Can you take a cat out for a walk?

[hiddenhome]

With a harness, obviously.

Would the cat be able to escape, or are the harnesses safe and secure?

I would like to hear people's experiences and any harness recommendations if possible

[cozietoesie]

I've tried it on two of my own boys and never got further than failing miserably to put the harness on them. (They thought it was a good game though! )

I did, however, see a magnificent Bengal out for a (harnessed) stroll one afternoon a few months back while I was sitting on the stoop. He looked as if he was having a great time although I wasn't entirely sure (between him and his owner) who was leading whom.

[hiddenhome]

Hmm, perhaps you can train them to a certain extent, but it depends on personality I guess. I've been on YouTube and watched some vids of people out with their cats. I would like to try.

[cariad34]

Neither of my boys will accept a harness, however since I got a puppy, my Norwegian Forest comes for walks with us, happily trotting along by our sides

[chockbic]

So cute, its definitely down to personality.

I think our Scissorclaws might accept a harness. He's OK with a collar.

[GoldenKelpie]

My boys come with me to woods next to house, we walk everywhere, they love it. However they are not harnessed, I leave it to them whether they come along. They always do. When they were very young, before their injections, I took them round the garden in harnesses. They hated being restricted and would not cooperate. Cats usually like an escape route in case of trouble. Good luck with training using a harness though.

[NeoFaust]

Tried it with my two cats. They didn't mind the harnesses but any attempt to lead them in a particular direction was just ignored. When we picked them up and carried them to the park (not far from the house) the younger simply sat on our feet and refused to move and the elder discovered agoraphobia and made multiple attempts to escape up a tree.

I'm sure it is possible to train them, but very much dependent on personality.

[mmmuffins]

I tried. I had to train them to accept the harness first, which had to be done slowly. When they first wore the harness, they both acted like I'd put lead weights on them and slithered around their bellies...eventually they realised they could still walk, run, and even jump while wearing them and so I thought it was time to go outside! We tried the garden. Unfortunately anytime something frightened the cats, they would bolt for the house. A lot of me being dragged back to the door ensued, accompanied by much getting tangled in the patio furniture.

I eventually came to terms with the fact they just don't have the temperament for being walked, they are way too nervous. I have heard of others being successful; I think you must need a very bold cat.

[splendide]

My cat is quite happy in a harness but I've only used it in the garden and it's very very much driven by her. I can't make her walk somewhere she doesn't want to! Also she can actually get it off of she really wants to but I can pick her up before she's managed.

[splendide]

Oh and if something spooks her - like a bird flying over her head or a leaf rustling in a suspect manner then she bolts for the back door and I just drop the lead so she's never prevented from getting in the house.

She just goes in the garden without her harness now anyway.

[hiddenhome]

Thanks for the replies

[sashh]

I think it very much depends on the cat, I had one that liked to follow me to the corner shop, walk round the shop and then home again.

I know someone who had a cat walk with him to the pub and wait for him.

Neither had harnesses.

[RiverRocks]

I also agree about it depending on the cat. Mine was completely unbothered by the harness, which was surprising as he hid under the oven when I tried to put a collar on him. The lead was elastic; he didn't like it but only because I stopped him climbing up trees and through bushes because I couldn't follow him.

He didn't like being indoors so when we moved I'd walk him up and down the street much to the amusement of the neighbours for the 2 weeks we kept him in. Once I was happy he wouldn't get lost, off he went. He is also known to escort us if we go for a walk.

We bought a proper cat harness/lead off Amazon, can't remember the name, sorry. The harness fastened around his neck and tummy with Velcro and then had a security clip as well, so no escaping.

When we got our second cat, there was no way on this earth I was even going to try the harness on him. There are also lots of videos on YouTube of cats in harnesses with their owners literally dragging them along the floor because they won't stand up.

[PigletJohn]

I thought it might work if you started young enough