We have a large outdoor area with nice grass that I'm sure Izzy would love to play in, but there's no way I'd just let her outside. So, I figured a compromise would be to get her a harness and a leash.
Now, don't ask me why I thought that I could just put the harness on her and she'd have no problem with it. I put it on her last night, and it's just a touch big, in that the straps hang down where she can bat at them. She sees this as a never-ending toy. I'm letting her wear it while supervised right now, giving her food while she's wearing it in hopes that she'll get used to it and calm down, but as soon as the distraction is gone, she's doing backflips in the air trying to catch the straps again. It's really quite entertaining, and she seems to be enjoying herself with the play time, but it really isn't the purpose of the harness.
I'm completley certain that they wouldn't manufacture these harnesses if it wasn't possible to get a cat to use them without spazzing out. Has anyone successfully gotten their cat to use a harness? I'd love for her to have outdoor play time, but I don't want her to be unsafe in doing it.
Cat harness *seemed* like a good idea... :D
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slvrwhispr
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Re: Cat harness *seemed* like a good idea... :D
You need to introduce her to the harness without putting it on her directly. Just place it on the floor, and let her adjust to it, do not put it on her for a few days until she is comfortable with it's presence on the floor. Although, you need to supervise her at all times.
Gradually, place the harness on her for a few minutes each day so that she gets used to it being on her body. In a few days, attach a lead to the harness and attempt to walk her in the house. If she struggles, cease the attempt and try again the next day, etc.
Once she is completely comfortable with the harness and walking from a lead attached to it, then you can attempt short walks out the door and in a small area outside (preferrably quiet and calm area)...NEVER leave a harnessed kitty unattended outside for any reason, NEVER, and NEVER tie the lead to a tree, stake or anything else, cats can strangle in them. Supervision is required at all times.
While you may feel she would benefit from daily outings, this may in fact encourage her to dart out open doors, a situation you don't want to experience.
Gradually, place the harness on her for a few minutes each day so that she gets used to it being on her body. In a few days, attach a lead to the harness and attempt to walk her in the house. If she struggles, cease the attempt and try again the next day, etc.
Once she is completely comfortable with the harness and walking from a lead attached to it, then you can attempt short walks out the door and in a small area outside (preferrably quiet and calm area)...NEVER leave a harnessed kitty unattended outside for any reason, NEVER, and NEVER tie the lead to a tree, stake or anything else, cats can strangle in them. Supervision is required at all times.
While you may feel she would benefit from daily outings, this may in fact encourage her to dart out open doors, a situation you don't want to experience.
..........Traci
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slvrwhispr
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I wouldn't ever leave her outside unattended. There's too much that could happen to her, and I couldn't bear it.
About the darting out doors thing, the apartment that we live in has a private entrance, and we're on the second floor. We always make sure she's upstairs and engaged in a toy or in food before we leave so she doesn't run down the stairs. But the stairs give an added buffer; we can make sure she's nowhere even near the door before we open it. I know it's not foolproof and cats are quite sneaky, but... we're careful. Super-promise.
About the darting out doors thing, the apartment that we live in has a private entrance, and we're on the second floor. We always make sure she's upstairs and engaged in a toy or in food before we leave so she doesn't run down the stairs. But the stairs give an added buffer; we can make sure she's nowhere even near the door before we open it. I know it's not foolproof and cats are quite sneaky, but... we're careful. Super-promise.
Re: Cat harness *seemed* like a good idea... :D
7 years ago I got my cat used to wearing a harness using the method that Traci suggested. Now if he is hiding under the bed and I want to get him out - I just jingle the harness and leash, and out he comes. He sits very still while I put the harness on him. He loves going out, but he doesn't walk very far.
He has only dashed outside without his harness on once - I was going out of the patio doors and I didn't see that there was a cat at the end of the garden. All of a sudden I saw an orange and white blur run by me. I ran after my cat - and caught him trying to squeeze through a tiny space between 2 fences. That is the only time that having a 22 pound cat ... was a good thing (he couldn't fit between the fences).
Anna and Butternut
He has only dashed outside without his harness on once - I was going out of the patio doors and I didn't see that there was a cat at the end of the garden. All of a sudden I saw an orange and white blur run by me. I ran after my cat - and caught him trying to squeeze through a tiny space between 2 fences. That is the only time that having a 22 pound cat ... was a good thing (he couldn't fit between the fences).
Anna and Butternut