How tight should a harness be?

Little Onyx is very vocal, and we noticed today that she's noisier when she hears people in the hallway of our building. I was planning on harness training both of the girls eventually (Ruby loves going outside), but I was planning on starting after the snow melted and now I'm thinking I should start sooner.
We have a harness for Ruby, which she wears for a few hours every now and again, and I wanted to see if it would fit Onyx (I've seen kitten harnesses at Petsmart, but I was hoping not to have to buy a new one when she outgrows it ). So, I used a Sharpie to mark where the adjuster-thingies were for Ruby's fit, and made it smaller. It's one of those nylon ones with loops around their neck and chest, and straps connecting the two.
Not sure if you can actually really see the harness there, but it's the only photo I've got.
Anywho. I tightened the neck part as much as it would go, and the chest strap to roughly kitten-sized, and I put it on Onyx. The chest strap fit just fine, but the neck strap seems too big. She bit at it and got her teeth all the way around it.
I'm guessing I'm probably gonna need to get a kitten harness or, more likely, wait until she can fit in this one, but what do you guys think? She's around 4-5lbs, pretty long/slender (but not oriental-ish).

I am watching this. Sparticus escapes easily from his harness by running backwards. While this is mostly preventable it isn't if he panics. I have it tighter than his collar, so I can just slip a small finger under it. Perhaps it should be tighter do tell oh wise ones.

I recently have done a lot of "harness shopping" since getting my rescue in late December. If I am not mistaken, the labels on the harnesses I have found read "for "pets 8 - 12 lbs", which would be for an adult cat. You may need to google specifically for harnesses that would fit a kitten, if they make them for kittens. Keep looking, a though google search is bound to come up with a harness made for kittens, at least you know you tried your best! Good luck and let us know what you came up with.

This is a situation I fret over, too. It's gotten warmer here, so I decided yesterday to take Mingo for a walk. I loosened the harness I used a year ago when he wasn't full grown. Within minutes he had it half off. I will  have to tighten it, but I don't want it to be uncomfortable around his ribs. It's a hard thing to guess. There is another type of harness that just wraps around the cat and closes with Velcro straps, but it's pricey and my budget doesn't allow for it right now.

The harness should fit pretty snug. By your description, I would think Onyx does need the smaller kitten-size harness.

I have a petite 18 mo old that wore his kitten-size harness until he was 7.5 lbs. He technically can still wear the kitten one as far as diameter is concerned; but, the length is too short for him.

I use a 'full body' kind of harness with my cat Hannah.  I've found it much tougher for her to wriggle out of than the kind with straps.  This harness only came in one size and it fits her, even though she's a small cat--she only weighs about 7 lbs.  

We walk our Bengal Makena on a daily basis - though he usually does not want to go in really cold weather or deep snow. We have found that the body style or velcro fastened harnesses are the most secure, but he can back out of nearly any harness if he really wants to. We eventually settled on using a Kurgo dog harness for two reasons: 1) Makena has a much thicker neck than most cats so the dog style fits him better, 2) He can back out of it easily if he needs to. We need him to be able to get loose because he often climbs trees and explores in thick brush: if he becomes tangled he can get himself loose. In our case, Makena listens well to commands and will come right to us if called. Initially we had him on a tighter harness because he did not listen as well and sometimes would panic a little bit. After a years of walks he reached a point where a tight harness was no longer needed.

We learned in the early walking phase to never pull on the harness when he was facing us because he would slip out of it. With time Makena learned and we learned how to walk and hike together - took a lot of patience. I think we also got lucky with his temperament - our other Bengal would never adapt to a harness or walking.

I guess I'll have to try and talk Nick into letting me get a kitten harness. :lol3: I'm not real worried about her getting out of this one (god knows she tried, but she failed). I'm more worried that she'll hurt herself trying. It made me nervous that she could get her bottom jaw around the neck strap.

eck1kaylie said:

Little Onyx is very vocal, and we noticed today that she's noisier when she hears people in the hallway of our building. I was planning on harness training both of the girls eventually (Ruby loves going outside), but I was planning on starting after the snow melted and now I'm thinking I should start sooner.
We have a harness for Ruby, which she wears for a few hours every now and again, and I wanted to see if it would fit Onyx (I've seen kitten harnesses at Petsmart, but I was hoping not to have to buy a new one when she outgrows it ). So, I used a Sharpie to mark where the adjuster-thingies were for Ruby's fit, and made it smaller. It's one of those nylon ones with loops around their neck and chest, and straps connecting the two.

IMAG0044.jpg

• eck1kaylie
• Jan 27, 2016

Not sure if you can actually really see the harness there, but it's the only photo I've got.
Anywho. I tightened the neck part as much as it would go, and the chest strap to roughly kitten-sized, and I put it on Onyx. The chest strap fit just fine, but the neck strap seems too big. She bit at it and got her teeth all the way around it.
I'm guessing I'm probably gonna need to get a kitten harness or, more likely, wait until she can fit in this one, but what do you guys think? She's around 4-5lbs, pretty long/slender (but not oriental-ish).

