Harness training your cat is an excellent way to provide your cat with enrichment and exercise. Rather than letting your cat roam freely and put themselves in harm’s way, harness training allows your cat to experience the great outdoors under your supervision and control. To learn how to harness train your cat, follow the four steps below.

Find a Well-Fitted Harness and a Reliable Leash

Cats are notoriously talented escape artists. Your cat has probably weaseled their way out of your arms, squeezed themselves into impossible spaces, or found a way to get to the top of the cabinets even though you swore it wasn’t doable. This is why it’s of the utmost importance to find a secure, well-fitting harness for your cat. 

Above all else, it’s essential that you know without a doubt that your cat cannot wiggle out of their harness. Some cats try rolling around on the ground and using their feet to get the harness off, and others yank their bodies backwards once the leash is attached so they can pull their bodies free. Do your best to avoid this by making sure that you can fit no more than two fingers in between their fur and the harness, regardless of the style of harness you choose. 

The leash you choose should be long enough for your cat to jump a few feet and explore, but not so long that they can bolt or get themselves tangled. You should also be able to keep a solid grip on the leash in case your cat ever gets startled or excited. If you opt for a retractable leash, it’s important that the cord is flat and wide instead of a thin string. The latter can be harmful if it gets wrapped around you or your kitty. *product link

Styles of harnesses

Consider your cat’s age. If you’re training a kitten, there are kitten-sized harnesses out there, but think about finding one that they can grow into. A harness suited for this purpose should have plenty of adjustment options. If you’re training an adult cat, find a harness that’s sturdy and will withstand the strength of a fully grown feline. Common options for cat harnesses include strap harnesses and vest harnesses. 

Strap harnesses have nylon straps with adjustable lengths and a buckle closure. Some cat parents prefer these harnesses because they don’t make as much contact with the cat’s skin and fur. To get these harnesses on, you’ll have to put your cat’s head through the neck strap before securing it to their torso. Each harness should have a D ring on the back for the leash attachment. **product link

Vest harnesses are thicker and often more comfortable for cats. Even though these harnesses cover a larger surface area and make more contact with your cat’s body, there’s no risk of having twisted or pinching straps. To get this style of harness on, you’ll put your cat’s legs through the two leg openings, pull the harness up to their chest, and close the harness on the back. They usually fasten with velcro, a buckle, or both. These harnesses should also have D rings on the back for leashes, but never on the front. **product link to favorite harness

Help Your Cat Get Used to the Harness

Does your cat adjust to new sensory input and experiences quickly? Are they treat-motivated? You know your cat best, so your next step is to decide which route to take. You can either clicker train your cat to help them build a positive association between food and their new harness, or you can provide some gentle exposure therapy. Whatever you do, don’t put the harness on your cat right away.

Clicker training

Helping your cat get used to their new harness through the process of clicker training is a great way to set them up for success. Once you understand how to train your cat using a clicker, get the harness out and put it in your cat’s view. Without your clicker and treats in hand, click and reward your cat each time they approach or touch the harness. 

Over time, you’ll start to reward more specific behaviors such as consistently pawing the harness or letting you rest the harness on their leg. This process of shaping their behavior may take several hours, days, or weeks depending on your cat. The end goal is for your cat to put their head or feet through the harness (depending on the style) either by doing it themselves or allowing you to do it for them.  

Gradual exposure

Simply letting your cat interact with an unfamiliar object on their own time and in their own way can be just as effective as clicker training. Gradual exposure is especially effective for young kittens who typically warm up to new things right away. 

If you’re harness training a kitten, expose them to a harness as soon as possible. Even if it won’t fit properly for another month, show it to them and let them practice wearing it until they’re big enough. But don’t be discouraged; older cats can benefit from gradual exposure as well. 

Without any treats in hand or expectations in mind, simply put the harness in your cat’s space and watch what happens. Let them sniff, touch, or even play with it. Don’t force any interactions on the first day. 

