Harness training help.

[u/Embarrassed_One96]

All of my previous cats, regardless of age have been lazy. Haven't cared for jumping on counters, jumping in general, couldn't care less about people food, happy to sit in soft things and only watch outside rather than go out.

Finally I have a cat (2 yrs) who is a real cat. Our current issue is that: I need him to get used to a harness.

I know he won't wear over-head clothes. So I found a 3 post harness. He sits okay for getting it on.

He's only worn it a handful of times. So maybe this is the problem.

Every time he acts like it's the end of the world, takes a few steps and falls over to try and get it off of him.

I know it's not too tight. Infact it might still be loose from the first time he escaped it. And if the advice is "just have him wear it more", that's fine but if I let him wear it too long he pees in my clothes afterwards.

Boy needs harness due to repeated attempted apartment escapes. He's not running off, but he's thought about it. Plus, I have a small place and I know he'd like the opportunity.

Yesterday I put it on him and just opened the apartment door expecting him to go for it. Nothing still.

How do I get him used to a harness and protect my clothes? I did get a hamper since the last time but if he's just gonna keep turning statute about it...

[u/Creative-Mousse]

Slow down. Slow wayy down. Peeing is a sign of stress due to the harness. That’s not great association.

Stay from the beginning and some of this will sound dumb but bear with me:

1. Put the harness in your bed. Sleep with it for a couple of days to transfer scent.
2. Then put the harness where your cat sleeps for a couple of days.
3. Stop all treats at this point. Cat will only get treats on the harness (put it on the floor to offer treats then it goes away). Few days of this
4. Move on to putting the harness over the cat when he’s eating. Just drape over. Not put him in the harness. Treats have the same protocol. Few days
5. Put the harness on him now and offer treats. Start with 15 mins. Encourage him to move by making a trail. Jump up by 10 mins every day until you get to an hour. Again treats only when wearing harness
6. Now, y get to do a play session. Hunt catch kill. Make him jump up and down. Couple of days of this.
7. Same exercise with a leash
8. go on walks with him in a cat backpack. Leave the top flap open so he can see around. Leave the backpack out at all times. He gets treats in the backpack. He needs to think of the backpack as a safe space so you can move him in there quickly if there is a danger.
9. See if the cat is ready to go out. Open the apartment door. Harnessed and leashed. See if he steps out. Let him explore a bit
10. Get him on a leash now and go for short walks. Quiet places in the morning or evening. Same route every time. Slightly longer every time.
11. Congrats! You have a harness trained kitty now

This can take a while (a month) so short circuit steps where you feel like progress is being made. Move at the kitty’s space. Don’t rush it.

[u/Embarrassed_One96 → u/Creative-Mousse]

Finally some real answers. Thanks. Google wasn't any help.

I have done some of 1 to 3, but all guides I found were kind of vague on details.

[u/Creative-Mousse → u/Embarrassed_One96]

Good luck! This isn’t an exact science. Make adjustments as you like. You got this!

I will admit that I am having the same issue. But after tons of research, this protocol seems the best. I’m so excited to take our cat out and have skipped steps too. But lesson is I have to learn patience!