Your harness story

My two almost-four-year cats have seemed a little bored lately. The mostly lay down all day and don't really pay attention when I try to tease them with toys. They will only run with the laser and only if I don't use ity all the time. So, I had this great idea: why not get them a harness and go outside a bit with them?! This would certainly pick their curiosity and make them more active!
Well, I bought 2 harnesses and put them on 2 days ago to get them accustomed to it (for about an hour in the house). It was the funniest thing to watch! They both seemed miserable though at first, not wanting to move an inch. I started to trow them kibbles of dry food and it worked! After 10 minutes, Zoe walked almost aws if she had nothing on and Tania started to "move around". Hilarious! She was moving forward by only laying on her tummy and pushing on the floor with her back legs! (Don't worry, the harness wasn't too tight), she is just such a baby sometimes (at the vet, when she got sub-q fluids once, she yelled like she was about to die. Zoe got them right after her and she just stared at me with fear, no complaints, nothing!).
So, the day after I repeated the exercise. The let me put their harness on without fighting, they are such good girls! But they still won't move if and don't throw food around, Do you think they will eventually get accustomed to it or should I stop torturing them?! I found out that when I take their harness off, they are more active though, so it might still be a good thing to keep trying for a few more days, one hour at a time. What do you think? Any harness stories for me?

You have to give them an incentive to want to put the harness on. Now that you have placed the harness on for a couple of times, take them outside for a short stretch.

Once they see harness=freedom outdoors they might be more willing to put it on. But, this is ONLY if you have a safe outdoor area for them to roam and that the harness you chose is 100% secure. When a cat gets scared, they can become a Houdini and slip out of most harnesses.

I'm about to get harnesses for both my cats - Steve and Gigi. They both really want to go outside.

I did harness train my previous cat, Nakita. But, she was a kitten when I started it and it was a piece of cake. She took to the leash like a fish to water. Since she was so small in stature, I ended up having to purchase a bunny harness for her. We went for walks daily in the backyard and she loved it.



Here she is discovering an ant for the first time.

Wow, beautiful pictures! Thanks for the advice, I thought the food was the incentive, but I think I will start to go outside with them. I will only take them one at the time and I will be holding the leash. I don't have a backyard, should I just forget about all this or would a quiet park be secure enough? There is a park nearby, I could take them by car and see how it goes. Or just walk with them behind my appartment. The backstreet is pretty quiet and they would know where the house is. Or I could go to my mom's backyard, but it's further away and they don't like the car that much! I know they can be lil Houdinis when scared. The harnesses seem really secure, but I am still scared something goes wrong. I think I am NOT ready for this! What if I trip, let go of the leash for a second and the cat gets scared at the same time and runs away? I won't hold the leash, I will tie it somewhere secure and supervise everything... Wait, I am still anxious about it, I need to think more of what to do!

I know this is a wee bit of thread hijacking, but I'm interested in harness training my kitten, does anyone know of a good place to get a harness for her? She's about 3.4 pounds and 3 months old. Of course security, safety and comfort are top priorities

That's a great suggestion (re: food incentive) for harness training as well! Thanks!

And what beautiful pictures!

Nuts won't do a harness, he uses a dog collar. Attitude has no problem with her harness, she doesn't go for walks but I do take them outside. They mostly stay on the porch because they want to be friendly with the outside cats who they are all related to. If they freak it hold them tightly, Nuts went crazy when he heard Mitzi's water hose. They also obviously wear their collars with their ID in case they do a Houdini but I've never had them take off usually they'll eventually decide they want to hide under the shed or will run to the door wanting back inside.

Spaz took to it but never wanted to go on a walk I just used it when I took her to the vet. I also use Attitude's for vet appointments as well, she likes the freedom. After all the dogs got into exam rooms at her last vet appointment I put her on the floor and she just sat there looking around.

Petco has tiny harnesses http://www.petco.com/product/111004/...ssesandLeashes

I wasn't really thrilled with it, but since I have a long haired cat that seemed to need it adjusted daily it bugged me but it did the trick until they were large enough for real harnesses. I would use it again if I needed a small harness. Be sure to get it tight enough(but not too tight), when I first used it both pulled a Houdini because I didn't get it tight enough..

Taryn

With all my cats I've always just put the harness on and taken them right outside, they are so interested in exploring they don't fuss about the harness.

I have 9 week old kittens that are being trained, they were a bit unsure of grass on their first session but soon warmed up to it. Their new owners has expressed interest in harness training (I don't allow cats adopted to go outside).

