Cat Leash & Harness: Do cats actually benefit from them?

Random question(s): but does anyone here use these? Does it benefit cats to take them for a walk? If you have used one before or still do, does your cat enjoy it or not?

Share your thoughts and stories if you please.

My cat HATES being attached to her leash. I went out and bought a super long puppy training leash (feather like weight) to give her enough space, and I even bought her a harness to avoid tugging on her neck. Whenever we try to take her outside, she'll lay down like a lump and will not move until we pick her up, take her inside and take everything off her.

I so wish she enjoyed outside, but I think it depends on the cat.  

I have three cats. One of them absolutely loves to go outside on his leash and harness. He enjoys heading out to explore and see everything there is to see. The second cat is a bit nervous of the outdoors, but will enjoy sitting on my lap outside watching bugs during the summer. The youngest cat hasn't finished harness training, so we'll see with her. She's still hung up on the harness and will flop whenever it is put on. 

As my recently adopted shelter cat, adult, is going to have be an indoor kitty, I decided to try the 'come with me kitty' harness and take him outside. My boy is very brave, within 20 minutes of putting the harness on, he acted like he'd worn one his whole life. I clipped on the leash, took him outside on the sidewalk and after some encouragement, he started to explore. I let him go where he wants, as long as I fit too. This hasn't been like walking the dog where the human decides the direction LOL Just lots of encouragement and good boys and I pick him & move him into another direction if he tries to go where I don't want him too. Super high value stinky treat can be handy if encouragement is needed. Mine now knows that the harness means we are going outside and he is always willing. One thing I've done, as I don't want him going walk about without me, we always go out & in the same door, which also has an extra bit of protection if he tried to sneak past our feet. I've made a huge point of he can't get near the open door without his harness & me and as he's a quick study, we've had no problem. Not that I'll ever fully trust him not to be sneaky, so preventative measures will stay in place for his lifetime.

My vet got a huge kick out him wandering around the office with his harness & leash. He did say most cats don't like it. He was most impressed. I'd say try it, first in the house & then outside. Be prepared that loud noises will probably scare it, especially if it hasn't ever been outdoors. I pick him up and take him in first sign of stress. We've gone from a happy 5 min to 20 minutes. Hope things go as well for the two of you.

I have 2 cats that are leash and harness trained.  Tati and I have been walking together over a year, and she is getting to a point where I will actually let her off leash if she wants to climb a tree because she will come right back once she is finished - for a year though she has been climbing trees while on the leash... that can get tricky as the leash gets stuck on branches.  Now people see us, me holding the leash, and Tati up exploring the branches and they will say, "Oh... did our kitty get stuck? But she does really well, and will even follow along if I have to change directions I still have to pick her up when its time to come inside.  She doesn't  like that part.  But I do that with both  my cats.  I carry them in and carry them out.  I don't want them thinking its okay to walk in and out the door.  Tati knows what the leash means and she comes running when she hears it. 

Snowy likes her walks too.  But she has lots of rules... we go where Snowy wants to go.  And we stand still for a good 5-10 minutes at each  new bush.  She is deaf, and shadows scare her, so she likes to take the same route and she does much more sniffing than walking.  I also have to plan a minimum of 30 minutes for her to actually get a good walk as she is very cautious the first 10 minutes or so and just wants to scope out the territory to see who knew or frightening may have been around.  Once she gets into wandering mode, then she will walk pretty good.

We also have a stroller for the cats, and if your cat is not used to being outside, the stroller is cool because they are enclosed and feel safe, and they get to check out the area and get used to some of the noises.   

Each cat is different, and there are a lot of different ways they may react to a walk. 

Pro's, mental stimulation, exercise, bonding time, and good for you to get out too...

Con's if kitty likes it outside, they will whine and cry and beg to go out - there is lots to sniff out there!  Also might expose kitty to fleas and stuff. 

If you decide to do this, watch kitty and follow her lead.  Some cats take longer than others to get used to it... but PLEASE, do not just pull a strange leash and or harness out of nowhere and just try to put it on the cat.  Show it to them, let them sniff it, drag it on the ground and let them chase it and catch it and play with it.  It helps to get their scent on it and they will not freak out as much when you actually put it on if they have had paws on experience with it.  Once you do move to putting the harness on, put it on (without the leash) and leave them alone for a little bit.  at first they will probably act like they can't walk and that's its killing them.  Provided its not too tight, let them work it out. When you add the leash to the harness, my cats were scared at first seeing this thing trailing behind them, or even when I am holding it, if it moves suddenly it might give them a start.  Good luck!

As MollyBlue mentioned, her cat Snowy is deaf and scares easily from shadows while being walked. 

My cat, Dublin is also deaf.  I notice he'll "call" for his (Pit Bull mix) brother, Sonny if he doesn't see him immediately walking out in front.  Dublin is comforted when Sonny's (visually) close.  Since he's deaf, Dublin's call can be quite alarming to those who don't know him.

I can tell when Dublin is stressed from walking, so I'll pick him up and carry him the rest of the way home.  His walk consists of a half mile around a lake. About 90% of the time, he'll make it all the way.  The other times, I'd have to pick him up at some point.

It took Dublin 1 - 2 months to get used to the harness.  I began by placing it on him in the house for 5 minutes here and there and gradually extending "harness time" for longer periods. Making him wear it during his meals was smart too.  He'd forget all about it. 

Finally, I began taking him out with his brother on walks, but would carry him in my arms (with the harness and leash attached, in the event he'd scare and want to claw his way free from my grip). 

EVENTUALLY, I placed him on the ground so he could sniff and walk little by little while I held onto the leash.  I'd use VERY GENTLE tugs prompting him to follow my direction.  He now keeps a very steady pace.  People are always amazed to see a cat "willingly" walk on a leash like a pro.  Takes LOTS of patience

P.S. - Having him leash trained exposes him to a lot of outside noises and movement.  This exposure becomes second nature to them and pretty soon, your cat will be laid back and well behaved with people as well as other animals.  Bring them everywhere and anywhere they're welcomed.  People will appreciate a well-behaved cat as they do well-behaved children.

Hi Lea98. 

Most - if not ALL - cats despise the harness and leash when first introduced.  It takes time and patience.  You'll work at it, if it's something you'd like to see your cat participate in.

I'd like to add, it's healthy for cats to get out and stretch their legs, especially if they're indoor cats that otherwise would meander from room to room and don't utilize a treadmill.  It's a good reason for us huMOMS to get out too, though I wouldn't proclaim it's the same exertion you'd get from walking and running with a dog.