Insight on Leash Training

So I've been thinking that I'd LOVE to be able to go to the park near me and take Lightbulb with me. What's everyone's thoughts on leash training and allowing outside SUPERVISED time for cats? He's been strictly indoor since I got him, but I thought he might like something new. Thanks!

I've been harness training mine. I think it's probably better to start with an indoor area, like a pet store. I spent 2 weeks getting each kitty used to the harness. I put the harnesses on each one and let them wander around the house getting used to them for an hour or two each day. This week I've taken both my girls to petsmart to walk around. They both did okay, although my kitten, Lilly, did a lot better than Pandora. Pandora took a while to get used to the new environment.

I'm all for harness training. I think it's a good idea for the kitties to be used to different situations, places and people.

Thanks! Yeah, my plan was to let Lightbulb wear the harness around each day (and give him a treat when I put it on), then eventually start attaching the leash to the harness (again, giving him a treat), and from there I'll actually start to hold the leash with him and walk him around the house (once again....yeah, you get the point ), then to the pet store or a friend's place to get him used to different environments, also just outside on the front porch. Just take it nice and easy on him and make it fun too buy adding the treats and some play time. He always watches the goings-ons outside when we have the front door open with just the screen door shut. I'm sure he'd love the little adventure.

Any suggestions on what kind of harness/leash to use? I know there's the bunggy kind, then the traditional. Don't know if there's any other kind?

That's a good plan.

I got this harness at Petsmart. I really like it so far.

I have an H- harness one (same style as that photo) made by Lupine and that is fine. I have also seen people with the walking jackets and those seem to work very well also.

I pretty much taught my cats just how you are planning to.

I use the same Lupine Roman harness as in the picture. It works well for my tiny guy as well as my bigger boys. Everyone gets the thin strap version, even though my big guy needs a pretty large version

Instead of treats I used toys. This worked particularly well for the 'epilectic syndrome' that everyone had in the beginning. You know the firm belief that everyone had that once the harness went on, they just could not walk and kept falling on their side. When I pulled out the string or Da Bird, they kind of forgot that they were wearing the harness and just started dashing around.

After that phase, as long as the walks are fun, just telling them that we are going for a walk and showing them the harness gets them excited. I always use same phrases and same door for walks. I am avoiding going to noisy/scary places, and I always just use the harness when on walks/out (after the learning phase), so they know what it is for.

The cons to avoid are of course that you won't get a kitty who will dash doors or sit by the door whining. I don't walk on regular schedule, so it does not become something that is expect but remains just a treat. It seems to have kept the whining in control with us.

My cats are harness trained, and go into a fenced yard, supervised only. They do not door dash or beg to go out any other time.

I strongly advise against taking a cat into a public park like that, where dogs run loose, for instance. Most cats are easily spooked, and it sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen, to me.

Originally Posted by lauren_miller

That's a good plan.

I got this harness at Petsmart. I really like it so far.

Click to expand...

I think that's the kind of harness I want to get for Queen Eva. The other cats have always used the figure 8 harnesses I like. But they were all adults when trained, and do not try to get out of them.

I've never harness trained a kitten before, and I'm not sure a figure 8 would be appropriate for Queen Eva, she is going to need something a little more restraining.

Originally Posted by otto

My cats are harness trained, and go into a fenced yard, supervised only. They do not door dash or beg to go out any other time.

I strongly advise against taking a cat into a public park like that, where dogs run loose, for instance. Most cats are easily spooked, and it sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen, to me.

Click to expand...

When we have to travel and need to stretch out legs, it's usually a park and they are terrified of the smells. We are getting a cat-pet stroller so we can take them with us when we want to take a walk. And hook them into the stroller from their harnesses. The one we like is a Jeep.

Baby Soleste is learning not to door dash, she now lays down, in the position, when I want to put on the leash. and she is learning to stick with her big "Sis" when outside. Big "Sis" is very responsible and tries to manage Baby's leash, when Baby gets up to move, she'll put the leash in her mouth, or hold it with her paws. It was a hoot to watch her following Baby with the leash in her mouth!

Any cat I have had, no matter how snug the leash, how well fitted, has always managed, if they are in a flat-out panic to get out of it, even the walking jackets. Very yoga twisty that way they are. So, agree with you that even on a leash, they must be totally supervised.

Originally Posted by Kazzy

So I've been thinking that I'd LOVE to be able to go to the park near me and take Lightbulb with me. What's everyone's thoughts on leash training and allowing outside SUPERVISED time for cats? He's been strictly indoor since I got him, but I thought he might like something new. Thanks!

Click to expand...

I also would advise against taking to a Park, just leashed, as all cats I have had with leashes managed - if they somehow got into a flat out panic - usually something they heard or smelled before I did - to get out of the leash no matter how well-fitted or tight, and we'd tighten real good before taking them for major outies.

