Instructing your cat to stroll on a harness might sound tough, nevertheless it’s a comparatively easy course of that requires just a bit persistence and time. You would possibly even be stunned how shortly some kitties take to strapping in and getting out for journey! Particularly when you’ve bought a feline who craves journey like Mia the Bengal cat.
From the second cat dad Albert met Mia, he knew she was a high-energy cat who wanted greater than indoor playtime to burn all her extra vitality. So, as a paw father or mother dedicated to serving to his Bengal cat thrive, Albert taught Mia to put on a harness so they may each benefit from the outside life. And after just a few coaching classes, Mia was able to prowl the world, permitting Albert to take her locations he by no means thought attainable.
And when you and your kitty are an adventurous pair like Albert and Mia, it received’t be lengthy earlier than you’ve taught your cat learn how to stroll on a harness with these simple steps! Plus, while you and your cat take it exterior for some enjoyable, you’re offering your furry one with a wealth of advantages to their well-being.
Three Causes to Stroll Your Cat
Whereas not all cats need to placed on a harness and head out for a stroll, cats with high-energy drives will typically take proper to it as a result of they want and need the exercise. Mia loves life on the harness, and Albert studies seeing these three advantages from educating her to stroll on a leash.
#1 – Harnessing Up Can Unleash Curiosity
When cats get an opportunity to discover the outside, their pure looking and survival expertise activate, and their curiosity comes alive. This opportunity to unleash the wild and primal facet helps cats thrive in all facets of their lives.
#2 – Drain Your Little Massive Cat’s Vitality
Cats like to discover, and going exterior provides them a number of area to smell and snoop. They’ll spend time investigating each little factor, giving their instincts and vitality ranges an opportunity to go wild. Whether or not they’re exploring a gap within the floor or a tree that makes vantage level for a cat to survey the land, your furry explorer will use each certainly one of their senses to take all of it in. Couple that with some operating round, and also you’ve bought one worn-out kitty in your palms! And a cat who will get loads of wholesome stimulation and train is a cheerful one!
#3 – Collectively Time Deepens Your Bond
Not solely does strolling your cat on a leash present stimulation and train, nevertheless it additionally serves to deepen the bond between you and your cat. And while you get again house after outside adventures, your cat will almost definitely be prepared for a nap. And their favourite place to sleep is curled up in your arms, and snuggle time can be bonding time!
Train Your Cat To Stroll On A Harness
When educating your cat to stroll on a leash, stick to those 4 easy however important steps:
- Select the suitable harness.
- Desensitize your cat to the harness.
- Placed on the harness.
- Stroll your cat on a leash.
And keep in mind, treating your cat to a tasty tidbit for a job nicely accomplished is a key to success for each step of harness coaching!
Select the Proper Harness
While you begin the seek for your cat’s harness, be ready for pages on pages of outcomes. You’ll in all probability discover some stand-out choices immediately and simply dismiss some too. However that also leaves you with tons of of choices to wade by way of. And whereas they aren’t all winners, there’s a harness on the market for each cat. For assist discovering your kitty’s good possibility, take a look at What to Search for In A Harness For Your Cat.
When you’ve determined what harness you want on your cat, getting the suitable measurement is essential. A harness that’s too large makes it simpler on your cat to flee, whereas one which’s too small may cause discomfort. And a cat who finds a harness uncomfortable is prone to plop on their facet and refuse to maneuver. And that’s no enjoyable for anybody! To keep away from a misfit, examine the producer’s suggestions on measurement and measure your cat earlier than shopping for. The perfect match permits two to a few fingers to slide between the harness and your cat’s physique.
For those who’re nonetheless not sure which harness to attempt, contemplate the OutdoorBengal Escape-Proof Cat Harness. It’s light-weight and makes escape practically not possible.
Desensitize Your Cat to the Harness
You know the way cats may be; while you carry them one thing new, they aren’t at all times thrilled recipients. Except it’s catnip. You then’ll see some quick gratitude out of your feline! However in any other case, cats often take some time to get snug round new issues, and it will embrace their harness too.
To desensitize your cat to the harness, place the harness in areas the place your cat hangs out most and allow them to soak the harness with their scent. As soon as the harness smells a bit extra like your cat and rather less like a manufacturing facility and dyes, the simpler it is going to be to get your cat used to carrying it. While you see your cat testing the harness, reward them for his or her boldness and hand them a deal with! Repeat this till your cat thinks the harness’s presence isn’t any large deal. Simply keep in mind to take your time and take issues gradual. That is presupposed to be the start of a number of enjoyable for you and your cat, and also you don’t need to spoil it by dashing interactions with the brand new and unfamiliar harness.
Put the Harness on Your Cat
Now, the second of fact is upon you. It’s time to place the harness in your cat! The simplest option to put a harness in your cat is by educating them to sit down and keep. Need to educate your cat to sit down? Outside Bengal gives this glorious video tutorial on learn how to practice your cat to sit down and keep.
In case your cat doesn’t know learn how to sit and keep, you can even put the harness on by securing your kitty’s rump between your elbow and physique, leaving each free palms to strap your cat into the harness. Within the video beneath, Albert and Mia illustrate learn how to put a harness in your cat.
You’ve accomplished it! Your cat is of their new harness. Certainly one of two issues will probably occur now…
1) Your cat doesn’t thoughts the harness and begins consuming and enjoying immediately whereas carrying it.
2) Your cat hates the harness and doesn’t transfer or plops on the ground.
In case your cat doesn’t thoughts carrying the harness, congratulations! You’ve bought a cat that’s able to stroll on a leash! But when your kitty is lower than thrilled about their new accent, that’s okay too. It simply means extra apply is required. Repeat the trying-on course of and reward generously till your cat doesn’t fuss about carrying the harness. This course of would possibly take up to some weeks, so don’t surrender. The reward is nicely definitely worth the work for each you and your cat.
Stroll Your Cat on a Leash
As soon as your cat is snug carrying the harness, including the leash shouldn’t be laborious. Begin indoors to acclimate your cat to being guided by way of the leash. As soon as the 2 of you might have strolling about the home mastered, enterprise outdoor to a quiet spot freed from canines and unfamiliar folks. As your cat will get increasingly more accustomed to the leash life, you can begin braving extra populated areas. And shortly, you and your feline BFF shall be trekking all over the place!
Habituation occurs when expertise beats expectations. In case your cat doesn’t like one thing however is slowly and persistently confronted with that state of affairs, and the end result is a optimistic expertise, their concern of that occasion will finally diminish. Nonetheless, the road between advancing and creating trauma may be very high quality. In case your cat has a nasty expertise, weeks of progress may be misplaced in simply at some point. To maintain issues optimistic, classes needs to be saved brief and candy.
Now, are you and your cat prepared for some journey? Then get your cat an OutdoorBengal Escape-Proof Cat Harness and get exterior. And when you’re roaming, you would possibly simply discover Albert and Mia on the market too!