Harnessing a cat

In the past 2 weeks, I purchased a little harness for BB. She is more than fine as is; but I just wanted her to experience the outside (it's so beautiful) without fear of her running into any evil neighbors. Anyhoo...

That - "harnessing" her was about the worst freakin experience ever!!!
When I was finally able to get the thing attached (it was just one little snap that would attach it all), she just lay down like she could not move or do anything. Then there would be about 1 1/2 seconds and poof - one of her legs would be out of there. Now, keep in mind she still didn't seem to think she could move with those oh 1/2 oz. extra on her!

We've since tried this several times. I have not gotten scratched nor bitten because I'm fast. She has been able to find more ways around getting into that little (but properly sized) harness that anyone can imagine. There is no way, no how she is gonna use that harness. (It is now sitting on the piano waiting to be taken back for a refund.)

Apparently, in order to get a cat to use a harness it needs to be before they are FULLY grown, huh.

She is just as as happy as can be....and sits in one of the windows in the basement sometimes; but not that much. So, I guess I'm just gonna let this be.

Has anyone else had luck in getting a grown cat to use a harness?

I'll Send You Mine And You Can Get Me A Refund Whilst Your There....

I Bought One For My Most Adventurous Cat "Sky" Who Was A Lilac Point Birman, And

She Was Into All Sorts Of Things My Other Cats Wouldn't Touch With A 40ft Pole.

She Loved Riding In The Car, The Farm Ute, And Even The Beach Buggy I

Drive Around The Farm.

When I Was Floating On An Airbed In The Pool, She Would Wait On The Side Till I

Paddled Over Then She Would Jump On And Float Around With Me....

So I Naturally Thought She Would Be The Obvious One To Train.

How Wrong I Was, I Tried For Weeks, She Would Let Me Fit The Harness O.K.

But As Soon As I Tried To Lead Her She Would Just Flip Herself Onto Her Back And

Lie There With 4 Legs In The Air.

I Cracked Up Laughing Every Time And Methinks Thats Where I Went Wrong,

She Saw It As A Game That Amused Me No End So She Played Along....



Cheers Glen.

Well, I bought a harness for my cat Regan when he was younger (that's been a long time ago now--he died of cancer in August 2007), thinking it'd be fun to take him out into the yard once in a while--well, needless to say, Regan didn't like the harness one bit--I put it on him and while he let me do that, he wasn't too crazy about the idea of going outside--he was strictly an indoor cat! Anyhow, I tried it out on Shadow (who just turned 18 earlier this month), and she didn't mind it one bit--she even let me take her out into the yard, which she loved to do from time to time! Both of these guys were full grown when I got the harness--they were still young, but they weren't exactly kittens either! It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to introduce a cat to a harness when they're young--but most of the harnesses I've seen don't fit kittens! Anyway, you could try reintroducing BB to the harness--you just have to take it slow--some cats just take longer to get used to stuff like that than other cats do--and then some just plain don't do it at all! LOL But give it another try, though--I think it'd be worth it!

GLENGLEN - That is just soooo funny, I am hooting with laughter.

Rainbow, I might give BB one more shot at it, tho' to tell ya' the truth, I think she is just going to be acting out of her gourd and hiding when she sees it this time around - or I can see it, falling on her back like Glen's cat and laying there with 4 legs in the air until she is released from the torture. BB has a way about her that she is able to train me quite effectively.

I had good luck with a collar and a 50 foot rope when I was traveling with a cat. As long as it's not loose enough to allow the cat to slip out of it,your cat may not mind it as much as it does a harness

A harness would never work with my cat...he is so afraid to be outside. When we were moving, he clung to my boyfriends neck and meowed the entire time.

my cat will follow me up the block to the store..i didnt train him..he just follows me and waits around the corner and then he follows me home..and glenglen...a pool?..you are living the life down there eh?

Glen, I think you should keep the harness just for the game

Hey all my cats follow me down this rural road and into the woods (across the street) if I am not careful. I really don't want them following me b/c 2 ton cars will ultimately be a little kitty's (or even a big kitty's) demise. As long as I'm working in the yard ( or my mom is)...they are RiGHT THERE...I call them puppy cats sometimes.
All except for BB who is now forever restricted for wandering into a building which would/could have been her demise. Before BB's current living arrangements, she would consistently follow Jack (dog) and I on our daily walks, playing games with us, etc. Surprisingly enough, BB seems quite the happy camper all the time now...even playing with her "friends" downstairs - friends which I certainly cannot see.

During the past several weeks (during which I have failed to take back the harness), I purchased BB a collar, with the hopes of taking her on walks with that and a leash, with a towel to throw over something (me?) in case of emergency...and we were having to go back inside.

Well....after finally, and I mean at L o n g last getting her to even handle having the collar around her neck, I tried "walking" her with a leash just to the door - for her to go out! She immediately lay there after determining she could not get out of the collar (she could slip right out of it until I got wise as to which hole to use), and the leash only gave her something to scratch and bite at! Other than attacking the leash, she was unable to move and could not get off of her belly.

I am now leaving both the leash and the collar laying around near her so she will get used to them. I tried putting the collar on her earlier; but she wasn't having it...sometimes she will deal with it. (I know...she is training me right?) But, I am still not giving up on getting her a walk outside, tho' I may eventually.