Cat Harness - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Future Fulltimers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cat Harness

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Harmony Buckles, http://www.harmonybuckles.com/ , sells one we like. They also sell neat pull apart keychains. We have been buying them for years and started when they were available from one of the major petstores.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Steve some cats that are adult and have never worn anything like a harness could have a very hard time adjusting to one, they might be happier remaining indoors.....

Future Fulltimers · RV-Dreams Family Member

For our older cat I know it will be a challenge, but also he is one that will try to get out. Hopefully get scared and come back, but I can't trust on that. The younger one I imagine will adapt eventually but honestly, at one year old he still is not fond of his collar. But we would love to take them so have to try now and not when we hit the road.

Steve

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good luck........its easier to train a dog!!!

cats are Free-spirited......they will definitely Let you know when they dont like something!!!!.......(this is gonna hurt..)......when you put the harness on dont try to explain to the cat.....dont turn away.....just back up slowly.....then run like Hell !!.....if you get a head start the cat will be preoccupied with the harness for the first minute or so.....after that its all strictly Revenge when it catches you!!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We used the smallest size dog harness after trying several kitty ones that she didn't like. She hated the harness until we were camped behind a pond with ducks. Yep, she learned real quick how to walk on a harness, next campground had squirrels, the one after that she almost caught a lizard, etc. etc. Now she's learned it's her ticket to the outside and wildlife opportunities.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike, we're laughing out loud at your reply (as usual).

We started out cat on a harness as soon as she adopted us. We kept buying bigger and bigger harnesses. We've found they make a great catch grip when she does make a mistake. We leave the harness on her 24/7. However, she knows how to do some kind of reverse backflip sumersault and come right out of it if she is suddenly terrified by something.

Took her to the vet for her annual check up and Rabies shot the first time and he asked me, " I see she wears a harness, do you take her for walks?" I replied, "No, I take her for drags!" He lauged and lauged. Our determined cat only walks on a leash if you let her determine the way,; if I try to lead it's a dragged cat.

Love the idea of a dog harness.

Sherry

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cat walks are not like dog walks. The cat leads, so it might be a very short walk to smell plants or watch birds and squirrels. Evita has not escaped the harness I posted and she has been getting walks for over 10 years.

DBEANZ · RV-Dreams Family Member

We waited until our two cats were in a better place (cat heaven) before deciding to full time as they both hated being in a vehicle. Probably because every time they were put into one, it was to go to the Vets... Lucky Mike, your response had me laughing out loud. Any day I need a laugh, I just have to read this forum because you never disappoint!

Phanntom · RV-Dreams Community Member

My cat was an indoor/outdoor cat when we lived in the house. She came in every evening at dark and was locked in for the night, but anytime I was home she could go outside which mostly amounted to being on the front porch on the base of one of the columns where she was hidden from view but could watch the people walking, kids biking etc....as far as she ever went was the neighbors porch that had much more flora. She hated a vehicle of any time so I was really reluctant to begin full-timing with her. We left Los Angeles and she cried loudly for the 1st 2 or 3 hrs. We spent the night in Phoenix and took off the next day. She was quiet but remained in the back. The next day, she was up on the passenger seat and has been there ever since.

Tried the harness thing and she just flopped on her side....nooo walking involved. It's been 3 yrs now and when I'm at a friends in the southeast that's got a 4 acre yard, I'll open the door and try to coax her out. Usually, I end up having to carry her out. She's just as happy lying in her windows watching what's going on and smelling the breeze coming in. She's come to feel very secure in the rv.

In the early days though I did worry about her dashing out when I'd open a door to get out....she never did and now...if I'm loading groceries or laundry or something that helps to have the door open....she just lays there watching.
Denny