Good idea or not?

MissRetro

I have been thinking about this issue quiet alot lately.. it would solve many peoples annoyance over neighbouring cats and imo would help cat owners feel safer regarding the whereabouts of their beloved pets(no sarcasm intended)

http://www.pet-bliss.ie/acatalog/SoftCatHarnessSmallImage.jpg

It is not my intention to start an argument between posters.. mods feel free to close if inappropriate.

lily4

Good idea I think

sambuka41

I'd love it if my guy would wear it!!!!!!!! I tried a collar on him recently and tried to walk him around my back garden, he was NOT happy!!!! He kept springing off the ground heading for the fence and nearly choking himself, at least a harness would prevent that. But i think he would still keeping jumping away.

Maybe if something like this was used from kittenhood!!!

But out of curiosity would anyone actually walk the cat down the road?? I'm not sure I'd be able for the ridicule!!!:p

Blueprint

I would be worried about strange dogs running up and attacking my cat and my cat not able to get away.

MissRetro

sambuka41 wrote: »

I'm not sure I'd be able for the ridicule!!!:p

I can see were you're coming from. I used to walk a pet rabbit I had near my house on a harness just to give her a bit of exercise.. now that is a thing to be ridiculed but tbh most people found it cute She too loved it as a change to her hutch and kenneled-in area, but I did have her on it from a young age so that may have been why.

Blueprint wrote: »

I would be worried about strange dogs running up and attacking my cat and my cat not able to get away.

Just out of curiosity, do you leave you're cat wander outdoors?

Zapperzy

sambuka41 wrote: »

I'd love it if my guy would wear it!!!!!!!! I tried a collar on him recently and tried to walk him around my back garden, he was NOT happy!!!! He kept springing off the ground heading for the fence and nearly choking himself, at least a harness would prevent that. But i think he would still keeping jumping away.

Maybe if something like this was used from kittenhood!!!

But out of curiosity would anyone actually walk the cat down the road?? I'm not sure I'd be able for the ridicule!!!:p

Definitely do not attach a lead to a collar, my friend's cat was killed by doing this, poor thing choked itself to death.

I would happily walk my cat down the road if she'd let me, she's a complete scaredy cat and would bolt as soon as she seen another person/car/loud noise/anything really that she thinks will potentially kill her. Mine was an adult when I started her with it, I think about a year or 2 old. There was a good thread a while back with training techniques for getting them used to it. You start off very small and just build up the length of time wearing the harness in the house, then attaching a lead, only when he's comfortable in the house do you start bringing him outside.

I used to have a rabbit that walked on a lead too. Again he was an adult when I introduced him. We used to live in a house with an enclosed garden which he could roam around, then when we moved house the garden was open so I lead trained him and used to walk him around the front and back of the house (in an estate so I'm sure people seen me but just didn't say anything ). First started off with a short 4ft lead and then got a big extendable lead, he used to love sprinting the whole length of the lead all of a sudden meaning I had to run after him (until the lead snapped one day :eek:).

Blueprint wrote: »

I would be worried about strange dogs running up and attacking my cat and my cat not able to get away.

But you would be beside her holding the lead so you just pick her up if you see a strange dog coming. You'd never leave a cat tied up outside unsupervised (even supervised is dangerous).

Tried to upload photos of my cat on a lead but it's not letting me. I would upload photos of my rabbit on a lead but there's none of him on his own (and I'm not posting a photo with myself in it, my hair was atrocious back then :eek:).

Themadhouse

http://http://www.norgeskaukatt.co.uk/Harness.html

I got a leather harness from these guys for my Coon, Who is pictured on site wearing it!
We use if for the car as it can be attached to a seatbelt easily and he likes to travel out of a box Also handy for vet trips, trips to shows. They are surprisingly strong and we have had it 5 yrs now and its still going strong!

DBB

I spent a bit of time in Finland some years ago, and was amazed to see people out walking their cats on leads and harnesses... lots of them! I suppose a lot of people there live in apartments and this is how the only way their cats get outdoor time. Scandinavians seem to be great at not letting their pets roam, dogs or cats.
It was so common over there that I just got used to seeing cats out for walks, but I've never seen anyone doing this in Ireland. I can imagine the comments would be choice alright:rolleyes:

Zapperzy

DBB wrote: »

I spent a bit of time in Finland some years ago, and was amazed to see people out walking their cats on leads and harnesses... lots of them! I suppose a lot of people there live in apartments and this is how the only way their cats get outdoor time. Scandinavians seem to be great at not letting their pets roam, dogs or cats.
It was so common over there that I just got used to seeing cats out for walks, but I've never seen anyone doing this in Ireland. I can imagine the comments would be choice alright:rolleyes:

Well so far Iv gotten comments that range from your being cruel to it's cute unfortunately a lot of them leaning towards cruel. :rolleyes:

Would love to visit finland and see these cats!

Meeoow

ferretone

Used to do that every evening with the ferrets when we were in our old house. They loved it, and we still do it occasionally here. Used to get the odd smart comment, but really we enjoyed the joke as much as the passersby.

Started trying to get my younger cat used to it, but really didn't have the right harness to suit her, as she would wriggle out of the standard nylon harness. I did have it adjusted correctly, but it just wasn't a good enough one (her extreme wriggling would loosen it.) The one in your pic woulda been perfect, but I'd say it's a bit late now she's a year old. She really is getting used to the indoor life now, although our older cat is not at all impressed with her pouncing :rolleyes:

Ambersky

[IMG][/img] ,

This is a photo of my cat.
He is wearing his harness and has 5m of line to move about enjoying the sunshine or sitting in out of the rain in his cat house.
He has been wearing his harness since he was a kitten and even gets up on a stool to make it easire for me to put it on.
I let him out a couple of times a day but we have a ritual in the mornings whereby he can have his time in the garden while I eat my breakfast.
I only let him out under supervision and he seems quite happy with the arrangement.