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I Have A Harness For My Cat Git It On Her 1 Time. I wish I were able to give you some advice. But best wishes on the harness training.

My cat always wears her harness. This sounds ridiculous, but I bought her one when she was little, and it was just recently that I bought her a new one (she's 6). The harness lasts forever. A good investment can last a long time. Your kitten is small. So if you had to buy your kitten a new harness in the future--it'll last a long time. Buying one that fits can prevent injuries.

When I was looking at harnesses, I noticed that there are ones with two loops connected by a single strap. I personally don't like these. The reason I got the harness is because my cat vehemently protested the collar, and collar disasters freak me out. Her harness has the "Y" shape, and is drawn under her belly. I've tried those full harnesses like @betsygee for going outside. She doesn't like them.

Re:Adjustment. Her belly band has to be decenty tight. In the past, she got an elbow through--and once or twice, a whole paw!! ... She could get hurt like that. The front part is pretty snug--and that snugness is mostly determined by how tight the back part is. Unlike Makena, my cat has a tiny neck (and a tiny head)--she tends to slip out of things..

Regarding training in the cold weather: It's a good idea to train indoors first anyway, to get your cat used to the harness and nail down the whole "When I say walk, you walk with me" thing.

My process pretty much went like this:

1) Buy kitten harness.

2) Leave harness next to Bud's food and water bowls so he gets used to it and associates it with happy times.

3) Let him play with the harness.

4) Put the harness on him for a few minutes at a time, praising him and giving him treats each time.

5) Longer harness sessions.

6) Walking training using treats.

7) Acclimating to outdoors

8) Get him to actually walk outdoors.

For me, #7 was the toughest part because my cat goes into sensory overload when he's outside. I was taking him outside on warm early summer nights, and so there are the sounds of crickets, cicadas, occasional cars passing by, occasional people, lots of plants, bushes, grass, insects. It's overwhelming.

So, like clockwork, at around the 20 minute mark he'd go from tentative, tail-down, to tail-up and ready to explore.

As for how tight the harness should be, I would just like to co-sign what several other people have said: Too loose, and it's easy for your cat to escape. I learned that the hard way, and no matter how close your bond is with your cat, if he/she gets spooked, it's gonna be a stressful time trying to track the cat down and have him/her come to you.

And yeah, I had to buy two harnesses, one kitten-size and then an adult one. Not a big deal though, since they're relatively cheap, and it's a small price to pay for having the pleasure of taking your cat out for walks. I find that, for me, it's also good because it motivates me to get out of the house.

Good luck!

Plan said:

Regarding training in the cold weather: It's a good idea to train indoors first anyway, to get your cat used to the harness and nail down the whole "When I say walk, you walk with me" thing.

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Onyx I'm definitely training inside first. She's never been outside, and she gets pretty skittish. (If we started soon, I'd likely just take her in the hallways until the snow melted anyhow; she doesn't have furry feet like Ruby does)
I tried training Ruby inside first, a few months ago. She wore her harness all the time at that point, and couldn't care less about it, but the second you attach a leash she got cranky and uncooperative. She used to be indoor-outdoor (little escape artist), so I figured it'd be easier to for her to start by going straight outside.
I don't think either of them are going to walk when I say walk. They're very typical cats, they do what they want. :lol3:

eck1kaylie said:

I don't think either of them are going to walk when I say walk. They're very typical cats, they do what they want.

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Yep.  Hannah takes ME for a walk around the house--we go where she wants to go.  

I use the velcro full body type harness as well. I have these on pretty tight for my cats since otherwise they can back out of them. At least the belly band must be snug and the neck one, tight, but not too tight so they can still breathe. 


 This is how tight Carrot's usually is while he is out exploring. 

New York 1303, Now that is the harness I have been looking for!!!! Please, what site did you order that from??? That harness looks so comfortable and secure!!

I got mine on Amazon, but the people who make them have their own site as well. Its called the Kitty Holster. Here's a link too it:  

There are a lot of different designs for them to so you don't have to just have plain black. There are four sizes. My other cat has an orange striped one too big for her in this picture, but it fits her now.


One thing that is important to know with this harness (and basically any other) is that if you move the leash in front of the cat and hold it taught, you've given them something to pull back against and they can slip out that way.

Thank you so much, appreciate your help!!

Well, we still don't have a kitten harness (hopefully by Friday!) but Onyx definitely liks the hallway! :lol3: She's escaped through our legs a couple of times, quick little thing. Luckily we usually come and go at odd times when most people in our building are asleep our at work (ie not opening doors), so she's trapped in the hallway with nowhere to go except back into our apartment.
She's so cute, she likes to play chase. She'll run a few feet down the hall, then look back and wait until you follow her, and sorta bounces down to the end and back while you "chase" her. :lol3: