DIY Cat Harness
Purchasing readymade cat harnesses can be expensive. It can also be a difficult task to get the right fit for your cat – some are too big, some fit too tight; others make your cat uncomfortable etc. One of the few solutions to this is to try making a do it yourself cat harness.
DIYs are getting more famous because of the flexibility and cost-friendly aspect of the process. Do it yourself cat harnesses also fall under the same category.
You have the freedom to choose the perfect material for your cat’s maximum comfort, try the best fit with custom measurements and easily tweak the harness if it’s too tight or too loose.
Getting started with a do it yourself cat harness is fairly simple. All you need to do is follow the steps detailed below.
The Basics of a Do It Yourself Cat Harness
Cat harnesses are essentially vests that go over and/or around a cat’s limbs and conjoin at a leash attachment hook on the back of the straps. This provides better control and mobility when walking a cat.
Outdoor safety and security for cat companion is what a cat harness provides – and a do it yourself cat harness provides that at a cheaper cost.
To get started, you need some materials and a few tools.
Materials for a Do It Yourself Cat Harness
The simplest type of making a do it yourself cat harness is the H-shaped cat harness. Start by gathering the following:
- A pair of scissors
- A sewing machine
- A tape for measuring
- Nylon fabric or webbing
- Buckle clips
- Tri-gliders
- D-shaped rings
Once these materials and tools have been gathered, the process begins.
Making a Cat Harness
In a few simple steps, you will create the perfect do it yourself cat harness for your feline friend.
Taking the Measurements
First off, start by taking measurements of your cat’s collar region. Take a measuring tape and pass it around the neck of your cat. Once you have measured the neck, cut the same length from a nylon fabric or webbing material.
Repeat the same process for the lower belly part of your cat. Measure the girth or circumference and cut the same length from the nylon fabric.
You will also need to add a few extra centimeters or inches for attaching buckles to both ends of these nylon straps.
Making Strap Buckles
The second step is to attach the buckles at both ends of each individual collar and belly/torso nylon strap ends.
Pass one end through the fold of the buckle and stitch it on itself, creating a secure loop that holds the buckle in place. Repeat the same process but using the other part of the buckle on the opposite strap end.
Repeat these steps for both the collar nylon strap and the torso nylon strap. You will end up with two straps that can now be secured with buckles.
Leash Attachment Hook & Connecting Strap
Depending on the length of your cat, cut another strap from the nylon webbing and connect it with stitches to both the collar strap and the torso strap.
An ideal position would be the middle of the collar strap and the parallel equivalent on the torso strap.
On the attachment point of the torso strap, loop a D-hook on the end of the connecting nylon strap. Then fold it on itself, securing the D-hook, and stitch it. This hook will be where the leash or lead can be attached to the cat harness.
At this point, your DIY cat harness is ready. Try making your cat wear it gently by occupying them with treats and training them to be comfortable wearing this do it yourself cat harness.
Once your cat is comfortable wearing the harness, continue by attaching the leash to the D-hook. Now you’re ready to take your cat out on a walk with the do it yourself cat harness.
Summary
To sum up, making a do it yourself cat harness is pretty simple. You can make a decent cat harness at a low cost by making it yourself. You can also add tri-gliders to both collar and torso straps. This will allow you to fine-tune the harness to fit your cat perfectly to enjoy outdoor adventures fully.
