Body harness for a cat

[smilie]

Ok, this may sound crazy but I want to try it. Ever since the weather's been getting warmer one of our cats has been trying to escape everytime we open the door. We live right in town and I want him to be able to go outside. I was thinking about finding a body harness and taking him for walks. Has anyone does this with a cat before?

 

[phisigprincess]

My grandma used to say we'd put them on "strings!" LOL! We did this when the cats were little. It was a great way to take them outside and get them to know their boundries. They used to love it and seemed fine with it. I would recommend it because your cat can experiernce the outdoors in a controlled and safe way!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We did this with our first couple of cats years ago. It was kind of fun--they were our babies at the time. It did get them used to going outside, which is one reason that I wouldn't do it with our current cats. They are inside cats and I don't want them to think they can go outside (not to mention the fact that I now have 4 kids and 2 dogs, so I don't need something else to bring outside ).

 

[Evil Queen]

My oldest son's cat gets taken on a romp in the yard about once every week or two on a harness. He is SO good on this thing.

Just make sure it's a good fit and try it inside for a few minutes. I had some for my cats when I moved back down here and they traveled with me. One actually slipped out at a reststop. Thank goodness she ran right to tree and froze there. I just didn't have it tight enough for her.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My step-mom does this with her cat.

It takes getting used to--but for the cat who wants an extra sense of adventure--this cat eventually put up with it.

YOu just get the little dog harnesses made for little dogs and those will work.

Now you it won't necessarily be like walking a dog, but it keeps kitty safe while allowing kitty to get a breath of fresh air.

 

[helenabear]

I have done this with my cats and one loves it, one hates it. They have great little harnesses out there made for *cats* so find one of those. They will fit much better

Just don't push the cat with it. They may like it, they may love it, they may hate it. And dont' think they will follow you like a dog does... definitely a different mind set with these creatures

Have fun trying at least!

 

[mssocks]

It depends on the cat. When I held up the harness, my first cat would run to the door. She would spend the entire day happy as a lark clipped to the clothesline. My two little hellions now - see the harness and run under the bed. We do not go out here now.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

We tried this with my Simon kitty (who died last June), but I wouldn't do it again with a cat. Simon adapted to it right away and was always curious to explore when we got him outside. Simon loved it too much - it made him all the more determined to get outside, and he got too comfortable being out there, so when he escaped he would wander farther. Our current cats, Beatrice and Rosalind, are strictly indoor only cats. They both try to get out, but when they do manage to escape they stay close to the house.

There are also "cat play yards" that are designed for your cat to play outside without being on a leash. Our friends have one of these that they got online. They let their cats out into the "play yard" a couple times a day and the cats eat the grass and nap and play there. I think it's funny!

 

[gradtchr]

My cats are both harnessed and neither one minds it. My vet recommended it to me with my first cat because they get out of collars so easily and Simba was always trying to escape so with a harness he at least will always have his tag on. If I take it off of him for any reason he will actually physically bring it to me to put it back on him. Pooh is fine with it and it doesn't seem to bother him in the least.

 

[bevtoy]

Ok, this may sound crazy but I want to try it. Ever since the weather's been getting warmer one of our cats has been trying to escape everytime we open the door. We live right in town and I want him to be able to go outside. I was thinking about finding a body harness and taking him for walks. Has anyone does this with a cat before?

Yes, we took our cat for a drag like that....once. Never again.