Instructing your cat to stroll on a harness might sound difficult, however it’s a comparatively easy course of that requires just a bit endurance and time. You may even be stunned how rapidly some kitties take to strapping in and getting out for journey! Particularly should you’ve received a feline who craves journey like Mia the Bengal cat.
From the second cat dad Albert met Mia, he knew she was a high-energy cat who wanted greater than indoor playtime to burn all her extra power. So, as a paw guardian dedicated to serving to his Bengal cat thrive, Albert taught Mia to put on a harness so they might each benefit from the outside life. And after only some coaching classes, Mia was able to prowl the world, permitting Albert to take her locations he by no means thought doable.
And should you and your kitty are an adventurous pair like Albert and Mia, it received’t be lengthy earlier than you’ve taught your cat methods to stroll on a harness with these simple steps! Plus, once you and your cat take it exterior for some enjoyable, you’re offering your furry one with a wealth of advantages to their well-being.
Three Causes to Stroll Your Cat
Whereas not all cats wish to placed on a harness and head out for a stroll, cats with high-energy drives will typically take proper to it as a result of they want and wish the exercise. Mia loves life on the harness, and Albert experiences seeing these three advantages from instructing her to stroll on a leash.
#1 – Harnessing Up Can Unleash Curiosity
When cats get an opportunity to discover the outside, their pure searching and survival abilities activate, and their curiosity comes alive. This opportunity to unleash the wild and primal facet helps cats thrive in all features of their lives.
#2 – Drain Your Little Huge Cat’s Power
Cats like to discover, and going exterior provides them plenty of house to smell and snoop. They’ll spend time investigating each little factor, giving their instincts and power ranges an opportunity to go wild. Whether or not they’re exploring a gap within the floor or a tree that makes a superb vantage level for a cat to survey the land, your furry explorer will use each one in every of their senses to take all of it in. Couple that with some working round, and also you’ve received one worn-out kitty in your fingers! And a cat who will get loads of wholesome stimulation and train is a contented one!
#3 – Collectively Time Deepens Your Bond
Not solely does strolling your cat on a leash present stimulation and train, however it additionally serves to deepen the bond between you and your cat. And once you get again residence after outside adventures, your cat will almost definitely be prepared for a nap. And their favourite place to sleep is curled up in your arms, and snuggle time can also be bonding time!
Train Your Cat To Stroll On A Harness
When instructing your cat to stroll on a leash, stick to those 4 easy however important steps:
- Select the appropriate harness.
- Desensitize your cat to the harness.
- Placed on the harness.
- Stroll your cat on a leash.
And bear in mind, treating your cat to a tasty tidbit for a job properly executed is a key to success for each step of harness coaching!
Select the Proper Harness
While you begin the seek for your cat’s harness, be ready for pages on pages of outcomes. You’ll in all probability discover some stand-out choices instantly and simply dismiss some too. However that also leaves you with tons of of choices to wade via. And whereas they aren’t all winners, there’s a harness on the market for each cat. For assist discovering your kitty’s good choice, take a look at What to Search for In A Harness For Your Cat.
When you’ve determined what harness you want in your cat, getting the appropriate measurement is essential. A harness that’s too large makes it simpler in your cat to flee, whereas one which’s too small could cause discomfort. And a cat who finds a harness uncomfortable is more likely to plop on their facet and refuse to maneuver. And that’s no enjoyable for anybody! To keep away from a misfit, research the producer’s suggestions on measurement and measure your cat earlier than shopping for. The best match permits two to a few fingers to slide between the harness and your cat’s physique.
For those who’re nonetheless uncertain which harness to strive, take into account the OutdoorBengal Escape-Proof Cat Harness. It’s light-weight and makes escape practically not possible.
Desensitize Your Cat to the Harness
You know the way cats may be; once you carry them one thing new, they aren’t all the time thrilled recipients. Except it’s catnip. Then you definitely’ll see some speedy gratitude out of your feline! However in any other case, cats normally take some time to get comfy round new issues, and this can embody their harness too.
To desensitize your cat to the harness, place the harness in areas the place your cat hangs out most and allow them to soak the harness with their scent. As soon as the harness smells slightly extra like your cat and rather less like a manufacturing facility and dyes, the simpler it will likely be to get your cat used to sporting it. While you see your cat testing the harness, reward them for his or her boldness and hand them a deal with! Repeat this till your cat thinks the harness’s presence is not any large deal. Simply bear in mind to take your time and take issues gradual. That is alleged to be the start of plenty of enjoyable for you and your cat, and also you don’t wish to spoil it by dashing interactions with the brand new and unfamiliar harness.
Put the Harness on Your Cat
Now, the second of fact is upon you. It’s time to place the harness in your cat! The simplest approach to put a harness in your cat is by instructing them to take a seat and keep. Wish to educate your cat to take a seat? Outside Bengal provides this wonderful video tutorial on methods to practice your cat to take a seat and keep.
In case your cat doesn’t know methods to sit and keep, you may as well put the harness on by securing your kitty’s rump between your elbow and physique, leaving each free fingers to strap your cat into the harness. Within the video under, Albert and Mia illustrate methods to put a harness in your cat.
You’ve executed it! Your cat is of their new harness. One in all two issues will probably occur now…
1) Your cat doesn’t thoughts the harness and begins consuming and enjoying instantly whereas sporting it.
2) Your cat hates the harness and doesn’t transfer or plops on the ground.
In case your cat doesn’t thoughts sporting the harness, congratulations! You’ve received a cat that’s able to stroll on a leash! But when your kitty is lower than thrilled about their new accent, that’s okay too. It simply means extra apply is required. Repeat the trying-on course of and reward generously till your cat doesn’t fuss about sporting the harness. This course of may take up to a couple weeks, so don’t hand over. The reward is properly well worth the work for each you and your cat.
Stroll Your Cat on a Leash
As soon as your cat is comfy sporting the harness, including the leash shouldn’t be onerous. Begin indoors to acclimate your cat to being guided through the leash. As soon as the 2 of you’ve strolling about the home mastered, enterprise outdoor to a quiet spot freed from canines and unfamiliar folks. As your cat will get an increasing number of accustomed to the leash life, you can begin braving extra populated areas. And shortly, you and your feline BFF shall be trekking all over the place!
Habituation occurs when expertise beats expectations. In case your cat doesn’t like one thing however is slowly and persistently confronted with that state of affairs, and the end result is a optimistic expertise, their worry of that occasion will ultimately diminish. Nevertheless, the road between advancing and creating trauma may be very nice. In case your cat has a nasty expertise, weeks of progress may be misplaced in simply in the future. To maintain issues optimistic, classes must be stored brief and candy.
Now, are you and your cat prepared for some journey? Then get your cat an OutdoorBengal Escape-Proof Cat Harness and get exterior. And when you’re roaming, you may simply discover Albert and Mia on the market too!