We are very outdoorsy, having our cats along is both greatly rewarding and challenging. We are getting a pet stroller and have that be the way to go park strolling. For camping etc. we tried cat camping in our backyard with the cats in their own tents tunneled to ours but zipped up tight. We have watched two cats conspire together to open a tied down zipper a human couldn't open, to get out of the tent to tunnel into ours.

I prefer cats to dogs for camping because they notify us of outside "issues" without the barking.

We have the pet lifejackets for when we are on a houseboat!

PS IMO having supervised, well-managed outdoor time is mandatory for raising a healthy cat. It stimulates them, gets them much needed fresh air and sun, and triggers all sorts of instincts which are good for their development. I think you raise smarter cats teaching them about the outdoors.

Originally Posted by otto

I think that's the kind of harness I want to get for Queen Eva. The other cats have always used the figure 8 harnesses I like. But they were all adults when trained, and do not try to get out of them.

I've never harness trained a kitten before, and I'm not sure a figure 8 would be appropriate for Queen Eva, she is going to need something a little more restraining.

Click to expand...

How old and how much does Queen Eva weigh? Lilly is 4 months old and 6lbs and the harness she has on works well, it's pretty snug and she hasn't even tried to get out of it. I've noticed that with Lilly, since she's young, the harness training was so much easier on her than my 3 year old Hurley. She took to it very well. Hurley threw himself on the ground and refused to move at first. It took him a while to get over the new gear. LOL

I wouldn't recommend Petsmart as one of the first least outings- all those dogs can be really scary. I'd try just going around the yard, or to a family or friend's house if they don't have animals.

I have used the harness and leash with all of my cats. My first, Scarlett, was very good with it. Ozzy is very afraid of being outside so he doesn't go on it often, but doesn't mind it. And Romeo doesn't tend to walk much when I have the harness on him, but I've only had him for a month, so maybe he'll get better. He does walk as far as the grass, though; who can resist eating some yummy pesticide-laden grass? lol
I bought a comfort (fabric) harness for Romeo because he's too fat for the cat harnesses, but I should've just gotten him a standard dog harness; he's able to wiggle out of the comfort harness pretty easily.

PS- before you go anywhere outside your house, make sure to flea treat your cat. I ended up with a nasty flea infestation last year just from taking my old cat outside on the leash and to Petsmart occasionally.

Originally Posted by lauren_miller

How old and how much does Queen Eva weigh? Lilly is 4 months old and 6lbs and the harness she has on works well, it's pretty snug and she hasn't even tried to get out of it. I've noticed that with Lilly, since she's young, the harness training was so much easier on her than my 3 year old Hurley. She took to it very well. Hurley threw himself on the ground and refused to move at first. It took him a while to get over the new gear. LOL

Click to expand...

Oh Queen Eva is just a tiny baby yet. I mean...well..hehe she's grown so much in the 2 1/2 weeks she's been here, but it's hard to not remember her as tiny.

Anyway, Queen Eva is about 10 weeks old. She weighed 2.8 pounds 24 hours after I rescued her, but she's certainly gained since her time here. I can't really judge her weight now, in fact I was thinking yesterday I might run her up to the vet to get a weight on her. She's already very long, and slender, not a chubby fluffy kitten. However, I put my hand around her torso today and discovered my fingers do not meet on the other side!

I bought an H harness today, and neck and girth will not be a problem, but I am already wondering if the the piece between the two halves is long enough, she's so LONG!

.....I just measured around Queen Eva's ribs...9 1/2 inches already! She wouldn't stay still enough for me to take a length on her.

Well I have very cautious one step at a time plans for harness/yard training Queen Eva. Kittens are mischievous and unpredictable, I'm used to slower deeply habit ingrained adult cats. I'm not quick any more either. I have to do this very carefully. Having never been outside, she's already trying to poke her nose out the door when I come in. It's going to be a very long time before I let her associate that door with the yard.

She's much too young for any out at all right now, she's only had her first distemper booster, and she's not old enough for the rabies vaccines. Right now I'll just commence getting her used to her new hot pink harness. It's hers, I told her. It's very stiff, too so I'll be working on softening it up as it lays around the house for these next few weeks.

Thanks so much for all the advise!

The park I'm talking about isn't a DOG park, just to clarify. I used to take my tegus (large lizards) for outings their all the time on harnesses and rarely ever do I see a dog, and if I do they are always leashed. It's mainly a walking trail and there is an area where people will play football (I stay away from there because my head seems to be a magnet for footballs and soccer balls...haha). It's also a fishing area. There are tons of little ponds through the park. I just worry about my neighborhood because there people DO let their dogs run loose sometimes. Everyone is friendly but I don't want to spook Lightbulb.

Originally Posted by BreaMarie

I wouldn't recommend Petsmart as one of the first least outings- all those dogs can be really scary. I'd try just going around the yard, or to a family or friend's house if they don't have animals.

Click to expand...

The petsmart by my house is really, really slow. I rarely ever see people with dogs in there and I never go on the weekends.