Harness First Timers

INTRODUCING YOUR CAT TO THEIR HARNESS - INDOOR TRAINING

Before you introduce your cat to their new harness, gather up some tasty food-based treats that you can use as a reward. If your cat just isn't that into food, you can switch up their rewards to whatever they enjoy - e.g. playtime with a favourite toy. 

Once you've got your 'rewards' to hand, you're ready to begin! 

 

PHASE 1 - FIRST ENCOUNTERS

At the first session, hold the harness out to your cat so that they can give it a good sniff. Whenever they show signs of taking a relaxed interest in the harness - e.g. inspecting it, sniffing it or rubbing their scent on it, reward them with a treat and praise.  

How did it go?

  • My cat was super chilled when I showed them the harness
    Great! You're ready for phase 2. 

  • My cat was pretty nervous around the harness
    Don't worry! Keeping each session nice and short so that your cat always feels in control, repeat the training session above as many times as you need to (on different days) until your cat's anxiety levels around the harness drop. When they are happy and relaxed in the presence of the harness, you're ready for phase 2. 

 

PHASE 2 - PUTTING THE HARNESS ON

Put the harness on your cat (without the leash), leave it a few seconds, and then remove it. Deploy treats and praise! 

Over the next few sessions, start to build up the amount of time that you leave the harness on - taking your cues from your cat and what they are prepared to try. Each time your cat shows a little bravery or tolerates their harness for that little bit longer, reward them with treats and plenty of praise. 

How did it go?

  • My cat lets me put the harness on but now they're just standing still / walking funny / hiding under some furniture! 
    This is a perfectly normal reaction as your cat gets used to the new sensations of wearing a harness. Don't panic! As long as they're able to wear their harness, you're ready to progress to Phase 3. 
  • My cat won't let me put their harness on without a battle
    If your cat takes a strong dislike to their harness, take a few days off from training to give them a little bit of rest, before restarting your sessions again from the beginning of phase 2. See if you can break the process down into even smaller steps: e.g. pick your cat up and touch them with the harness (but don't put it on yet), deliver a reward, and so on. Once you've built up to the stage where they will put their harness on, you're ready for Phase 3!

 

PHASE 3 - WALKING IN THE HARNESS

Over the next few sessions, encourage your cat to start to move in their harness, and give them lots of treats and praise for doing so. A feather toy can be handy to coax them into moving around, or you can place a treat one step in front of them, then two steps, and so on. 

Continue this process until your cat is happy to walk in their harness, and their posture has relaxed from a low crouch to an upright, more natural walk.

Don't forget to still keep each training session nice and short. You want to make sure you stop before your cat's attention span expires!  

How did it go?

  • My cat is moving around happily in their harness and walking pretty much normally
    Wonderful! You're ready to progress to outdoor training.
  • My cat is still moving unusually in their harness, or they don't seem to want to move at all
    Don't worry - this is perfectly normal. Some cats can take longer than others to start to move naturally in their harness. Simply keep up the nice short training sessions (no more than one per day), keeping the progression between each one as gradual as possible.

    Also, if your cat is quite a private cat, they may just be a little freaked out from all of the attention they are suddenly getting! In these cases, it can actually help to back off a little and give them some space to work out how they feel about the harness. Simply supervise them from a short distance away - you may find that they build in confidence on their own once they are a little less 'bombarded' with attention! 

 

3. OUTDOOR TRAINING 

For your cat's first trip outdoors, start small. You've taken baby steps to get your cat to this point, and you'll want to continue that strategy as you move outside. A stroll around your garden, or a quiet (preferably dog-free) park is the perfect starter-adventure. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

It’s worth taking a moment to talk about what ‘walking’ a cat looks like – because it doesn’t look much like a ‘walk’ at all! Instead of a journey from A to B, your cat’s outdoor exploration will likely be much more meandering. Let them set the pace and agenda, whilst you keep an eye out for any hazards. 

HOW TO GET THERE

Even if you are walking your cat just outside your house, it’s good practice to always transport them to the location you’ve chosen for your outdoor adventure, rather than letting them get there themselves. This will stop them from getting too independent, and thinking that they can go on solo adventures without you.

If you’re heading for your back yard, you can simply carry your cat in your arms, but if you’re venturing further afield, pop them in their cat carrier for the journey there and back.

WHAT TO PACK

Don’t forget to pack a stash of treats to reward your cat as you go! You might also want to bring their cat carrier along, in case they get nervous and want to retreat to a place of safety. Finally, make sure your cat is wearing a collar with ID tag at all times (and ideally is microchipped too).

LEASH TRAINING

Once your cat is outdoors, they will naturally start to test the boundaries of where they are allowed to go! If your cat wants to head in a direction that you’d rather they didn’t, all you need to do is gently, firmly, stand your ground. Hold the leash steady, give a calm verbal command (e.g. ‘no’) and make it clear to your cat that you’re not going to change your mind. Soon, your cat will realise that their chosen path just isn’t on the agenda, and they’ll find another direction to head off in.

WHEN TO COME HOME

For your cat’s first outdoor adventure, don’t expect the earth! They might not want to do any exploring at all, so remember that just being outside is a huge milestone and one to be proud of. You can build up from here, so keep the first sessions short and sweet, and stay tuned in to your cat’s body language – you want them to come home happy and wanting more.

 

4. BUILDING CONFIDENCE 

With each of your subsequent walks you can push your cat’s boundaries that little bit further, but remember to progress at your cat’s pace. It’s the gradual progression that’s key – don’t jump from a walk in the back yard to a canyon adventure without getting your cat used to all of the baby steps in between.

Remember too that sometimes your cat might just want to sit in their carrier and watch the world go by, and that’s OK!

Good luck with your training journey, and don’t be afraid to ask if you need any help. Just leave a comment below and we'll be happy to help out!