How to Make a Cat Harness Out of Webbing

If you want to bring your cat outdoors safely -- either to walk him or to safely transport him without a cat carrier -- you'll need a harness. You shouldn't put trust in a collar to restrain your cat, since cats easily can slip out of collars, especially if you're tugging on it in an attempt to get the cat to move in the proper direction. However, a harness made out of webbing will hold your cat comfortably and securely. You may even find your cat walks on a leash willingly once he gets used to his harness.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric tape measure
  • 3 ft. of 1-inch-wide nylon webbing
  • 2 plastic side-release webbing fasteners
  • Heavy-duty upholstery thread
  • Large sewing needle
  • Scissors
  • Pins
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your cat for the new webbing harness. You'll need measurements of your cat's neck and chest. It may help if you have someone to distract your cat while you measure. Take your cloth tape measure and wrap it gently around your cat's neck, noting the result. Typical cats will have a neck measurement of between 9 and 12 inches. Next, measure your cat's chest, directly behind his front legs and straight around his back, again noting the result. Typical cats will have a chest measurement of between 14 and 18 inches

    • 2

      Cut your webbing. Using your measuring tape, measure your cat's neck and chest sizes. Add three inches that you'll use later for seams and for harness adjustment, and then cut the webbing to size.

    • 3

      Locate the exact center of each piece of webbing by folding each one in half. Once you've identified the center of each, place the two webbing pieces one on top of the other. Then, sew them together for approximately 1 inch in the exact center using a straight stitch with your heavy-duty upholstery thread. Make sure you plant at least 30 stitches throughout the 1-inch overlapping spot. You'll also need to knot the ends of the thread off well, since this one spot will hold your cat harness together.

    • 4

      Place your harness on a table with the chest piece farthest from you. Break apart your side-release fasteners into their two component parts. Take the ends with tongs and attach them permanently to the webbing pieces on your right. Use upholstery thread and an overcast stitch, and make sure to plant at least 15 stitches per fastener. Take the other halves of the side-release fasteners and pin them in place on the webbing pieces on your left.

    • 5

      Fit your harness to your cat. With someone else to help hold and distract the cat, take your harness and try it on your cat. Move the pins, holding the fasteners if necessary to get a good fit. The harness should be loose enough for you to get one or two fingers under the webbing. If it's any looser, your cat could slip out of it, but if it's any tighter, you could hurt your cat.

    • 6

      Attach the pinned sides of the side-release fasteners permanently to the harness by sewing them in place with upholstery thread and the overcast stitch. Make sure to use at least 15 stitches and to knot the ends of the thread well. Remove the pins and dress your cat in the finished product.