I use roman style dog harnesses in various sizes. I would not use a collar (cat or dog), cats necks are not strong enough, I can just imagine if they freaked out what would happen to their neck.

My two cats love going outside with their leashes and harnesses on.
We got them when they were 2 and 3 years old and they used to be allowed outside to roam in their old home so they both wanted to go outside sometimes.
We started them wearing the harnesses in the house for short periods of time before we took them out in the yard for short visits.
Now they both love to go outside, we always take them out the same door and give them treats when they come back inside so they have a routine now and know that inside is a good place where they get treats.

Here is a photo of Izzy enjoying the backyard.


Here is Milly sitting on a chair on our back deck.


I'd say take your time getting them used to the harnesses and start with short trips outside one at a time.
You will have to post pictures of them outside after you get them trained.

Russian Blue, I want to see pictures of Steve and Gigi in their new harnesses when you take them outside too!

I'm going to try the harness again(I keep trying, I haven't gave up yet, I have one harness for each cat) with Nuts but so far it has been a no-go, he tends to attack when I'm either getting it on or taking it off. I also use a retractable leash or a 4-6 ft leash so he can't get going. He keeps trying to get under the shed(I had to drag him out from under there today) so until he gets over that he's going to be on the short leash.

I know it's not ideal but it does get him outside safely instead of him just running outside with me(if he goes under the shed then I'm SOL until he decides he wants to come out or I tempt him with wet food.) He doesn't go out with me as much if I take him outside.

Taryn

Originally Posted by missymotus

With all my cats I've always just put the harness on and taken them right outside, they are so interested in exploring they don't fuss about the harness.

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That's what I did with Blossom. She didn't even really notice, just excited to explore her new surrounding. Now she goes out regularly.

Thanks for all the advice and stories, it makes me feel a bit more secure about going outside with them. I think I will start with Zoe, because she is less scared and doesn't mind the harness as much. Tomorrow I will try to go outside e few minutes on the porch with her and see how it goes. So exciting!!

I hope all goes well with your cats. As someone else said, I would put on the harness and take them outside immediately. The only time I ever put a harness and leash on one of my cats was last year. My Dad was in the nursing home separated from his cats. I couldn't catch his cats so I did the next best thing. I put it on my cat Muffin (who my dad always loved) and took him visiting to the nursing home to see Daddy. It was a good trip. Muffin didn't like it too much but he did fine. I didn't want to lose my cat and chase him all over the nursing home. Those old folks in the nursing home enjoyed seeing him.

I take boys out right away when I put the harness on too. Initially when we practiced I did not want to rush out before seeing how the harness 'worked', so I had Da Bird ready instead. Despite this distraction everybody had a bout of dizzies when the harness (I use Lupine roman harnesses) was first introduced. First they totally refused to get up, then they saw the toy and wanted to get up but kept falling on their side straight-legged staring at me confused and angry, then wobbled but eventually forgot the harness until play was stopped and they began to think about it again.

Well, that's how it went for everyone except Teppo who still thinks it's quite impossible to walk with the harness. Even if I open the door right away he is only able to low-walk few steps at a time, then he gets fainty and even wants to gnaw the harness off. Others just sniff the leash part time to time, and actually associate the harness to nice things because mostly it means back yard walk.

Here's Ossi trying on his Xmas pressies. He's rather pleased with the color.

Originally Posted by Mawilouwl

Wow, beautiful pictures! Thanks for the advice, I thought the food was the incentive, but I think I will start to go outside with them. I will only take them one at the time and I will be holding the leash. I don't have a backyard, should I just forget about all this or would a quiet park be secure enough? There is a park nearby, I could take them by car and see how it goes. Or just walk with them behind my appartment. The backstreet is pretty quiet and they would know where the house is. Or I could go to my mom's backyard, but it's further away and they don't like the car that much! I know they can be lil Houdinis when scared. The harnesses seem really secure, but I am still scared something goes wrong. I think I am NOT ready for this! What if I trip, let go of the leash for a second and the cat gets scared at the same time and runs away? I won't hold the leash, I will tie it somewhere secure and supervise everything... Wait, I am still anxious about it, I need to think more of what to do!

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Never EVER tether a cat. Never. Ever. A cat's first fear instinct is to flee. A cat can do serious injury to herself if she tries to run and discovers she can't. Not to mention, since she can't flee she is a sitting duck for whatever is threatening her.

My cats are all harness trained and all were adults when it was done. However I have a safe, fenced in yard that my door leads straight into, they drag their strings behind them and I stay outside with them.

