It is generally accepted that a cat walks on its own. Therefore, for the most part, only dogs are kept on a leash. In modern cities, cats spend their lives in confined spaces in apartments without any problems. Few owners will risk freely letting their pet outside, because there are many dangers in the form of cars, dogs and unkind people. A harness will help you avoid these problems.
- 2 Types of harnesses for cats
- 3 In what cases should you not walk with a harness?
3.1 Accustoming the cat to a harness
- 5.1 Video - how to make a harness for a cat with your own hands
What is a harness and why is it needed?
A harness is a specialized restraint device for walking cats and small dogs . This equipment differs from a dog collar in that the leash is attached at the top of the body (usually between the shoulder blades), and not on the neck.
For cats, it is better to use a harness rather than a collar.
There is no need to walk your cat every day, however, situations arise when you need to take the animal outside the house. This could be a visit to an exhibition, a trip to the countryside, or a visit to the veterinary clinic. To ensure safety, it is recommended to wear a harness on your pet, which allows you to always keep it under control.
When walking, the cat must be under the control of the owner.
When finding itself in an unfamiliar environment, a cat may become frightened and panic . A pet that has climbed a tall tree will be extremely difficult to reach. And sometimes they cannot go down on their own and sometimes even break when they fall. If the cat runs away and hides in a quiet and secluded place, then it may not be found at all. It will not be possible to rescue her soon from the basement where a frightened cat will run. When traveling to the country, it is recommended that the animal be released for free range not immediately, but only after a few days, when it is completely accustomed to its new environment. Before this, you need to walk the cat on a harness throughout the entire territory of the site and familiarize it with the surrounding area.
The cat may get scared and climb a tree
Even if you carry your pet in your arms, there is always a chance that it will break free and run away. Therefore, to maintain your own peace of mind, it is better to always put a harness on your cat before going outside.
Types of harnesses for cats
On sale you can find several types of harnesses for cats, differing in design.
There are different designs of harnesses available for sale.
The most popular and widespread is the figure eight model . This accessory consists of two loops fastened together at one point. One loop is placed around the animal’s neck, the second on the body under the front legs. In this case, the connection point is on the back between the shoulder blades, the ring for connecting the leash is located here. Both loops are adjustable with special fasteners and allow you to adjust the harness to the specific dimensions of your pet. This design eliminates the possibility of suffocation of the animal. Unlike a collar, from which cats will slip out if it is fastened too loosely. The product is lightweight and low cost.
The simplest harness looks like the number 8
When putting a figure-eight model on a cat, you should optimally tighten the fastenings. Cats sometimes manage to remove a loose harness. Do not tighten too much, as the animal will be uncomfortable.
A modification of the classic figure eight, which looks like the letter “H”, is in demand . The difference is that the loops are connected to each other by an additional strip. There are two connection points, not one, and they are also located on the cat’s back.
The harness in the shape of the letter "H" is the most popular
From personal experience. For all our cats we purchased harnesses in the shape of the letter “H”. Such products are quite inexpensive and are sold in every major supermarket. It is not so easy to put on equipment on an obstinate cat, but with some skill it can be done very quickly. As experience shows, the harness does not bother the animal at all as long as it is led to where it wants. If you limit its movements, for example, by tying a leash to something, then the cat deftly frees itself from its bonds.
A little less often in stores you can find a model in the form of the Latin letter “V ” . It is also a variant of the classic harness, only the straps are connected under the chest.
V-shaped harness
Harnesses-vests are no longer just loops or belts, but a more modern product in the form of a small jacket. With this design, the tension of the leash is distributed more evenly over the animal’s body. It is believed that this model slightly limits the cat’s freedom of movement and it is much more difficult to get out of such clothes. The products are adjustable in size and secured with Velcro fasteners.
Harness vests are more modern and reliable
Special cat harnesses-overalls are, in fact, clothing that can protect your pet from dirt and cold. A ring is sewn onto the back of this product, to which a leash is attached. There are many different styles and colors to suit any discerning taste.
Harness-overall protects the cat from cold and dirt
Overalls are available for summer and winter. You can choose clothes for any time of the year. The cost of such products is quite high.
