Most cats take pleasure in being outdoors because it provides them recent air and permits them to apply the searching sequence they have been born to do. However as a accountable proprietor, you already know that inside is the most secure place for them.
If you happen to’re keen on introducing the nice outside to your indoor cat, it’s best to know that it’s attainable to coach a cat to stroll on a leash with a harness. When harness and leash coaching is completed accurately, your cat can have the chance to discover the outside in a secure and managed surroundings. This isn’t one thing that essentially comes naturally for our feline companions, however that doesn’t imply that they will’t be taught.
Learn on to search out out 10 easy steps for harness coaching your kitty so that you’ll be one step nearer to giving them the style of the outside they need.
The ten Steps on The way to Harness Prepare a Cat
1. Set Practical Objectives
In an ideal world, each kitty will take to their harness shortly and simply. Nonetheless, as a cat proprietor, you already know that cats do what they need, when they need, on their very own time! Some kitties heat as much as the concept of their harness and leash immediately, whereas others might take fairly a while to change into comfy with them. You already know your pet finest, so be sure to’re at all times watching their physique language for indicators of tension or discomfort.
2. Select the Proper Harness
Earlier than you possibly can start coaching, it is advisable to purchase the right harness in your cat’s measurement. Not all harnesses are created equal, nor are they the identical measurement, so that you’ll truly have to take some measurements to make sure an ideal match.
Not all producers use the identical sizing system, so learn the measurement directions offered by your harness producer very carefully. You’ll want a smooth measuring tape. Most harness sizing charts require your cat’s neck diameter and thoracic girth measurement, however the actual measurements might range.
Maintain the tape good and near the pores and skin to make sure you get the suitable match. The harness ought to be good and cushty however not so tight that it’ll damage them.
Cats can simply escape from unfastened harnesses, so be sure yours matches correctly earlier than taking your cat out for the primary time.
3. Get Your Rewards System in Place
Cats are sometimes very food-motivated, which implies having the suitable treats readily available could make all of the distinction when coaching them. Choose a high-value reward that your cat will solely obtain throughout harness coaching to assist them kind optimistic (and yummy) associations with the coaching at hand.
4. Let Them Discover the Harness
As excited as chances are you’ll be on the prospect of adventuring along with your kitty, you will need to first acclimate them to the concept of the harness earlier than you even attempt placing it on them.
Lay the harness on the ground and permit your cat to examine it on their very own time. Each time they method it, give them a deal with to assist them kind a optimistic affiliation with it. In the event that they flip their cute little nostril up on the harness, attempt laying some treats on high of it to entice them to discover it additional.
Allow them to sniff and paw on the harness. This can permit them to change into aware of its scent and really feel.
This course of will be drawn out and tempting to skip, nevertheless it’s an integral a part of harness coaching your kitty. You’ll have a way more tough time coaching them in case you instantly attempt placing the harness on them with out giving them time to discover it first. Forcing them into their harness will be terrifying in your pet and should make them much less prone to need to put on it ever once more.
5. Familiarize Your self With the Harness
You, too, have to change into aware of your cat’s harness, particularly earlier than you even take into consideration placing it on them the primary time. The very last thing you need to do is to attempt to power your kitty into their harness once you don’t even know it really works within the first place.
Familiarize your self with the way it goes on and what and the place all of the bells and whistles are. Strive adjusting the buckles or clips a number of instances so you know the way they’re purported to work. This ensures it is possible for you to to make the correct changes confidently when it’s in your cat.
As a result of there are a number of completely different kinds of harnesses, you’ll have to learn the producer’s directions to suit it good in your kitty.
6. Put It on Inside Your Home
As soon as you’re feeling that you just’re comfy with the ins and outs of the harness and that your cat is used to the odor and really feel of it, it’s time to attempt it on.
The primary few instances you place it on, don’t buckle it shut. The cosy feeling of the harness will be fairly scary in your cat at first, so allow them to get used to the way it feels when it’s unfastened on their physique first.
After giving them a while to get used to their harness unbuckled, attempt fastening it and adjusting the straps so it matches correctly on their physique. Provide a lot of optimistic reinforcement and a wholesome distraction whereas doing so.
Keep in mind, we would like a comfortable match, however nothing so tight that it digs into your kitty’s pores and skin. Permitting sufficient house to position one or two fingers between the harness and your cat’s pores and skin ought to be about proper.
7. Maintain Periods Quick
The primary few instances you place the harness in your cat, depart it on for only a minute or two at a time. As you progress along with your coaching, they will start sporting it for prolonged durations. Provide loads of these aforementioned high-value treats at this stage to strengthen the method.
8. Put the Harness on at Meal or Play Time
One other nice solution to encourage your kitty to kind optimistic associations with their harness is to place it on them for a couple of minutes at meal or playtime. Incorporating the harness into on a regular basis actions will assist them change into accustomed to it faster, they usually might even come to take pleasure in it.
You might want to sit down on the stage for a while, permitting them to put on the harness round the home and go about their day. Don’t rush to introduce the leash. The extra time you permit your kitty to get used to the harness, the better it’ll be to suggest the concept of exploring the nice outside.
9. Introduce the Leash
As soon as you already know your kitty is comfy of their harness, you possibly can start leash coaching them. Begin off with strolling them leashed round your own home. Keep away from introducing the leash outdoors.
10. Pull Again at Indicators of Stress
Maintain a detailed eye in your cat throughout the harness coaching course of so you possibly can shortly choose up on indicators of them being overwhelmed or confused. Overstimulating your cat could make them fearful of the harness—and even you!
Indicators of being overwhelmed or confused embrace:
- Performing defensive
- Cowering
- Ears laid again
- Hunched again
- Loud vocalization
Closing Ideas
Harness coaching your cat feels like a sophisticated and drawn-out course of, nevertheless it doesn’t must be. The steps we’ve shared above ought to give you the framework essential to get your kitty accustomed to sporting a harness. As soon as they’re used to the texture of a harness, you possibly can introduce a leash and take the subsequent steps to make sure your cat is secure when you discover the outside collectively.
Featured Picture Credit score: Abis Images, Shutterstock
