While many adventurous cats are known for their global travels on bikes and boats, for most felines, the thrill of exploration can be found much closer to home. A simple walk around the neighborhood or even a leisurely stroll in the backyard is enough to ignite their curiosity and satisfy their adventurous spirit. This is certainly true for cats like Figaro, who proves that grand adventures aren’t always about distance, but about discovery.
Ann Marie Klacko, a resident of Austin, welcomed Figaro, a then 4-year-old cat, and his sister Olive into her home as tiny foster kittens. Despite already having three adult cats, Ann Marie felt compelled to adopt Figaro and Olive after learning about their struggle to find a permanent home.
Figaro and his sister adapted well to their multi-cat household. However, Ann Marie soon noticed that Figaro, her new black cat, needed more stimulation than he was receiving indoors.
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“Figaro is definitely a bold cat,” Ann Marie explains. “Some might even describe him as intense. He’s incredibly intelligent, interactive, and a genuinely sweet cat, but he is also prone to stress and anxiety. Additionally, he suffers from feline lower urinary tract disease and bladder issues.”
Despite being on a special wet food diet, Figaro experienced severe urinary blockages in August and required perineal urethrostomy surgery.
“We understood that his long-term care would be even more critical than his immediate surgical recovery, but practical advice for long-term management, beyond prescription diets, was scarce,” Ann Marie recounts. “We started taking Figaro for regular leashed walks after his surgery when I discovered that outdoor walks can be beneficial for cats dealing with stress. It provides the necessary exercise for cats, offers him dedicated one-on-one time in a multi-cat environment, and the diverse stimulation from being outdoors is incredibly enriching for Figaro.”
Ann Marie discussed Figaro’s walks with veterinarian Dr. Katrina Breitreiter from South Austin Cat Hospital, who enthusiastically endorsed the idea. Leashed walks quickly became a vital part of Figaro’s daily life.
“Typically, we walk around the perimeter of our house,” Ann Marie says. “Figaro’s leash and harness are hung by our back door, and he waits there every morning. He enjoys sitting on the picnic table with me, sniffing the grass and trees. If he’s feeling particularly energetic, we’ll jog around the house. His outdoor walks and leisure time range from 5 to 45 minutes.”
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Figaro will soon be leaving his Austin home and moving to an apartment in Chicago. While he will no longer have his own backyard, Ann Marie has chosen a pet-friendly building ensuring Figaro will still have access to the outdoors.
“My plan is to speak with my future neighbors about the possibility of Figaro exploring the area around the building,” she says. “I also need to ensure there are no toxic plants in the yard. Ultimately, as always, it will be up to him if he wants to go outside. With a completely new environment of smells and stimuli, his reaction to walks might change, but we are hopeful he will continue to enjoy them—Chicago weather permitting, of course!”