Such overall harnesses are practically not adjustable in size.
Cost of a leash for a cat in a pet store
The range from which you can choose a leash for kittens and cats is quite wide in any pet store. The harnesses come in a variety of colors that can be adjusted. You can also find cat harnesses made from different materials: decorative knitted or reflective. Prices are influenced by the type of harness and brand recognition. The cheapest ones can be found for 150 rubles. Vests are a little more expensive. The average price for all types is 300 rubles*
The variety of harnesses is impressive. Designed for the safety of animals, they make walking with them calm for the owner. You can buy leashes at a pet store, order online, or make a harness for your beloved cat with your own hands. But it is worth remembering that the main factors when choosing this device should be the convenience and comfort of the animal.
*Prices are as of August 2021.
When should you not walk with a harness?
Almost all cats love to walk. But there are cases when the animal does not need to be taken outside on a harness.
In some cases, it is better not to take the cat outside
It is better to refrain from walking in the following situations:
- If your pet does not have the necessary vaccinations. This is especially true for small kittens that have not reached 5 months. Immunity does not develop immediately, so it is better to refrain from going outside for now. It is very easy to get an infection.
- Harness walks should be postponed if the cat has recently suffered a serious illness or surgery.
- An animal should not be taken out during estrus.
- Shy, unbalanced and nervous cats may never adapt to unfamiliar conditions, so it is better not to take such animals out for walks at all. When putting on a harness, sometimes they react extremely inappropriately. There will be little benefit from such promenades, because stressful situations negatively affect the general immune system and cause heart pathologies.
- Animals that are too aggressive are also not allowed outside, since fights are guaranteed in this case.
- It is better not to try to accustom an elderly pet over 10 years old who has never walked on a harness before to using this device. This can have a detrimental effect on the cat's health.
It is not recommended to take pregnant or lactating cats outside, as there is a risk of contracting infectious diseases. The immune system in this state is weakened and the body is more susceptible to various diseases.
Getting your cat used to a harness
It’s a rare cat who calmly accepts the design placed on it. Most often, the animal tries to get rid of an unfamiliar object that is bothering it. Therefore, you can start learning from a very early age.
The kitten must first be introduced to the harness and leash.
Small kittens usually get used to wearing a harness very easily. From the age of three months, babies gradually begin to learn. First, the pet is simply introduced to the accessory. To do this, the object is placed where the toys are or near the bowl. The item will be saturated with familiar odors and will not cause anxiety in the animal. After a couple of days, the harness can be put on the kitten for a short time. In this case, you should carefully and carefully tighten all the fasteners, the pet should be comfortable. Your fingers should fit freely under the straps. After 10–15 minutes, the product is removed.
How to accustom a kitten to a harness
If you have a kitten at home, then you should not take it for a walk, because the baby still has a very weak immune system, and it can easily catch an infection. But you can already start accustoming him to a harness. Ideally, do this if the baby is 2-3 months old. The fact is that kittens at this age are easier to learn and get used to something new faster than adult animals. But it should be borne in mind that it is better to walk a small pet up to 5 months in an apartment.
In addition to standard equipment, pet stores also sell special harnesses designed for kittens. You should not immediately put the harness on your animal; give him a little time to sniff and get used to the product. After this, you can put on a useful accessory and immediately remove it. The next day you do the same thing, only give the cat a little time to get around in his new clothes. When your furry friend no longer notices the harness, try attaching a leash.
Choosing a harness for a cat
When choosing a harness, you should, first of all, be guided by considerations of safety and convenience. The accessory should not cause inconvenience to the pet, but at the same time it should be reliable and provide a tight fit. An incorrectly selected or low-quality product can easily tear, and the animal can simply slip out of it.
A poorly chosen harness can be pulled off by a cat.
It is recommended to take measurements of the cat in advance. To do this, measure the circumference of the chest behind the front legs.
When choosing a restraint device, you need to consider the following points:
- The material should be dense, but not rough. The product should be easy to wash.
- Nylon devices are considered the most suitable, as they fit well to the cat’s body, but do not rub anything. Nylon harnesses reliably secure even young and extremely active pets.
- For older pets, cotton products are more suitable, because such cats no longer show excessive activity when walking.
