24 Your Cat November 2017EARLY INTRODUCTIONS
Whether your cat will enjoy the experience of walking on a harness and lead depends
on his individual personality and home life.
Timid cats who have spent all their lives indoors, and have shown no willingness to
venture outside, probably won’t enjoy suddenly going out, especially if you live on
a busy road or one highly populated with dogs or other cats. On the other hand,
a confident cat who is itching to get out and explore might enjoy the opportunity.
If you don’t have a garden, but are considering getting a cat and would like to take
him out on a lead and harness, the key is to introduce him to the idea very slowly.
Alice Potter, RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, says: “If people want their cats to go
outside on a harness, they must introduce them as early as possible, even for a short
period of time, and use treats to create a positive association.
“We suggest getting kittens used to a harness and collar as soon as they come
home. It’s important to do this when they’re really young, during their window
of learning, but you can’t take them out until they’ve had their second set of
vaccinations at 12 weeks.”HOW TO TRAIN YOUR CAT
1
If your cat doesn’t ordinarily wear
a collar, you need to get him used to
this first. Try holding it out to him; if he
approaches to investigate, reward him
with a treat, so that he comes to associate
it with positive things.2
Once he is used to his collar, you can
begin to gradually place it around his
neck for a few seconds. Don’t fasten it
initially, and remember to reward with
a treat if he seems comfortable. Gradually
move on to fastening it, but if at any point
your cat seems upset, go back a step and
try to progress at a slower pace.3
Once he is used to wearing a collar,
eventually you can move on to
a harness. Repeat the same process as
you did with his collar, then move on to
attaching the lead as well, and gradually
increase the amount of time he wears it
around the house.
Anita recalls: “I introduced my cats to
the harness as a toy to begin with, and
left it lying around the house. Gradually,
I started to put the harness on them
during mealtimes, extending the time they
wore it until they no longer noticed.”4
Once your cat is happy wearing the
harness indoors, try taking a tentative
step into your back garden (if you have
one) to see how your cat responds to the
outdoors. If he is keen to explore, let him
do so at his own pace. If he seems unsure,
don’t push it.5
Over time, you can begin walking your
cat further away from the house, and
perhaps even take him for a stroll around
your neighbourhood! —“I introduced my cats to
the harness as a toy to
begin with, and left it lying
around the house.”
Did you
know?
You can buy many
different styles
of harnesses for
your cat online.Anita Kelsey’s NFC,
Zaza, loves walking
on a harness.Get your cat used to
wearing a harness indoors
before going outside.22-24 YC Harnesses CS CC.indd 24 29/09/2017 09:56