Harness Training

Candycane · 07-06-2003, 02:44 PM

Hi everyone (and Neuro!

),
I just recently bought harnesses and leashes for my cats and I need some tips on how to train them. I put the harness on Sydney and she was rolling and trying to get it off at first. Once I took her outside on the leash she seemed to be ok. Max didn't really mind the harness but he didn't want to walk with me. Is there a way to train them to "walk" like a dog would?

Brandy · 07-06-2003, 02:48 PM

well this is kind of a funny storey,,,my dad and debbie just got a cat and it is full grown and what not,,anyways Debbie bougt her a harness and leash to take her outside and the cat was so scared of the grass it tried to lift all 4 paws at the same time,,,anyways a car drove by and scared the cat so bad it took off running and broke the harness and sat on the steps shakng to go back indoors,,,,they dont take it oout dooors anymore,,lol

neuroleptical · 07-06-2003, 02:58 PM

Great thread idea!!

Here's my 2 cents on training cats to walk on a leash.
I find that getting them used to the harness is pretty easy, esp. if you use the same words everytime you put it on them. Hank purrs loudly when I say "want to go OUTSIDE?", & stands still as I harness her. It pays to start young- hank has been harnessed & outdoors from about 6 months of age.
The thing to remember, as self-explanatory as it might sound, is that cats are not dogs. They do not walk like dogs, which I find refreshing, as dogs irritate me & tire me out with how they want to go great distances @ a fast clip & poop everywhere. Think of how cats & dogs hunt in the wild: dogs run in packs, cats stalk slowly & alone. Dogs get their prey through a more rapid & direct process than cats. I think this explains the different walking styles: dogs are with you, their pack memeber, moving right along as they would on the hunt. Cats prefer to slink, stop, smell, wait, then slink some more.
I find that Hank likes a roll first thing when we go out, but then we get down to the serious business of slinking around hank's territory. We have a route that we follow & @ this point I let her lead. We use a flexi, it works much better than nornal leashes.
Cats unlike dogs do not enjoy walking in public places. Hank likes going through a path in the woods, out into a field.
Once in a while she will be tempermental but generally Hank is good. She never runs from me, or tries to go under cars or anything. She also knows the command "let's go home" & 90% of the time she abides by it. The other 10% I pick her up & she swears @ me in cat language

But she just rests on my shoulder & never scratches in those instances.

Candycane · 07-06-2003, 03:07 PM

Thanks for the advice Neuro. See the problem that I am having is that my dog is well trained to heel and walk "properly" when he is on a lead. The cats in the other hand seem to just go in circles and we don't get much accomplished.

I do have a signal for them to go outside and it consists of ringing a bell that is attached to their harness. They don't really understand yet but I'm sure they will.

neuroleptical · 07-06-2003, 03:16 PM

I would suggest just taking your time with your cats. Hank gradually broadened the area in which she feels safe to walk & now we trespass through 2 neighbouring back yards!!

lol We have a long route now & it is very peaceful slinking through the woods with her.
I can't see teaching a cat to heel- they are not pack members so they don't understand what you want. And pulling the leash/dragging the cat is bad- hank really gets ornery if I ever give her more than a little tug.
I usually just let her walk & accompany her, rather than leading. This may take getting used to for you & your cats, but it can be very rewarding.

Candycane · 07-06-2003, 03:18 PM

I figured that they would kind of do their own thing. Hopefully they will broaden their range to the point that we can walk along the park.

neuroleptical · 07-06-2003, 03:21 PM

I have never tried a park, because they are so far away & hank hates riding in cars in her carrier. But it might be a good plan. Watch out for children & dogs though, or you could be in trouble.

Candycane · 07-06-2003, 03:22 PM

It's not really a park per se, but sort of a wooded area. It's not very populated so I thought the cats would enjoy it.

suzoo · 07-06-2003, 03:26 PM

I think it's great that you guys walk your cats! It's just not for me...every once in a while I take our shelter cat outside for a walk...it's so annoying! Usually we get volunteers to do it...I'm used to walking dogs but all he wants to do is walk in the flower garden along the front of the building and then he plops himself down under a bush and catches bugs...he loves it but I don't...I agree with Neuro, they get very grumpy when you tug on the leash!

neuroleptical · 07-06-2003, 03:26 PM

That sounds like a very good bet CC. If you don't have a flexi I highly recommend getting one. Hank is much easier to walk with one.
My old cat Eskimo & I would go for walks & his brother Cube (pronounced COO-bay) would come along off the lead, that's how much I trusted him.
Just go out with your cat expecting a lot of stop & start activity, & the route you take will gradually expand.