Most cats take pleasure in being outdoors because it provides them contemporary air and permits them to apply the searching sequence they had been born to do. However as a accountable proprietor, you realize that inside is the most secure place for them.
For those who’re focused on introducing the nice open air to your indoor cat, it’s best to know that it’s attainable to coach a cat to stroll on a leash with a harness. When harness and leash coaching is completed accurately, your cat can have the chance to discover the outside in a secure and managed setting. This isn’t one thing that essentially comes naturally for our feline companions, however that doesn’t imply that they will’t be taught.
Learn on to seek out out 10 easy steps for harness coaching your kitty so that you’ll be one step nearer to giving them the style of the outside they want.
The ten Steps on How you can Harness Practice a Cat
1. Set Practical Targets
In an ideal world, each kitty will take to their harness shortly and simply. Nevertheless, as a cat proprietor, you realize that cats do what they need, when they need, on their very own time! Some kitties heat as much as the thought of their harness and leash immediately, whereas others could take fairly a while to develop into snug with them. You already know your pet finest, so be sure you’re at all times watching their physique language for indicators of hysteria or discomfort.
2. Select the Proper Harness
Earlier than you possibly can start coaching, you should purchase the right harness in your cat’s dimension. Not all harnesses are created equal, nor are they the identical dimension, so that you’ll truly must take some measurements to make sure an ideal match.
Not all producers use the identical sizing system, so learn the measurement directions supplied by your harness producer very carefully. You’ll want a smooth measuring tape. Most harness sizing charts require your cat’s neck diameter and thoracic girth dimension, however the precise measurements could fluctuate.
Maintain the tape good and near the pores and skin to make sure you get the appropriate match. The harness must be good and cushty however not so tight that it’ll damage them.
Cats can simply escape from free harnesses, so be certain yours suits correctly earlier than taking your cat out for the primary time.
3. Get Your Rewards System in Place
Cats are sometimes very food-motivated, which suggests having the appropriate treats available could make all of the distinction when coaching them. Decide a high-value reward that your cat will solely obtain throughout harness coaching to assist them kind optimistic (and yummy) associations with the coaching at hand.
4. Let Them Discover the Harness
As excited as it’s possible you’ll be on the prospect of adventuring along with your kitty, you will need to first acclimate them to the thought of the harness earlier than you even attempt placing it on them.
Lay the harness on the ground and permit your cat to examine it on their very own time. At any time when they method it, give them a deal with to assist them kind a optimistic affiliation with it. In the event that they flip their cute little nostril up on the harness, attempt laying some treats on high of it to entice them to discover it additional.
Allow them to sniff and paw on the harness. It will permit them to develop into acquainted with its scent and really feel.
This course of will be drawn out and tempting to skip, but it surely’s an integral a part of harness coaching your kitty. You’ll have a way more tough time coaching them in the event you instantly attempt placing the harness on them with out giving them time to discover it first. Forcing them into their harness will be terrifying in your pet and will make them much less more likely to need to put on it ever once more.
5. Familiarize Your self With the Harness
You, too, must develop into acquainted with your cat’s harness, particularly earlier than you even take into consideration placing it on them the primary time. The very last thing you need to do is to attempt to power your kitty into their harness whenever you don’t even know it really works within the first place.
Familiarize your self with the way it goes on and what and the place all of the bells and whistles are. Strive adjusting the buckles or clips a number of occasions so you understand how they’re purported to work. This ensures it is possible for you to to make the correct changes confidently when it’s in your cat.
As a result of there are a number of totally different kinds of harnesses, you’ll must learn the producer’s directions to suit it good in your kitty.
6. Put It on Inside Your Home
As soon as you are feeling that you just’re snug with the ins and outs of the harness and that your cat is used to the odor and really feel of it, it’s time to attempt it on.
The primary few occasions you set it on, don’t buckle it shut. The comfortable feeling of the harness will be fairly scary in your cat at first, so allow them to get used to the way it feels when it’s free on their physique first.
After giving them a while to get used to their harness unbuckled, attempt fastening it and adjusting the straps so it suits correctly on their physique. Provide plenty of optimistic reinforcement and a wholesome distraction whereas doing so.
Keep in mind, we would like a cosy match, however nothing so tight that it digs into your kitty’s pores and skin. Permitting sufficient house to position one or two fingers between the harness and your cat’s pores and skin must be about proper.
7. Preserve Classes Brief
The primary few occasions you set the harness in your cat, go away it on for only a minute or two at a time. As you progress along with your coaching, they will start carrying it for prolonged durations. Provide loads of these aforementioned high-value treats at this stage to strengthen the method.
8. Put the Harness on at Meal or Play Time
One other nice technique to encourage your kitty to kind optimistic associations with their harness is to place it on them for a couple of minutes at meal or playtime. Incorporating the harness into on a regular basis actions will assist them develop into accustomed to it faster, they usually could even come to take pleasure in it.
It’s possible you’ll want to take a seat on the stage for a while, permitting them to put on the harness round the home and go about their day. Don’t rush to introduce the leash. The extra time you permit your kitty to get used to the harness, the simpler it’ll be to suggest the thought of exploring the nice open air.
9. Introduce the Leash
As soon as you realize your kitty is snug of their harness, you possibly can start leash coaching them. Begin off with strolling them leashed round your property. Keep away from introducing the leash outdoors.
10. Pull Again at Indicators of Stress
Preserve a detailed eye in your cat through the harness coaching course of so you possibly can shortly decide up on indicators of them being overwhelmed or harassed. Overstimulating your cat could make them scared of the harness—and even you!
Indicators of being overwhelmed or harassed embrace:
- Appearing defensive
- Cowering
- Ears laid again
- Hunched again
- Loud vocalization
Last Ideas
Harness coaching your cat appears like an advanced and drawn-out course of, but it surely doesn’t need to be. The steps we’ve shared above ought to give you the framework essential to get your kitty accustomed to carrying a harness. As soon as they’re used to the texture of a harness, you possibly can introduce a leash and take the subsequent steps to make sure your cat is secure when you discover the outside collectively.
Featured Picture Credit score: Abis Pictures, Shutterstock
