this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2023

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Any other harness wearing cats out there? (beehaw.org)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This is Conan. Gets into too much trouble on his own so he has to wear a leash out on walks.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That looks lovely! Do you actually get to walk him like you'd walk a dog, or does he just explore where he wants?

When the weather is nice I take my cat out on his harness too. I just let him explore as he wants... Which just means sniffing around the parking lot near my house (which is the neighborhood Cat Central). I believe my neighbors now knows me as "that weirdo who walks their cat" 😅

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I believe my neighbors now knows me as “that weirdo who walks their cat”

Solidarity my brother/sister.

At first he just went mostly where he wanted to go. But I've been working with him several years and he's got a few commands down. If I tug his leash and say "this way" or "come on" he'll turn and follow me, "psh psh" means 'hurry up', and "be good" means 'stop trying to get in trouble and sit down'. He knows the route we usually take around the neighborhood and is good about following it.

My other harness kitty has been wearing harnesses pretty much since she could walk. You can walk her like a dog. You really don't even need the leash most of the time, she knows "harness = going for a walk, stay close."

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

That's awesome that you managed to teach him commands! I'd love to do the same, but mine is deaf (has been all his life) and also generally not very perceptive or smart... For example, when I notice 6 cats while we're out on our walk, he might spot just 1 of them if we're lucky 😂 So I really have no idea how to even approach teaching him commands. But at least he's learned he can't just walk into the street when there's cars coming (those he doesn't notice either)!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Mine will go on walks with me but won't wear the harness. She doesn't run off, just kind of trundles around like an old dog lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

That's kind of adorable. I might get a cat now.

Are you fearful of dogs chasing or barking at her? Or even more importantly, if she panics and runs onto the road where there are cars?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

My old kitty was a harness kitty but I haven't tried with Marbles yet. She'll nees to be come summer but for now she just comes out in the garden with me and sticks around very well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Marbles is a great cat name! Cat tax please

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

She's very cuddly and loves being near us. She also has 4 moments of complete chaos a day in between her cuddly naps

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Mine is too gelatinous for a harness. She's able to squeeze herself out of anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

It's definitely on the honor system. He knows he can turn liquid at anytime and get out of it. None of the escape proof harnesses are.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Out of 6 cars I've had over the years only one has enjoyed a harness... of the others there was just a rebellion by slumping on the ground and refusing to move... and another of being a whirling ball of claws... the others wouldn't even go near of there was a harness about....

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

must be a pretty big harness to fit around a car… ;)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Argh! Autocorrect failure on phone and jerboa didn't show my own comment when I posted it! Oops...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Yes! Pippin LOVES going on walks. I like that he gets some exercise and mental stimulation. He loves to explore new places and cackle and squirrels and birds.

Conan is adorable!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

One of my parents’ two cats can occasionally be wrangled into a harness for outdoor exploration, but Mom and Dad have to be careful. She’s a criminal mastermind and exploits any opportunity to do crime, and she really wants to do outdoor crime.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

That's exactly why he's in a harness now. I already had to bail him out of cat jail once.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

we are trying now to our cats acclimated to harness.

does your harness buckle on top or bottom of harness?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

The one in the picture has velcro straps on the bottom and buckles on the side. I've started using this one (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Q7ZCZQ7) since it takes takes pressure off the neck and moves it to their chest (if you're having to hold them back or stop them). I nor the cats like the ones where you have to poke their head and/or legs through holes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I've tried it but my cat gets scared of the footsteps behind her and tries to run away

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Mine will wear the harness and proceed to walk where they want rather than where I want. 🫠

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I try to but once my cat gets the harness on they don't want to do anything

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

That's what he did at first. So I would put the harness on and plop him in the yard. Once he started associating the harness with getting to go outside, he was all for it. Now when he hears someone pick it up, he'll run to the door and wait for it to get put on.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I wish I could upload my adorable little guy here who loves to go on walks in his harness but both browser and jerboa aren't allowing me to upload pictures anymore :(

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Here he is!!! This is Fred and he's a little explorer :) his one bad eye means he barely has depth perception so he always thinks he can grab birds flying over 😂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Awww!! He is ADORABLE, oh my goodness! What a pressure* little adventurer! I love him. Thank you so much for sharing his cuteness with us!! 💕

*Edit: Whoopsie! I meant PRECIOUS little adventurer, lol! I didn't notice my typo until hours later when I went to show my mom the adorable pictures of this cute little explorer! :)