I got a harness for my kitten. It is not made for a cat, but a small dog. It fits him right, but when I put it on him, he acted wierd. Is that normal?
How can I get him used to it? He is a kitten, and I wanna take him outside
2007-02-21 08:40:49 · 23 answers · asked by I♥pix 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
If you want to take your pet for a walk, you should've bought a dog.
Cats don't do that. They go where they want. You can't put a leash or harness on a cat.
2007-02-21 08:43:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Great question! Practice, practice, practice. However, you need to get one that is for a cat. It should be a soft material, too. Cats act weird and do weird things when you try to put clothes, bows, harnesses on them. They will get used to the harness. Maybe you could put the harness on and leave for a few minutes a day (make sure to keep and eye on the kitten so it doesn't get hung-up in the leash part). Also, I would try very small walks in the house or garage with the harness on for short periods of time. I would hesitate to take them outside until they get somewhat used to it because they can freak out and squiggle (word??) out of the harness.
2007-02-21 16:49:30 · answer #2 · answered by BC 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't listen to the others talking about not wanting to use a lease - it is a safe way to let your kitten outside. We also do this with our cat and she doesn't mind the lease anymore. We just use a collar though and also a lease - minus the harness. The best way we were able to get her to like it was to keep trying these few things below:
1. Leave it out for him to play with it. He will get used to this strange new thing. I suggest this because most likely he will want to hiss at it or run away from it.
2. Keep putting it on him for a few minutes a day (a few times). It takes some time for kittens to get used to wearing them - just like how kids have to get used to wearing shoes (which are always thrown off at first).
3. Trick him! Sounds mean however works perfect. You can place it on him. Then you can give him a kitten treat. Or you can leave the harness (not holding on to it) and play with him inside with his favorite toy. These two things are distracting and he won't realize it is still there.
4. Take him outside with it on (only when it is warm - no snow). He will want to look at all the things outside and won't care about the lease.
5. Keep trying, the kitten will love it soon!
2007-02-21 16:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by Tonya B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Naturally cats don't like harnesses. They like to be able to go where they want. But it is possible to get a cat to accept his harness. You could try taking him outside for a short time every so often. Not like out on a walk, but maybe just in the garden or something. Eventually he will get used to it, hopefully.
The same happened with my kitten, Jess. She had to wear a harness, because we'd only just gotten her, and she didn't like it. But she had to wear it, and eventually she got used to it sort of.
2007-02-21 16:51:33 · answer #4 · answered by James 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You put a harness on a kitten!! thats mean!! Just let it out without a harness and follow it. It will find its way back after its been out a couple of times
2007-02-21 16:50:32 · answer #5 · answered by Sarah <3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a harness for my rabbits and they acted strange when i woiuld first put it on them - so in the end what i did was i would put it on them and then sit them on my lap and stroke them gently and give them a good fuss and when they seemed fully relaxed - sit them on the floor and encourage them to move around - this way my rabbits seemed to get used to having the harness on - i think it will be the same for kittens / cats.
2007-02-21 16:54:15 · answer #6 · answered by xevanescencerockx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Id say thats normal, you just have to leave it on him and he will get used to it, its just like a collar... put it on him and let him run around the house or whatever with it on. You might want to just get a regular collar, and make sure its tight so it wont pull off if he runs.
I used to take my kitten outside, that was before he could really run fast or anything like that... Id just hold him or watch him run around a little big... but always kept an eye on him.
2007-02-21 16:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by Mindless 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we got out kitty a kitty harness and when she wants to go outside and stands by the door and mews...we put her harness on her. (yes she is fixed) We don't take her out without it. Pretty soon she began to associate the harness with getting to go outside and she accepted it readily. It just takes time.
2007-02-21 16:50:03 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister has two cats on 25 foot leashes when they are outside and seem to do better than dogs....they learn. Good luck with the kitten.
2007-02-21 16:46:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the fact that you have a harness on a kitten. Along with the fact that it's made for a dog ... that sucks.
Why would you do that?
I doubt he'll get used to it ever.
If you want to take a pet for a walk - get a dog.
Poor kitten.
2007-02-21 16:44:11 · answer #10 · answered by jennifer74781 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your going to walk your cat on a leash? That's kind of odd. But I guess it would be like training a dog - at first they don't like it, but after wearing it for awhile, they get used to it. I would put the harness on the cat and let him wear it all day. I used to put my dogs collar and leash on him and let him run around the house - that way when I tried to walk him he wasn't distracted by the leash.
2007-02-21 16:44:48 · answer #11 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