Hi foxfire,
I got a walking jacket for my cat from an outfit called Cat Walking Jacket - just checked the url and rather helpfully its
http://www.catwalkingjacket.com and I can definately say it has worked 100%!
I was pretty sceptical before, as I had heard of taking a cat for a walk before but certainly didnt think it would be suited to my cat. He's very strong willed (and a bit agressive sometimes!) so I was thinking it was a big no-no.
I live in Oz near to a beach, in bushland public reserve, where there is loads of lovely wildlife wandering around. I didnt want to let him out anymore after he came back with a parrot one day (and it wasnt sitting on his shoulder, if you know what I mean) From that day on he became a house cat... I was so paranoid about him dragging back another parrot or worse still a venomous snake or spider.
Anyhow, I got this jacket thing about 6 months ago. At first, he did NOT like it! Rolling around on the floor, and generally being a total wuss about it. I found if I just left it lying around on the apartment floor he would play with it and get used to it. After a few days of that, he wasnt interested in it, and he seemed to get used to it being around.
Moved on to putting him him in the jacket and then taking him onto the patio outside. Its odd, not really like walking him as such, more he decides where he wants to walk and I follow... :-) Being a cat, he doesnt really understand the idea of being walked! He does enjoy the beach tho, digging holes etc!
Amazingly, though, it works! He gets to go out and I get to avoid the hassle of cleaning up dead parrots. Result!
Hope this helps you