Want To Walk Your Cat On A Leash? Here's How To Choose A Harness

 

Want To Walk Your Cat On A Leash? Here's How To Choose A Harness

Regular exercise can do wonders for your cat's health and happiness. If you're worried your pet doesn't get out and about enough—and it doesn't object—you can try putting it on a leash and taking it for a walk, just like you'd do with a dog.

Some cats won't go for this and you must not force them. If you think your cat might be willing, you need to ensure it is comfortable in a harness before you embark on this adventure.

Below are some experts' advice on how to find the best harness for your feline friend, plus tips on how to train your cat to use it.

How the Harness Should Fit on Your Cat

Dr. Christian Broadhurst, senior veterinarian at non-profit clinic Clay Humane in Orange Park, Florida, told Newsweek that a cat harness should fit snugly enough that your pet can't easily abscond.

He explained that cats have a considerable amount of loose skin in their body. If they put their mind to it, they can wriggle out of almost anything, so the snugger the harness, the lower the chance of an escape.

Stock image of a ginger cat walking on a leash. An H-shape harness gives your pet plenty of freedom to move, but this also means they might be able to wriggle out of it. Getty Images

"We don't want to put it so tight that it cuts into the tissue—that's obviously not good. It just needs to be tight enough that they can't escape if they try."

Broadhurst recommends a harness, rather than simply a leash attached to the cat's collar. "Over time, cats climbing trees with collars have gotten caught on branches and hung themselves because the collar wouldn't break away." To prevent this, any collar you put on your cat should be a breakaway product, which usually has a weak link or an elastic band that will snap if pulled too hard.

Which Type of Harness Is Best for Your Cat?

There are three types of harness and your choice will depend on whether your cat feels comfortable with more or less fabric against its fur, according to cat behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett.

The minimalist option is an H-shape harness. Your cat may like the fact that this gives it freedom to move, but you need to be particularly careful as the animal might find it easier to slip out of.

Walking jackets, on the other hand, are extremely safe in that sense, but your cat may not like the bulky fabric covering their torso.

Vest harnesses sit between the other two options. They are as safe as a jacket but have less fabric, giving your cat more freedom of movement.

You might have to try different kinds of harness to find the right one for your cat, Broadhurst said. "I wish there was a one size fits all but, unfortunately for cats, that's never the case."

How to Put a Harness on a Cat

Putting clothes on a cat is rarely easy. They may run away, start scratching you or even try to bite you. Again, there isn't one method that is guaranteed to work on all cats.

The way you fit the harness depends mostly on the type you have. Broadhurst and Johnson-Bennett both say you must follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid hurting your cat.

How to Get Your Cat to Walk on a Leash

Not every cat is a good candidate for leash walking. Before taking your cat out wearing a harness, Johnson-Bennett recommends that you think carefully about its personality and the conditions of your outdoor environment, to figure out whether leash walking will be beneficial.

"If you are patient and your cat is willing, you can achieve it," said Broadhurst, but it will take lots of time. "It is very unreasonable to expect to put a leash on your cat and take him for a walk immediately. We're talking about gradual desensitization."

It's important that you help your pet adjust to the harness gradually and only attach the leash once it's comfortable, said Johnson-Bennett. All training must be done in the "safety of indoors" before you consider taking a cat outside.

Broadhurst suggests putting the harness on your cat for only 5 minutes when you first try it. You can put it on for 10 minutes the next day, 15 minutes the day after and so on, until the cat gets used to the fabric.

Once the cat appears to be comfortable and untroubled by the harness, you can hook the leash to it. Let the cat drag the leash around the house to get used to it. After that, you can try to walk your pet from room to room on the leash.

"Only after they're successfully walking on the leash from room to room, you can try taking them outside," he added.

When trying to walk on a harness, cats may display what veterinarians call "leash paralysis," when they lie there and look at you, as though they can't believe you're doing this to them. While some cats will grow out of this, others never do.

Stock image of a cat wearing a leash as it balances on its hind legs. Not all cats will walk on a leash, but you should train your cat at home before taking it outside. Getty Images

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How To Outwit Your Cat (so It Won’t Sit On Your Laptop) – Cat Training Q&As

Cats are by nature fiercely independent, stubborn and, from time to time, a bit rude. But then, that’s why we love them. What we don’t love so much is their tendency to shred the furniture, deliver us “gifts” of garden prey and throw a wobbly if we try to get them into their carrier. We asked Claire Bessant, chief executive of International Cat Care, to answer your burning questions and explain how to make sure your kitten grows up to be a cool (affectionate, even) cat.

How can I prevent my kitten turning into a furniture-destroying machine?When they scratch up your new carpets or designer wallpaper, cats aren’t telling you they hate you – they’re simply sharpening their claws and marking their territory, and unfortunately they don’t really care what they use to do it. The answer is to provide your kitten with a scratch post and get them used to it as soon as possible.

“Choose something your kitten is going to like – a sturdy post with both horizontal and vertical scratching pads that’s tall enough for her to stretch as she scratches,” Bessant says. Kittens may not start scratching until five or six months, but when they do they’re more likely to use a post they’re familiar with. “You can also gently press her paws on to it to leave her scent behind,” Bessant suggests.

Try and get your kitten familiar with her scratching post early. Photograph: Benjamin Torode/Getty Images

Hopefully, by the time her inner predator kicks in, she’ll choose to use her post rather than your sofa as a feline emery board.

My kitten keeps nipping my hands. It’s cute, but also … ouch.When they’re little, it’s very tempting to let your kitten dangle off your fingers like a tiny monkey, or nibble your toes for fun. But little teeth soon grow into big ones, so it’s best to nip bad habits in the bud.

“Use toys instead of your hands or feet, so you’re not the focus of play,” Bessant advises. “A wand with a string and a toy on the end will do – it also means children can play safely with your kitten. If they get excitable and start nipping, try to distract them, or set them down and walk away so they learn it’s not a way of getting attention.”

When the cat carrier comes out, my kitten goes crazy. How do I get them to the vet?You’d probably be a bit nervous if one of your family came at you with a cage and a fake smile too. The key to getting your kitten into the carrier without all the drama is to familiarise them with it well in advance.

“If it only comes out of the loft for a trip to the cattery or the vet, of course your kitten will be nervous around their carrier,” Bessant says. “Don’t hide it away – keep it somewhere they can get used to it, and where they can transfer their scent on to it. You can even feed them and play with them in it so they are totally used to getting inside.”

As with the scratching post, familiarity is key with the cat carrier. Photograph: Carlina Teteris/Getty Images

I’m not looking forward to the day they bring me my first dead mouse. How do I dissuade them?Although each cat’s hunting habits will vary – some simply can’t be bothered – if they like to chase birds and mice, there’s not much you can do to dissuade them.

“Cats are hunters by nature, so it can be quite difficult to get them to stop,” Bessant says. “You can try taking the prey from them and moving it outside, and you might also satisfy their urge to work for their food by using a puzzle feeder. But basically, if you want a cat that doesn’t hunt, get a rabbit.”

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“Cats can be sociable, but unlike dogs, they don’t have to be,” Bessant explains. “Lots of cats don’t like kisses and cuddles because you’re removing their way of escape. All you can do is give them affection they can walk away from, and provide them with things they like – such as a warm spot when it’s cold outside. Then be grateful when they choose to join in.”

So why does my cat sit on my laptop – and how can I curb their enthusiasm?“It’s warm, and if they sit there they’ve got your full attention,” Bessant says. “Provide them with a different warm spot and some treats, and you might persuade them to sit somewhere else instead.” Although, probably not …