- For cats with delicate and sensitive skin, you can find products with a soft felt or fleece lining.
- The optimal width of the straps is considered to be in the range of 10–15 mm.
- A leash with a length of at least 2 m must be easily unfastened.
- You should carefully read the instructions on the packaging; all the necessary dimensions and parameters are written there.
- Leather products are of little use for cats, as they are heavy, bulky and rub the skin.
It is not recommended to wear leather harnesses on cats, as they are heavy and bulky.
It is better to choose a roulette leash that allows you to control the length.
Experienced cat breeders advise using a harness made from straps during the warm season. You can use a harness-vest, which is made of transparent mesh fabric; the animal will not be hot in it. In winter, various overalls are more suitable, which will also protect your pet from the cold.
Why do cats need a collar?
Any domestic cat can wear a strap around its neck, and it will bring certain benefits. This is especially true for animals that have free range and are more susceptible to various dangers than others. The need for a cat to wear a collar may be due to the following:
- the presence of a strap around the neck in itself makes the animal calmer and more obedient, prone to training;
- the strap can bring specific benefits - protect the animal from ticks and fleas, be equipped with a search beacon, a bell, a reflector, and a tag with the owners’ contact information. All these devices are very necessary if the cat often walks on its own;
- if a pet has such a strap around its neck, this makes it much faster and easier to cope with the animal’s affective behavior - to pull away grappling fighters, to calm a frightened cat, to bring a resisting pet for examination to a veterinarian, to bathe a protesting animal with less effort;
- special self-release harnesses for walking allow you to conveniently walk your cat on a leash;
- sometimes the only function of a collar is decorative, when this item is just a beautiful ribbon decorated with stones or other decor.
Important! Dog collars are completely unsuitable for cats, even if the size is correct. Cat neck straps are safe because they are designed to prevent the cat from accidentally getting caught on something.
To prevent strangulation, some collars have special fasteners that come unfastened in such a situation, while others are equipped with elastic inserts that stretch and allow the stuck animal to slip out of the strap.
Making a harness for a cat with your own hands
You can make a harness for your pet yourself. To do this, you will need a nylon or cotton tape 1–1.5 cm wide. First, take three measurements from your pet:
- girth of the chest behind the front legs (B);
- cervical girth (A);
- the distance along the back from the base of the neck to the place where the chest circumference was measured (C).
The simplest model is the H-shaped harness design. You don't even need a sewing machine to make it. A needle and strong thread will be enough.
The easiest way to make an H-shaped harness
Step-by-step instructions for the process of making an H-type harness:
- We cut a piece from the tape according to measurement C for the jumper with a margin of 2 cm at both ends.
- At the ends of the jumper we bend the tape and make loops for the subsequent placement of the main retaining loops.
- We are preparing a strap for the chest according to measurement B. It is necessary to provide a fastener at its ends. It is best to use plastic locks. Velcro fasteners are not recommended, as they do not provide the required level of reliability.
- The neck strap for measurement A is made using the same technology.
- The prepared jumper is threaded through a metal ring to connect the leash. You can sew the ring tightly to the belt.
- The neck and chest straps are inserted into the loops on the jumper.
This is what the finished product looks like
The finished product is very similar to the letter "H". The length of the straps is adjusted to the size of the pet.
You can sew other harness designs.
You can sew a restraint device from any fabric like a harness-vest
Video - how to make a harness for a cat with your own hands
Which material to choose?
The collar implies its constant use, that is, your pet will be wearing it all the time. Therefore, the choice of material must be taken seriously. First of all, it must be safe for the animal. Good for this:
- leather;
- thick fabric;
- ribbons;
- rubber bands.
If you want to use accessories to make a cat collar with your own hands, then when choosing them you need to be guided by the fact that they should be light and durable. You can use light metal, plastic or silicone.
The collar clasps should also be strong and secure. For this purpose, buttons, Velcro or strap fasteners will do.
- thick steel plate or anvil
- round brass blank for medallion
- cores with letters (in our case, the height of the letters is 6 mm)
- hammer
- masking tape
- small steel ring
- collar you like
- permanent marker and alcohol (optional)
