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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

It’s a harness question

14 replies

Joxster · 14/01/2022 08:27

We’ve had our cat for about 5 months now. He’s 4, which I’m aware is quite old to start harness training, but I’d like to give it a go.

His backstory is that he was exclusively a house cat, never vaccinated/flead/wormed. We’ve obviously sorted all that out, and he’s now floofy, shiny and full of attitude. So much so, that he’s obviously keen to go outside.

We have a very busy road out front. Not unusual to see cats hit. He has no street sense as he’s never been allowed out. We have a nice small garden but it’s stone walled, quite low walls, and DP has examined it and stated it practically impossible to cat proof without making it look like a prison.

I don’t think it’s fair to confine him to the house if he wants to go out, but I can’t let him roam as he’d definitely get splatted. He chases feathers off tables and face plants as he doesn’t notice the edge! So I’m trying to harness train him just to have a mooch round the garden a couple of times a day.

He was doing ok with one we had from a friend which was very skinny straps, until he realised he could easily wriggle out of it. MIL gave us one which looks very secure, but it goes on over his head which he’s flat refusing and I don’t want to stress him.

Can anyone recommend one from personal experience that the cat “steps” in to? Like both their front legs go in holes and it clips at the back? Our thin strappy one is like that and he’s fine getting it on, but also great at taking it off…..

Cat tax attached!

It’s a harness question
OP posts:
NewYearCalavicci · 18/01/2022 22:16

My cat has the strap type one which he is fine in around my tiny back yard and one a bit more like this ( but not this actual one ) for longer walks as its a bit more secure .
I would recommend you go to a few pet shops / vet shops and have a look I got my cats 1st one on line and the marital was to stiff it was more like a straight jacket .

www.amazon.co.uk/Simpeak-Harness-Adjustable-Walking-Retractable/dp/B08XQ69687/ref=zg_bs_471296031_6?th=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&refRID=7N9R3NBD1XZ8MMC6R77B

Sadly due to illness my cat hasn't been out for a walk in quite along time now .

Joxster · 19/01/2022 09:22

Thank you @NewYearCalavicci I’ll take a look at that, that’s the sort I was thinking of! Sorry to hear your cat hasn’t been well 💐

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/01/2022 11:40

@YesItsMeIDontCare has a cat called Leroy who walks proudly in a harness from (I think) www.mynwoodcatjackets.com/ - she might have some advice.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 19/01/2022 11:44

Not ignoring anyone, I'll get back to you asap!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/01/2022 11:48

You were super quick but let's play on your guilt and demands pictures of the handsome lad anyway :)

haggisaggis · 19/01/2022 12:05

Is he a Maine Coon? Has similar features and is absolutely gorgeous! I know Maine Coons can be trained to walk on a harness - ours was as a kitten and his breeder walks hers too. Think the harness went over his head though.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 19/01/2022 12:43

Hi @Joxster

Spartacus is right, I've been walking my lad successfully for 5 years. He was 18 moths old when we started.

He has a Mynwood jacket which isn't the type you are describing but Leroy has never got out of one. He's got out of all others.

The trick is to wait until he is asking to go out, try a little tease with someone holding the door open a crack. The desire to go out then overrides the desire to not have the harness on 😁 Jacket on asap then straight out so he learns that the jacket means he's going outside. If he refuses to have the jacket on don't push it, but walk away from the door and do something else. No jacket = staying in. (I'm not going to lie - I still have this pantomime with Leroy occasionally 😂)

Good luck!

It’s a harness question
YesItsMeIDontCare · 19/01/2022 12:56

Sorry I meant to add a bit

It's nothing like walking a dog. You can't pop a cat in a car and take them to the local park. You have to follow their lead and go where they want to go (within reason 😁).

I spend a lot of time standing around while Leroy sniffs about but it was my choice to have a cat and my choice to take him out so that's just the bed I've made for myself 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s a harness question
YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/01/2022 13:00

Leroy! :)

haggisaggis · 19/01/2022 15:02

Yep nothing like walking a dog! You go one way, cat goes the other...
We did find it useful when our cat was small though.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/01/2022 16:32

Was also about to surges Mynwood walking jackets. I inherited one and used it a bit on my cat. They are secure. And Magic loved having Batman on her back.

Joxster · 19/01/2022 19:30

@YesItsMeIDontCare Leroy is such a handsome boy!! Thanks for all the advice, I’ve definitely started to appreciate where the phrase “herding cats” comes from Grin He just does what he wants while I follow!

OP posts:
Joxster · 19/01/2022 19:33

@YetAnotherSpartacus thank you for the help!

@haggisaggis yes we’ve been told he’s half Maine Coon probably, he’s got the floof, the mane, the pointy ears and the big personality but he’s just regular cat sized 😁

OP posts:
Joxster · 19/01/2022 19:37

Added cat tax!

It’s a harness question
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