Harness Training

The use of a harness provides assurance to the owner. Your cat feels safe and secure, while you, the owner, have some control in precarious situations, rather than having your cat slip away from you.

When harness trained, cats can be taught to associate the harness with going outdoors. It is recommended that your cat be in a carrier any time they travel. While in a carrier you can follow through with adding a harness to develop the association of any time or any reason they go beyond the threshold of your door they will expect to always wear a harness. Add a leash and they can experience fresh air, sunshine and outdoor play. Many cats enjoy going for a walk on a leash; some will even think they're taking YOU for the walk.

A cat without a harness on that is in fright or flight mode is like butter and can slip right out of your grip. Safety comes into play while outdoors, if your cat is harnessed up and in your arms, or on a leash, should it get startled by any sudden noise or intruder and want to flee you have the harness strapping to get a quick grasp on. Hooking your fingers anywhere in the harness will prevent the cat from breaking away, being able to bolt away into traffic, run away and get lost, be threatened by another animal or strangers, or some other unforeseen danger. If you were to use a collar instead of a harness there is less to grasp onto in an emergency and a cat in any kind of panic or startle could slip out of a collar backwards and escape. A collar versus a harness can be dangerous. An escaped cat with only a collar on risks getting caught or hung up by the collar, so if you do use any kind of collar select one that is designed to break away to avoid strangulation.

When you begin to train your cat to wear a harness:
- Take your time,
- Do it in as many steps or stages as your cat needs,
- Don't get discouraged if your cat doesn't like the beginning of the harness training. Some cats will naturally take longer than others if they have never experienced wearing a harness before.
- Always keep in mind you want the training to be pleasant and fun for the cat, never forcing.

Beginning harness training is ideal when raising kittens. When they are quite young they can grow up with the experience as a natural part of their lives.

1. There are often a variety of harnesses at your local pet supplier outlet.
a) Be sure to select one that can adjust to fitting your cat snuggly.
b) There should be enough room to fit two fingers between the harness and the cat’s body so it is not too tight. You do not want to have your cat feeling unnecessarily bound and confined.

The harness on this cat is too lose.

c) Too lose is not good either. An unexpected struggle can result in a limb or even lower jaw getting entangled and then panic - which can put a damper on all your efforts. A too lose harness can also result in a panic induced escape out of the harness.
d) Most clasps to lock them on are good, but select strong closures if you have an active or skittish cat so that the closures will not break should your cat bolt or panic once they are outdoors.

Metal rings on harness holding identification tags.

e) Make use of the metal ring on most harnesses for attaching the leash by adding identification, rabies or microchip tags having notification information should your cat ever get away from you.

Small puppy harness with added chest strap adds more security.
Notice the metal rings that make these harnesses stronger.

f) Small “puppy” harnesses instead of cat harnesses have the added security if an additional chest strap as opposed to a single back strap on cat harnesses. Bengals are athletic and strong and in a panic can less manage to wiggle out of a more secure puppy harness.

2. Start off with introducing your cat or kitten to the harness as a fun thing. Dangle it, let them play with it and think it's a toy before you even put it on them. You can lay the harness with them where they sleep and keep it in full view as much as you can. Do this throughout the day for several days or even longer, depending on your cat’s interest in this new contraption. This way they get familiar with it and they will adjust better when you first put it on them.

3. Putting the harness on for the first time is the most important step. This needs to be as positive an experience for the cat as possible. Make use of a cat's natural curiosity. Use your voice to stimulate curiosity. Be excited and assuring offering anticipation of the fun to come with a harness on using your voice as natural as if you were going to pick your cat up and give it a hug. Speak in the same everyday voice you normally use. You want your cat to feel this is an ordinary every day thing. Keep talking, soothing and loving as you normally do while you put the harness on. Do your best to make it a smooth one step operation. Add praise to your voice as you are doing up the buckles or snap fasteners.

4. Keep your hands on the cat at first for the added sense of security from you. Stimulate confidence and give a lot of praise letting your cat know he/she is doing well. Commend them abundantly as you pet them, saying it with your touch at the same time as speaking it. This is a good time to have a toy or a treat to distract them from the new awkward harness and pay attention to you while they get a chance to notice it is not hurting him/her.

5. At first, only briefly leave the harness on the cat, saying continuously what a good job he/she is doing and how brave they are (even if they tried to convince you otherwise). If during the first few times having the harness put on they balk it, keep repeating the process of:
a) letting the cat play with the harness
b) having the harness in full view and near them a lot
c) when wanting to put the harness on - stimulate curiousity
d) when putting it on - stimulate confidence
e) praise them in all steps to - stimulate a good time and fun.

Do this as many times as needed to then have the cat arrive at having the courage to walk around. Often first walking with a harness on is crouched low to the floor, but this will get past as the cat gets used to it and becomes okay with it.

6. Now to begin the great adventure. This is the time for your cat to learn what a harness is for.

a) When your cat is not nervous about wearing the harness anymore, pick him/her up, hold in your arms harness up and clip a bunched up leash to the harness. The leash should be light weight, but sturdy, including the clasp. A metal clasp is preferred, but not heavy. Have the handle end of the leash with your hand slipped through the loop so to have the leash extra secured around your wrist.

b) The first time you take the cat outdoors try to have it be to a quiet area like your back yard or garden, and just hold the cat in your arms, progressing then to holding on your lap, as you gradually place it on the ground a few times.

c) When you set your cat on the ground, stay near speaking with assurance and praise. Having the leash secure around your wrist is a good habit to get into. And gradually release a bit of leash length at a time as your cat get used to the surroundings and begins to want to explore. Playing with twigs, pine cones, pebbles or leaves helps them to relax. And again, remember to: stimulate curiousity, stimulate confidence and stimulate a good time - and fun!

Over time, once the cat has a feel for the leash begin to encourage a walkabout. From there it will be up to your cat whether a stroll in a park or a walk on the sidewalk is to their liking.

Your completed harness training can be valuable when you need to travel. Cats can be adapted to you just showing them their harness and they know they are going for an outing and may sit pretty waiting for you to put it on them.

Remember to always harness up before ever taking your cat past the threshold of your outside door, even if they are in a carrier to take a trip to the vet clinic or a cat show. CARRY your harnessed cat over the threshold in your arms if going out for walk, especially if you have an escape artist. Do not let your cat walk out and over that threshold on their own even if they are on a leash. Following these guidelines they will associate the harness with YOU TAKING THEM outdoors, and will learn not to cross that threshold unless you buckle them up and that YOU take them out. This will help prevent open door escapes.

Secure vs. Insecure: Have you ever not worn your seatbelt and driven your car and paid attention to the subtle feeling of insecurity and that something is missing as you've now over years grown accustomed to wearing your seatbelt at all times? Wearing a harness will become the norm, and it just won't feel right for the cat without one.

Last, but not least praise yourself for a job well done :-)

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