How to Train a Cat to Wear a Harness

Training your cat to wear a harness takes time and patience. It is a safe and effective way to let your cat enjoy the great outdoors and get some excercise. Often, busy traffic or predators can be a real threat to the safety of your beloved pet. A cat harness keeps your cat within close range while still giving it the freedom and the beauty of nature.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft measuring tape to measure your cat's neck and waist for fitting of the harness
  • A nearby pet store that carries harnesses in the appropriate size for your cat
  • A safe place to take your cat for a walk
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Instructions

  1. Size Does Matter

    • 1

      Measure the size of your cat's neck and waist to get a proper fitting for the harness. Some larger variety of cats will need to use a small dog harness if the cat ones are too small. You want the harness to fit snug but not so tight so that the cat can't move freely. But if the harness is too loose, the cat can wriggle free from it. It's best to size the harness while the cat isn't wearing it even if you have to take it on and off the cat several times to get it right. Trying to adjust it while the cat is wearing it may cause the cat to fight it.

    • 2

      Find a local pet store that carries harnesses with leashes. Make sure you buy one that comfortably fits your cat and keep the receipt in case you get it home and find out that it doesn't.

    • 3

      Slowly adapt your cat to the harness and leash in small steps. Start by just putting the harness on your cat without the leash attached. Let the cat get use to walking around with the harness so that it gets used to it the way it is used to wearing a collar. Short sessions can work wonders. Make each training session fun with lots of treats and pets included so that your cat begins to associate the harness and leash with good times.

    • 4

      Take your cat outside with the harness and the leash on. Let the cat lead you where it wants to walk. Again, short sessions are good in the beginning until your cat gets familiar with the experience of wearing a harness and a leash. Avoid yanking or pulling the leash and harness on your cat as cats don't like being told what to do. They should be coaxed into it by making it a "pawsitive experience."

    • 5

      As you increase the time of your outdoor sessions with kitty on the harness and leash, eventually kitty will forget all about that harness and leash and become absorbed in its fascinating outdoor adventure. After a while, kitty will see the harness as a good thing because it is associated with play time outside. Keep rewarding your cat with pets and treats for wearing the harness and leash. It is a great way to exercise your pet and ensure its safety while promoting a long and healthy life.