If your cats have never been outside, any where you take them can seen scary and threatening.

I do not recommend you driving your cats to a public park and taking them walking in harness. Not until they have been experienced in harness outings for quite a long time at least, but I wouldn't do it, ever. You should only be in situations where you have some control over the environment.

Since your living situational is not conducive to safe outings for your cats, I would not try it at all. Put some birdseed out a window, get them a cat tree and get or create some new toys, and rotate the toys.

Set up a routine so you play with them the same time each day, this will encourage participation as they get used to the routine of the daily Game time, they will begin to look forward to it each day. I can offer more tips for stimulating play if you want them.

What are you feeding your cats? Diet plays a very important part in a cat's over all energy level. If they eat crappy food, they are not going to feel like bouncing around the house a lot.

PS Some things I want to add:


The way you are training them for the harness is a good way to do it, it does sound like you are doing a good job.

Be sure they get used to both harness and wearing a lead of some sort on it, with you holding on to it, and with dragging it, before any other venture.

If you do go ahead with it, I would plan on starting with just your door way. Open the door and stand there holding onto the lead (I call my cats' strings, as they are long lengths of lightweight polyrope) and let kitty absorb what's going on. Keep the door open, so she knows where safety is.

Cats are naturally cautious about entering a new space. They usually will want to stand there and absorb the new scents and noises and sights. If she is frightened and dashes back into the house, don't force it. Follow her in and take the harness off right away. This way the harness begins to be associated with out side.

Since you are starting with one at a time, make sure the kitty not doing the outing is closed off from getting out the door while you keep it open. Do each cat for a few minutes at a time, twice a day. If there are going to always be certain times of day you will be offering these outings, start right away with those times. Cats love routine, plus, they learn these are the times they go on outings, so they won't be begging or dashing at other times.

My cats never beg or dash to get out.

Any other questions you may have I will try to answer.

So, what I did is I put both their harnesses on with a leash for each one. My boyfriend held Tania's leash and I heald Zoe's. Then we opened the door leading to the porch. Zoe didn't want to go anywhere near the outside world so I let her go back inside. She did sit a little looking outside about 3 meters away from the door, but then went hiding (we took her leash off one she was inside) Tania laid on the front porch, then catched a bug, laid down again and then went back inside. Everything lasted about 5 minutes. Tania was surprinsingly calm, not trying to explore at all, just laying outside and feeling the wind. She seemed happy, but still needed the security of inside after a few minutes. We were supervising very closely and they would've had to either jump over the fence of the front porch or escape by the stairs if they wanted to flee. My boyfriend was on the first stair to make sure they wouldn't go near it and I was there to catch them if they tried to jump over the fence. I knew they wouldn't do anything like that, their first reaction when scared being to run inside the house rather than trying to escape, but we were still very careful. I am glad Zoe ran inside, this way we were to adults watching Tania. Next time I will not it with them both together.
Otto, thanks for the advice, I will certainly keep them in mind and never tether them, nor take them to the park. Since the only safe place I have is the front and the back porch, it is where they will go when we go outside. (I would've been too nervous to take them anywhere else anyways, even the front porch scared me a lot and I thought about it for a few days before finally putting it to practice.)
As for their food, they've always been eating Royal Canin or Prescription Diet since I have them. You are right, I should always play with them around the same time so they are looking forward to it. I spend a lot of time at home, it won't be a problem. I am also currently putting money aside to buy them a huge 87" cat tree/condo, with 2 condos, one hamock, and many levels to climb. I can't wait to get it and put it in front of the window where there is a tree outside.

We have both a harness and a walking jacket for Cappy. He was an adult cat when we got him from the SPCA, and he took to the harness right away. He loves it now, because he knows it means he'll be going outside, and he loves it outside. We bought a harness at a pet store, and the walking jacket we bought at Petmet.com. It was fairly inexpensive and works well.

lin

We got a harness for swanie when we first got him. DH tried to put the harness on him while I laughed myself silly (while filiming it). We tried several more times and finally gave up.

Knowing that Ku Ku needs to get used to it.
The first one I bought was the simple one without pad/net to support chest.
The result? She found a way to "escape" no matter how well the straps were tighten.
The second one I bought(and still have one) is the one with pad on the shoulder strap with net that support her chest. Because of the extra pads & net, it was a little heavier than the first one. When I put this on to Ku Ku, she literally FREEZES and could not move at all.
I tried several times but the result was same every time...poor Ku Ku,
she just SAT there with this harness on, motionless, looked really miserable.
I had to give up.

Haven't tried anything on her ever since...