Not all cats like to go for walks or need to. Most places still don’t do it very often to walk a cat. In response to requests from readers, here is a short how-to article that should help you get your cat used to a harness and ready to go outside. Still, wondering if “Cat harness for kittens?” is possible? Let’s find out!
Cat harness for kittens?
Should I go for a walk with my kitten?
Pet experts say that some cats can be taught to walk on a leash and even enjoy it. If you want to teach your kitten to wear a harness and walk on a leash, it’s best to start when it’s young, when it will be more open to it.
How old does a kitten have to be to wear a harness?
Eight weeks.
Cat harness for kittens? Socializing your kitten when it is young is the best way to help it get used to new places and make it easier to train. The first thing you will need is a harness and leash made just for cats. There are many cat harnesses on the market. Keep in mind that kittens are still growing, so you may want to get a larger harness that they can grow into and that you can modify the straps for. Otherwise, you might be purchasing a new harness every two months and wasting your money. Make sure that your kitten can’t easily get out of the harness you buy.
As soon as you have the right harness, you can start training your kitten. You can practice every day, but you should go slowly (The golden rule).
Here’s how to teach your kitten to wear a harness:
Start by letting your kitten wear the harness at home, where it is calm and safe. Take the leash part off and let your kitten get used to the feeling of it.
When a cat wears a harness for the first time, it’s normal for them to freeze up, hesitate to walk, or move very strangely. Your cat probably has never felt anything on his back before, so it will take some time for him to get used to it.
When the harness is brought out, does the kitten stay calm? Continuing to step 3 if yes:
Start with short sessions every day so you don’t overwhelm or stress out your kitten. Play with your kitten with a toy to make it feel at ease.
When walking your cat, do not tug excessively on the leash;
- If your kitty or cat stops, it’s your job to reach down and encourage them to keep moving;
- Use every gentle tug on the leash to guide the direction;
- Patience. Getting a kitten used to a harness can take weeks or months, depending on how much time you have and what your kitten needs.
- Don’t attach your cat’s collar to something and abandon him, even if you’re only going to be gone for a minute. Your cat could hurt himself if he gets caught in the leash, and he won’t be able to run away from any animals that come near.
When you are practicing with your kitten, don’t get upset if they don’t like something being pulled up around them. Just take it step by step. You may spend the first three days just having them approach the obstacle, and then they will begin to step into the holes. If you practice every day for another week, you might be able to start playing around with lifting the harness up a little bit around their legs. It might take a few weeks, but doing it right will really help your kitten feel at ease.
Final words
Cat harness for kittens? Please keep in mind that you should always keep an eye on your kitten. The harness makes sure that walking every day is safe.
In general, experts say you should take your cat for a walk as long as your pet is okay with it. However, you shouldn’t force your cat to do anything that makes them uncomfortable. If you try to get them to go for a walk and they make it clear that they don’t want to, don’t force them.
