To make your cat’s time outside as pleasant as possible, it is important you have them on a cat harness that fits them well. That raises the question of how you measure a cat for a harness.
Taking your pet outside with a leash attached to their collar works perfectly with dogs. With cats however, collars are not the best option. They have very flexible bodies and could very easily squirm out of a collar, especially if they get scared and try to run away.
That is why, if you want to take your cat for walks or outdoor adventures, you need to acquire a cat harness.
How You Measure a Cat for a Harness
The first thing you will need is a measuring tape to measure your cat’s body around its chest and neck. If you do not have a measuring tape, you can use a string, wrap it around the chest and neck, and then put it against a ruler to measure it.
Cat harnesses come in different standard sizes, namely XS, S, M and L. The charts usually include the different measurements in inches or centimeters of a cat’s chest and neck. That is why, in order to choose the right size, you need to know how you measure a cat for a harness.
Tip: make sure the measuring tape or string is tight around your cat’s body, beyond the fluffy hair.
Different types of Cat Harness
Once you’ve learned how you measure your cat for a harness, you need to choose the kind of harness you want for your cat. There are 3 different types:
H shaped harnesses
Vest harnesses
Jacket harnesses
H shaped harness, as the name says, has the shape of a letter H. It has less points of contact with your cat’s body and for that reason, if your cat is a small kitten or if you are just starting harness training, this would be the best option for you.
Vest harnesses cover more of your cat’s body, which makes it harder for your cat to take it off upon sudden movement. However, it takes longer for cats to get used to the feeling of having them on.
Jacket harnesses provide not only safety, covering most of your cat’s body, but also keeps them warm in low temperatures.
The type of harness you choose depends on the kind of activity you want to do with your cat.
Cat Harness Sizes Chart
Each one of these types of harness comes with its own size chart. You will have to use your cat’s measurements in order to choose the correct size. Here is an example of a size chart:
- XS: Chest 9.5 – 15 in / 25 – 38 cm – Neck 7 – 9.5 in / 17 – 25 cm
- S: Chest 11 – 16.5 in / 29 – 43 cm – Neck 8 – 11 in / 20 – 29 cm
- M: Chest 12.5 – 18 in / 31 – 46 cm – Neck 9 – 12 in / 22 – 32 cm
The smaller sizes XS and S are for small kitties, while the larger ones are for older adult cats.
It Needs to Fit Them the Right Way
When choosing the correct size for your cat’s harness, there are a few things to consider.
- Firstly, if your cat is fully-grown and its measurements are in between sizes, you should always choose the smaller one to avoid the risk of your cat wiggling out of the harness. It is always better to go for a tighter option.
- On the other hand, if your cat is still growing, it is better to choose a bigger size that will fit them for a longer period while they are still growing. Some types of harnesses are adjustable, which is an option you might want to take into account.
It Is Not Too Tight, Your Cat Just Doesn’t Like It
It is important to be aware that a harness will not harm your cat in any way. However, it will probably take your cat some time to get used to the feeling of having a harness on.
Every cat is different, and for some of them it could take some time to feel 100% comfortable with one. Nevertheless, do not give up, they will eventually get used to it and will love the opportunity to explore the outside world with you.
If you have followed the steps on how you measure a cat for a harness, you can be sure that you have made the right product choice.
