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.
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.
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....
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.
You have to accommodate them to it. Mine also just flopped down on the ground when I first put him in it, but now he goes on full walks with us. Baby steps :)
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.
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" 😅
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."
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)!
The one in the picture has velcro straps on the bottom and buckles on the side. I've since went to 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.
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 :(
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 😂
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! :)