Continue brief exposure sessions for the next few days. Once you notice your cat is no longer suspicious of the harness, you can start resting the harness on places like your cat’s paws and shoulder blades very briefly. Praise your kitty and give them affection when they confidently make contact with the harness. Continue doing this over the course of several days until your cat is no longer reacting to the harness touching them. 

The next step is to spend some time slowly moving the harness over your cat’s head or legs, depending on the style. If your cat lets you put the harness over these body parts, let the harness rest there for just one second before taking it off. Repeat these steps and slowly increase the amount of time your cat lets you leave the harness on them. Eventually, your cat should habituate to the process of putting the harness on and let you fasten the harness on them. 

Once your cat lets you take the harness on and off, have them wear the harness for about one minute at a time and slowly increase the time each session. Don’t be surprised if your kitty walks oddly or refrains from normal activity at first. 

The overall goal is for your cat to wear their harness comfortably. You’ll know they’re ready for the next step when they can wear their harness while eating, playing, jumping, and walking normally. 

Practice Walking Inside

Getting your cat used to their harness is the biggest barrier to cross. Now that your cat is used to the harness, it’s time to add the leash. 

For a few cats, the leash will be another stressful source of sensory input. Not only is there something on their back that it took a long time to adjust to, but now there’s something attached to their bodies that causes physical tension and trails behind them. 

Using the leash for the first time while you’re safe indoors will allow your cat to get used to the leash in a secure location. The other benefit to practicing inside is that they can practice moving around in their home base and other places in your home that they feel confident in. 

Follow your cat wherever they go while holding the leash. Don’t restrain them or stop them from getting somewhere unless there’s a safety concern. You can also use treats or toys to lure them. Use these items to encourage them to move around their favorite scratching posts and jump onto their cat trees to show them that they can still perform these movements when there’s a human holding their leash. 

When your cat moves around your home with confidence while wearing the harness and leash, it’s finally time to go outside!

Go On Your First Outdoor Adventure

Pick somewhere to start that’s small and enclosed, like a balcony or a fenced yard. Put on the harness and leash, and then get ready to go outside together. Open the door slowly to see if your cat wants to smell and walk out on their own, or you can carry your cat outside. Don’t force them to go outside if they don’t want to. 

Once you’re outside, just be. Sit with your cat, observe them, and let them take in their surroundings with all their senses. If they’re up for some scratches and kisses, give them freely! 

Be sure to end your first outdoor session on a positive note. You don’t want to wait for your cat’s anxiety to spike before you call it a day. Unless your cat immediately starts walking around or smelling all the things, keep it to five minutes at the most and then go inside. Give them some more treats or affection, remove the harness, and let them have some time to decompress. 

What to Do Now that Your Cat is Harness Trained

There’s no time like the present to begin this journey. You’ll be glad that your cat is able to safely spend time in nature now that they’re harness trained. You and your cat can make this activity a part of your daily or weekly routine, or you can even use this new skill to help your cat adjust when you travel or go to the vet.

I’ve successfully used both strategies mentioned above. I used clicker training with my oldest cat and gradual exposure with my kitten. But it’s important that you don’t go into this with the expectation that your cat will want to go where you go. Even when your cat wears their harness confidently and loves spending time outside, it’s not a given that they’ll walk with you where you want to go.

Some cats will walk in front of you or alongside you like a dog, some will meander aimlessly for a sensory experience, and others will just want to lounge every few steps. My oldest cat loves to be outside, but she has no interest in walking or exploring. She’s simply happy to wear her harness, sit on my lap, and watch the world go by. My kitten, on the other hand, started following our dog the first time we took him outside and he’s loved to go on walks ever since. 

Whatever your cat decides they want to do, just enjoy the process and go along for the ride! Either way, you’ll experience a unique moment of bonding. If you want to learn more about connecting with your feline friend, you can read How to Train Your Cat to Do Tricks and Cat Enrichment: 5 Ways to Make Your Cat Feel Happy, Healthy, and Confident. If you’re starting this training process with a young kitty, check out How to Care for Kittens.

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