Having kitty on a harness outside

meow meow

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My plan right now is to keep my future kitty (3 wks from now) inside. But, I have been thinking it would be nice if it could be on the deck with us when we are eating or the kids are playing on the swing set.

Do you think it is a good idea to put a cat on a harness outside so they can be with you and enjoy the outdoors a bit? I would never ever let it roam around.

My only concern is once he gets a taste of the outdoors, he may try to bolt out everytime my kids open the door. Maybe it is better for him to just learn a healthy fear of the outdoors.

Thoughts?
 

nerelda

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I think it's perfectly fine, as long as you keep an eye on them. I have a cat that is fairly used to going outdoors most of the time, but too many people's dogs get loose in my neighborhood, so I can't just let him roam. What I did was got the harness, leash, and some decent rope. When he wants to go out, he gets the harness put on (this way he associates the harness with being outside), and then I attach the least to him, which is tied to the longer rope. Then I'll tie the other end of the rope to the back steps or some other safe place. I am then able to still do my indoor chores, while keeping a good eye on him. In fact, he loves to play with the rope while he's out there. lol
 

babyharley

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We take Harley outside on his harness all the time and he loves it!


He knows when it gets put on, that it means its time to go outside, but other than that, he never tries to escape on his own or try to get outside when we go outside without him.

I think your cat would love to go outside and enjoy the outdoors on a harness with you!
 

sar

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All three of my cats will go out on their harnesses and extender leads!
I attach the leads to a dog peg in the middle of the garden and never leave their side! (I would truely not recommend that you leave them unattended for any time at all, even if you can see them!)
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by babyharley

He knows when it gets put on, that it means its time to go outside, but other than that, he never tries to escape on his own or try to get outside when we go outside without him.
My cats are the same, in fact they run from an open door without their harnesses on
(not that we leave the door open, sometimes visitors aren't too careful and will leave the entrance hall and front door open)
 

watermelonpunch

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I used to take my cat for walks in the park on a harness.

My friend lets her cat out on a leash hooked to the porch in the back yard regularly. And he's fine. I don't know if he likes to try to escape or not.
But my kitten, who's never been let outside, leash or not, often tries to escape, so I'm not sure it makes a difference.

Just make sure there's no high place, where the cat can get hung up and caught, and don't leave the cat unattended... because the cat is on a leash, however, you can't be certain what other animal might come into the yard, unleashed.
 

larke

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Tip - if he's going to be on the deck when you're not around (even a few minutes), make very sure the leash has NO tiny crevice or anything it can get wedged in or hooked onto, because if it does, he'll wriggle out of the harness (or get into some awful tangle trying) and take off. And be sure no dogs or street cats can get at him.
 

emmamcewan

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My 2 cats go outside although Ford prefers to be in at all time but Mitsy who is more out just now does not go further than our back garden fence or our front.She does not obviously feel safe being too far from us.
It is the same with my sisters 2 cats now 8 yrs and one 7months.They go out the back door but no further. So you may find that this be the case with your kitten too.

I dont work though as stay at home with kids and neither does my sister.so this may be why.

xx
 

sar

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Originally Posted by Larke

Tip - if he's going to be on the deck when you're not around (even a few minutes), make very sure the leash has NO tiny crevice or anything it can get wedged in or hooked onto, because if it does, he'll wriggle out of the harness (or get into some awful tangle trying) and take off. And be sure no dogs or street cats can get at him.
I would not recommend leaving your cat for any amount of time what-so-ever!

Yesterday whilst out with my cats, Tibby managed to unhook his lead from his harness. Had I have left for even a split second, who know what could have happened?
 

ryanjay

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My cat I used to have-dusty, was a bolter...Started taking him out when I got him-we lived on a pretty quiet street...then moved onto a VERY BUSY main street...He never went far but would bolt out to go to grass(house was about 25 feet from street) right now I take two cats out often-one only goes on harness and the other i let out if im outside-hes to fat to get anywhere and we have fenced yard(hes 9 yo and 30 lbs...pretty grouned lmao) RJ
 

alainchas

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Our cat Annabelle recently started going for walks on a harness. She is living on our big screened in porch right now. I guess she really likes the outdoors now because last weekend we woke up only to find holes in our brand new screen. So off to Home Depot we went to buy pet screen. One thing I have noticed is that since we have started walking her, she has become a little more defiant and is trying to test the bounds more. But she really enjoys her walks. I dont think its a good idea to leave them unattended.
 

hth515

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We take one of our cats, Ruxpin, outside on a harness and he loves it. At first he hated getting into the harness, but as soon as he learned that it means he gets to go outside he no longer cared, in fact when we go to put it on him now he starts purring.

One problem we do have is that sometimes he enjoys it too much and when we go to take him in, he gets mad and will try to bite or scratch us, which he normally would never do. Anyone have any suggestions for this behaviour? It doesn't happen everytime, sometimes he is a perfect gentlemen, but the few times when he doesn't want to come in can be painful.
 

abigail

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Originally Posted by hth515

One problem we do have is that sometimes he enjoys it too much and when we go to take him in, he gets mad and will try to bite or scratch us, which he normally would never do. Anyone have any suggestions for this behaviour?
i would hold the leash, pull out his favorite treat and lure him inside, giving him the treat and praise for coming inside when you want. You have all inspired me to let Abi out on a top deck harnessed. She absolutely adored it and I know if she hadn't been harnessed she would have been up the roof and into a tree catching warblers.
 
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