5 of 10

Write now Article Tools

The ultimate indignity, taming the cat who walks through the wilds. Strapping a fruit-colored harness around the proud chest of your feline and expecting her to follow you may not exactly be the easiest thing in the world, but it can be done...if your cat deems it so.

It is recommended that you use a harness rather than attaching a leash to your cat's collar, as many cat collars feature a breakaway clip for safety. Also, in the event that the cat is an escape artist, a trailing leash is not something you want attached to your cat's neck.

Harnesses come in many fashionable colors and patterns, usually with matching leads. Figure-eight harnesses slip over your cat's head and self-adjust, H-style harnesses have either buckles or clips and need to be adjusted to fit your cat's neck and waist. Three-quarters of an inch is the usual width for a cat harness, unless your fluffy baby has a little too much fluff around the mid-section, then a 1-inch-wide harness may be needed.

Some cats will take instantly to being dressed for walkies, realizing that it's not so bad if it means he gets to walk around eating grass and leaping after butterflies. If you are blessed with one of these cats, the rest of this guide is not for you.

The cat is a mysterious creature, possessing a sense of balance so precise that adding the extra ounces of nylon may cause her to tip over, rolling endlessly on the ground until the offending harness is removed. Be patient. If the harness is not removed, the cat soon deals with this problem by settling into a ball, appearing not to breathe. Do not be fooled, although she is burning holes into the fabric of time with her eyes, she is most likely fine.

Many cats know instinctively when you plan to assault them and so the first step to training-or making your cat think it's his idea-is to make the appearance and sound of the leash and harness a good and exciting thing. How to do this varies from case to case, but if you know what your cat likes, do it and introduce the harness while you're doing it. For instance, if your cat fancies chasing feathers on a stick, leave the harness lying around where you play. Eventually, if you're lucky enough to get the harness on, play with her while she's hooked up. The predatory instinct is almost always stronger than the will to pout.

If your cat already likes to go out, putting the harness on should be much easier, as the cat desperate to get out the door is the cat who will stand there while you dress him. Expecting him

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for leash training your cat?
We want to hear your view. Write now!