can i take my cat to petco?

i been wanting to take Jazmine to petco to go food shopping with her does petco let cats in like they do with dogs?

I don't see why not. The sign out front my local store says "leashed pets welcome." So, as long as she is on a leash or in a carrier you should be fine. 

Why would you want to take a cat out like a dog? Just because you can do something does not mean you should.

There are VERY few cats that would be able to handle something like that. Of all of the cats I have and have had there is only one that we would even think of doing something like that. Even then we did not as we did not want to take any chances.

Kim

If your cat can handle the excitement, take her. Not sure if PetCo allows it, though.

When I was in college, I had to do a demonstration for my Public Speaking class. I chose How to Groom a Cat and Banshee went with me to class that night. She loved it.....she sat on my desk and when it was our turn to get up in front of the class, she helped me without a meow. She loved being the center of attention and, believe it or not, she purred the entire time I did the demonstration. (I actually stopped midway through my presentation.....just to tell her how absolutely beautiful she was! The class cracked up, but I couldn't help it.....she really was beautiful.) When we were finished, we went back to the desk, where she sat up on my desk like she owned the place. The other students loved it, too. Got an A for my presentation.

I also took Banshee into stores that allowed pets. I had taken her in to a store around Christmas to have her picture taken with Santa Paws. She was wrapped in her blankie and we walked around the store waiting for our turn with Santa. That particular store had live birds flying around and when she heard the first bird chirp, her head popped out of the blankie quickly! People stopped and chatted with her and she loved the attention she got. There were dogs there, too, but she didn't care.

Now, keep in mind, that Banshee was always in my arms. While she was leash-trained, I don't know that I would have taken her into a store on a leash and allowed her to walk around the store.....cats are not the same as dogs and, while dogs can handle an experience like that, I don't know how a cat would respond. If you leash her (and I strongly suggest you do so), keep her in your arms at all times anyway. It's not worth her getting loose.....and that can happen quickly.

And only do this if you're really, REALLY sure your cat will be able to handle the excitement. Most cats won't do well. Banshee had been going places with me from the time she was a small kitten, so she was well-used to even being in the car with me, let alone going to various places. She always went to our family reunions at a local state park, she always went with me to my mom's to visit with Ebony, Mom's black Cocker spaniel. She was used to visiting various friends. If your cat does not already do this, I wouldn't recommend taking her to PetCo. Out of all the cats we've ever had, I would have never even thought about taking anybody with me, other than Banshee. She was special and she had a wonderful attitude about everything.

they do allow them there as long as the cat is in the carrier and dogs on leash.

dejolane

I take Stella to petco and petsmart in her carrier all the time.  I don't know if she really likes it, but she definitely handles it well.  She just looks wide-eyed at everything, sniffs things as we walk by, and chirps at the birds as we pass them.  Alafair?  She would probably die if I took her out in public like that.
 

kimkats000 said:

Why would you want to take a cat out like a dog? Just because you can do something does not mean you should.

There are VERY few cats that would be able to handle something like that. Of all of the cats I have and have had there is only one that we would even think of doing something like that. Even then we did not as we did not want to take any chances.

Kim

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my cat Jazmine loves car rides to the vet so maybe i thought if i take her somewere else like petco she well steal love the car rides

If she can handle the excitement then I don't see why not. Delilah goes for car rides and to pet stores all the time. She loves it and is very well know at all the stores we shop at. Now Delilah made a lot of trips to the vet as a baby and when she was feeling better she started going to the pet store as well. She loves the attention and will even try to lure people to pet her by reaching out her paws at them and meowing (it is very effective :lol3: ). She could care less that there are dogs around. Delilah is leash and harness trained so she wears that when we go out. She mostly rides in my arms or in a cart or basket. But she has decided recently that the small privately owned pet shop we go to is fun to explore. I will let her on the leash so she doesn't get herself into somewhere I can't get her out. If a dog is around I can easily pick her up. I have found myself talking at the store for a long time before and Delilah just fell asleep in my arms. Over time she has learned to sit on the counter while I pay and at one store expects treats (petco and petsmart do not have cat treats at the counter). She just hops from my arms to the counter everytime we are at the store.

So there are cats who can handle it and do enjoy it, but I would take persuasion and make sure she is on a leash and harness or in a carrier to get a feel for how she responds. If she is stressed or scared I would be prepared to leave with her quickly.

I wish cats traveled as well as dogs do.  I'd love to bring one of my kitties with me when I go out places.
 

CatNamedPanda said:

If she can handle the excitement then I don't see why not. Delilah goes for car rides and to pet stores all the time. She loves it and is very well know at all the stores we shop at. Now Delilah made a lot of trips to the vet as a baby and when she was feeling better she started going to the pet store as well. She loves the attention and will even try to lure people to pet her by reaching out her paws at them and meowing (it is very effective

). She could care less that there are dogs around. Delilah is leash and harness trained so she wears that when we go out. She mostly rides in my arms or in a cart or basket. But she has decided recently that the small privately owned pet shop we go to is fun to explore. I will let her on the leash so she doesn't get herself into somewhere I can't get her out. If a dog is around I can easily pick her up. I have found myself talking at the store for a long time before and Delilah just fell asleep in my arms. Over time she has learned to sit on the counter while I pay and at one store expects treats (petco and petsmart do not have cat treats at the counter). She just hops from my arms to the counter everytime we are at the store.

So there are cats who can handle it and do enjoy it, but I would take persuasion and make sure she is on a leash and harness or in a carrier to get a feel for how she responds. If she is stressed or scared I would be prepared to leave with her quickly.

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That's cool i was going to buy her treats and give her them before leaving the store so she knows its not so bad and buy a cat harness while i'm in there with her so i can also get a right fitting one i probably do these next month when i go back to petco if my friend don't drive me again are car is being dumb

Natalie_ca said:

I wish cats traveled as well as dogs do.  I'd love to bring one of my kitties with me when I go out places.
 

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have you ever just sat in the car with your cats to see what they do? i did that with all my cats before taking off to the vets most of them just meow in the car lol except jazmine and bucky there quit and cerious

When we moved here last year,I had Bella in a carrier and Thunder in my lap. Thunder just looked out the window and wondered where we were taking her and Bella. Very curious too.

dejolane