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Leash Training Cats

Teaching Your Kitty to Walk Outside in a Harness

Jul 1, 2008

Cat, Magnus Rosendahl, public-domain-photos.com

Not all cats can be leash trained, but if an owner exercises patience and perseverance, many cats will take to it.

For cats that live in apartment buildings or in areas where there are many dangers such as cars or wild animals, leash training can offer the opportunity to get outside while remaining safe.

The ideal age to start leash training is 6-7 months old, and the likelihood of success is higher with cats that have been spayed or neutered.

Choosing a Harness

Rather than using a collar with a leash, cats should be walked using a proper harness or walking jacket designed specifically for felines. Walking jackets are recommended because they are more secure and comfortable.

Cats are escape artists, so it is important to choose a harness that is not easy to squirm out of. Harnesses should be H-shaped, fastening at the stomach and neck. The leash should pull from between the shoulder blades rather than the neck.

For successful harness training, the harness must fit comfortably. It should be snug but not tight. There should be two finger widths at the stomach and neck. Make sure the harness has an ID tag attached to it in case the cat is startled by a loud noise or another animal and makes a run for it.

Introducing the Harness to the Cat

Before beginning harness training, leave the harness out where the cat can sniff it and play with it. After a few days have passed, put the harness on the cat for 5 minutes but don’t attempt to walk the cat. Offer him his favourite food or treat, along with praise, right after putting on the harness so that he comes to associate the harness with positive experiences. Once he has eaten, let the cat wander around for a little while in the harness so that he gets used to it. Do this several times each day for 7-14 days.

Once the cat is accustomed to the harness, you can attach the leash and pull gently, asking the cat to come while offering food or a special treat. When the cat is comfortable with the harness, you can carry him outdoors, speaking calmly and reassuringly, and perhaps providing some food outside.

If leash training an outdoor cat that is used to coming and going as he pleases, keep him indoors for an increasing length of time each day before beginning the training. This will help him to associate the harness with the positive experience of going outside.

Walking Your Cat

When taking your cat for a walk, choose a quiet area at a time of day when there are fewer people, animals and vehicles around. Parks and other green spaces are ideal, as long as there aren’t a lot of large, exuberant dogs in the area.

Don’t expect your cat to walk on a leash obediently the way a dog does. Walking a cat is a compromise of interests. Sometimes you get to lead; sometimes the cat leads. Cats need to vary their pace, stop to explore from time to time, and perhaps eat some grass. However, it is important to let the cat know that he will not get to lead all the time.

Once your cat begins to enjoy his adventures, he may become overly enthusiastic, pulling at the harness and practically ricocheting off the walls or various objects outside. In this case, stand still, hold the leash, and wait until he calms down, praising him for being good when he stops pulling. This stage of training requires great patience.

Harness Training Dos and Don’ts

Once you have begun walking your cat outside, there are a number of dos and don’ts that, if followed, will ensure that leash walking is a safe and positive experience.

Do:

Work on harness training every day—cats are creatures of habit and so making a habit of harness walking will help the cat grow accustomed to it.
Offer lots of reassurance, as cats are inclined to be skittish when hearing loud noises or encountering other people and animals.
Provide praise, affection and rewards when the cat lets you lead with the leash and follows without digging in his heels.

Don’t

Use punishment or harsh words when the cat refuses to walk or tries to go off in another direction—this will cause him to associate the harness with negative experiences.
Drag the cat along with the leash if he is trying to wander off. Stop and wait, give a light tug and release, but don’t pull.
Leave a harnessed cat unsupervised, as he is defenceless and may become prey to roaming animals, or his leash may become entangled.

Harness training provides a compromise between depriving a cat of outdoor experiences and exposing him to the dangers that claim the lives of many outdoor cats. Handled properly, such training enables cats and owners to spend quality time together outdoors without compromising the cat’s safety.