How have you guys gotten your cats to walk on a leash? I bought a harness today and put it on my cat and he was so angry with me. He lurked around the apartment giving me the evil eye for putting it on him. I let him get semi-used to it and then took him outside with the leash. He was so freaked out that he would just curl up in an immobile ball. So I carried him over to some grass and that got him a little interested. Then he managed to twist himself around and slip out of the harness! As soon as he got it off, he completely changed, he was so happy, rolling in the dirt, prancing in the grass. How can I get him to ignore the harness/leash and just enjoy being outside?
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Trying to walk my cat
- Thread starter meowsersmom
- Start Date
Persistence - You just need to repeat the exercise over and over and make sure you give the cat lots of encouragment and love for doing the right thing!
Most cats hate harnesses but will get used to it with time.
Most cats hate harnesses but will get used to it with time.
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acclimate kitty slowly... try putting the harness on in the house for a few minutes a day adding a few minutes as kitty permits... then add the leash while inside and let kitty drag it around...
You could try playing with your kitty inside while he wears the harness... then add the leash and after he gets used to that last of all go outside. Reward him and love him!!!
Just curious, what kind of harness do you have? He might dislike the style.
Just curious, what kind of harness do you have? He might dislike the style.
As others have said, it's a long winded process, so you need to be patient!
As mentioned, let your kitty wear his harness around the house - building up the time he wears it over a number of days or weeks! Then once your kitty will walk and act normally with the harness on, attach the lead.
I wandered around the house with Tibby and Molly (and am doing so with Willow) so that the lead didn't get caught on anything anf they would also acclimatise to having me walking so near to them.
Once your kitty is acting and walking normally with this (having been done again over a period of days or weeks) Then you can think about going outside!
Do remember though that you can not walk the cat, he walks you! You will find that you spend a lot of time standing around while your kitty enjoys a good smell, then you will just follow them to the next smell etc!
Also, if your kitty appears scared, take him back inside and build up the time that you are outside, so that he can get used to it!
Good luck and let us know how you progress!!
As mentioned, let your kitty wear his harness around the house - building up the time he wears it over a number of days or weeks! Then once your kitty will walk and act normally with the harness on, attach the lead.
I wandered around the house with Tibby and Molly (and am doing so with Willow) so that the lead didn't get caught on anything anf they would also acclimatise to having me walking so near to them.
Once your kitty is acting and walking normally with this (having been done again over a period of days or weeks) Then you can think about going outside!
Do remember though that you can not walk the cat, he walks you! You will find that you spend a lot of time standing around while your kitty enjoys a good smell, then you will just follow them to the next smell etc!
Also, if your kitty appears scared, take him back inside and build up the time that you are outside, so that he can get used to it!
Good luck and let us know how you progress!!
