats are missing out on the fun? 

With training, cats can learn to play fetch outside—without a leash. Their time is meow!

After I tried it with my cat Milo, it became his favorite activity. Here’s how I did it:

Step One: Build a Recall Response Indoors

Start inside. Throughout the day, I’d call for Milo, click my tongue, and reward him with a high-value treat (your cat’s favorite!) alongside verbal praise. Once he came consistently, I gradually increased the distance—calling from other rooms—and eventually began weaning off the food rewards.

Step Two: Introduce Fetch Indoors

Pick an appropriate toy. Milo is a small guy, so I used a soft plush he could easily carry. I’d call his name alongside clicking my tongue, show him the toy, toss one a few feet, and when he’d pick it up, I’d call for him like we practiced in the earlier step, resulting in him bringing the toy for another fetch toss. The key was repetition—I practiced this daily, even as we moved on to outdoor training.

Step Three: Create a Safe Outdoor Space

Always choose one low-distraction, safe outdoor space like a fenced backyard, to walk your cat on a leash. Going free-range does not account for the millions of random variables (speeding cars, wild animals, etc.) outside of your provided protection. Go out together at the same time, every day, so your cat associates that area and time with positivity. Over time, once enough sessions have been completed without any bad experiences, you’ve proven to your cat that this environment, much like the indoor one, is safe for play. Which brings us to the last step…

Step Four: Combine the Training

Once Milo mastered verbal commands and indoor fetch, I took him to my fenced backyard. I started with an extended harness, and we’d do our fetch routine. I’d intermittently call him back just as we practiced indoors. Once I felt confident that Milo wouldn’t run off and ignore my commands, I took him off the leash, tossed the toy, and waited for Milo to come back… and he did! Once he repeated this pattern over multiple days, I knew I could trust him. He now plays fetch outside regularly—off-leash—but only in my fenced yard and under close supervision. It’s a beautiful balance of freedom and safety.

Why You Should Try This TODAY

• It’s incredible mental and physical stimulation for your cat (indoor cats get bored too!).

• It builds trust and a stronger bond between you and your feline friend.

• It’s surprisingly impressive to anyone watching from the sidewalk.

• And let’s be real—who doesn’t want to be that person with the cat who plays fetch in the yard?

Start with just 5 minutes today. You’ll be amazed at how fast they catch on—and how much they actually want to play.

Take care meow,
Zan Haider