This is the kind of harness we use and it works still because he is a small cat but I would consider using one of the ones in the op

carwash_2006

I sometimes take one of my guys places on a harness. He's not keen on it in the big bad outside world generally, although I haven't tried that in a while, but htey have their run for going outside anyway.

He won't tolerate it in the house, but in new and exciting (indoor) places he is not bothered by it.

I found the best one was actually a cat car harness, it was a Trixie brand one http://news.netpetshop.co.uk/tag/cat-car-harness/

Kali_Kalika

sambuka41 wrote: »

But out of curiosity would anyone actually walk the cat down the road?? I'm not sure I'd be able for the ridicule!!!:p

:DI do!:D

My cat was a rescued critter, he'd been abandoned at a petrol station. The staff had been feeding him left over ham & chicken sandwhiches for days so I ended up taking him:rolleyes: Once he got into the house he never wanted to go back out - I think he thought he'd end up at a petrol station again so decided if he stayed in he'd always have a home. Which he would have had a home no matter his decision!

He's very flighty and nervous outside overall - so in ways I'm glad he wouldn't venture out as I'm not sure he'd make the best & safe decisions.

Anywho! He will potter around the garden with me now when I'm out there. But previously - when I lived (temporarily) in a teeny tiny apartment we'd both get claustrophobia and need to get out of there. I got him a harness and leash and we'd go for walks in the park across from the apartment house! Hilarious wasn't the word! People would stroll by, see you with a leash and assume "ah, dog for a walk" and keep strolling on. Seconds later you could see the ball drop in their minds and they'd whirl around to have a second look - and sometimes a 3rd!

My cat is a fairly large one (apparently! he looks normal to me!) But he's twice the size of an average house cat. He's not fat or anything - he's just massive! My new vet was shocked at how big he was! :cool: And even called some of his students in to see the massive cat (this is leading somewhere, I promise!) Once when we were in the park staving off the claustrophobia a group of kids (ages approx 6-8) came over and asked why I had a cat on a leash - I was feeling in a humour that day so told them he was a baby Panther! A few looked skeptical but the rest believed it hook line and sinker! As I said to them, why would anyone have a cat in a leash in the park?! That sorta convinced the rest of them - and they ran off after that - but I could see and half hear them on the other side of the park telling their mates (and pointing!) about the baby Panther over there!

So - yes - cats can and will be walked happily on a leash. He'd chase bugs, butterflies or anything really or just doze in the sun while I read my book. I'll have to look into that harness though - it looks much more comfy than the one I have currently - I love mine's current design but my cat is developing the saggy neutered belly they all seem to get and its not quite the same fit now as it always has been!

kylith

Some friends of mine walk their cat on a harness, and they say he loves it.

Don't listen to the people who say a cat won't do it. Of course you can't just put a harness on an adult cat and expect it to accept it, slow and steady and soon you too can walk your cat.

Ambersky

My cat as I have posted above has been use to a harness and lead since he was a kitten and accepts it no problem.
I did this because I wanted him to be an indoor cat with limited access to outdoors and able to enjoy a bit of fresh air and sunshine.
His brother, who visits regularly, lives in an apartment and has no access to the outdoors and doesnt seem to miss what he has never known.

On the couple of occasions when I have brought him out the front I found that unlike a dog, my cat did not feel comforted by my picking him up when he was frightened.
He wanted to go hide and would pull and struggle to get away or climb a tree.
He goes something like pinkey does here when a dog approaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kmre7l0LuI

We keep his lead walks to the backyard where it is all nice and calm and predictable in order to avoid such situations. :eek:

MissRetro

I'm happily surprised with all off the answers I've received so far. I started this thread a bit skeptical of the overall response I would get.. it's refreshing to see they are so many responsible cat owners in this country because to be honest
this has not been my experience in the past.
In my local area cats seem to be viewed as an 'easy' pet :rolleyes: that can just be left loose to fend for themselves. If you want a 'easy' pet, get a goldfish!

I wanted to see if the cat harness was a good alternative from the view of cat owners and from what I've seen here it is. I find it so sad and irritating that when there is such a good alternative some people still won't give that little bit extra for their pet. This is not directed towards anyone who has posted on this obviously because from what I have read ye take very good care and responsibility for your cats!

Ambersky

When I was growing up the dogs in our area roamed in packs.
Everyone said it was natural for dogs to do this and that it would be cruel to lock a dog up in a back yard or the house all day.
Even dogs who were kept mainly inside were let out "for a little ramble" at night, which effectively ment they went around marking, peeing and pooing in other peoples gardens.
When the idea of walking your dog on a lead and picking up its poo, first started, I knew loads of people who laughed and said it was unatural and disgusting.
Now its expected even if eveyone doesnt comply as well as they should.

I think cat ownership may go the same way and in time it may be normal to keep cats under more control and supervision.
Untill recently I have been a dog owner and now have my first cat so I acknowledge I dont know everything about cat ownership and I guess Im lucky the indoor back garden on a lead situation suits my cat.

Im finding the cats litter tray easier to manage than cleaning up after a dog, its all in the one place and I have a scoop and bucket specially made for purpose.
With dogs you often have to pick up their poo outdoors, in full public view while you are on a walk and then try to act natural carrying around a little plastic bag of smelly poo untill you are lucky enough to come across a bin.
So its felt natural for me changing from responsible dog ownership to what I have seen as responsible cat ownership.
Thats probably not been every cat owners experience and its probably not every cats opinion, though.