Leash walking & harness training

Welcome to our leash walking/harness training tutorial! So to start this off: this tutorial has 6 steps. Not all cats will need to follow the steps as carefully as they're written, especially former ferals or previous indoor-outdoor cats. Kittens/adolescents will probably take less time as well.

The goal is highlighted in each step, so you can assess if your cat is past the goal already and if the step is skippable.If you've never harness trained before, tried in the past and it failed, you don't know you cat very well, or if your cat has been mostly indoors all of it's life, don't skip steps.these steps are meant to occur over the course of a few days or a few weeks or even a few months, every cat is different and the time spent will depend on your cat, patience is key, go at your cats pace.
So with all that being said, here's a list of things you'll need to get started.

-a secure harness
-a good leash
-a cat carrier
-treats

Step 1:

Start allowing your cat to be comfortable with it's carrier, especially comfortable being placed inside of it and moved. This video by Jackson Galaxy pretty much sums it up. Give it a watch! We're not affiliated with him, it's just a good video on the subject.

The goal: Your cat will have to be comfortable being put inside of it's carrier; carried outside, let out of the carrier; walked, then be placed back into the carrier to go home after the walk in order for this to work safely. Comfortable meaning the cat reliably allows this without biting/flailing/trying to run off, etc. Not that your cat has to love it's carrier, just to be comfortable with it.

If it comes down to it, you can even buy a different carrier for this, there are tons of different styles to choose from, most people enjoy the cat backpack style carriers for walking, we personally just use hard-sided normal carriers. It's up to you.

Pictured: mesh carrier, backpack carrier, hard sided carrier.

Step 2:

Start allowing your cat to cruse around inside wearing it's harness once a day or once every few days. For the first few days, allow them to wear it only for a few minutes followed immediately by rewarding with a treat. Slowly increase this time to like 10 minutes or so.

The goal is that your cat begins walking around and exploring pretty much as usual without minding the harness - no flopping over, no going limp, etc. Once your cat is used to walking in it's harness, you can move onto step 2.

NOTE: Never walk your cat with a collar and leash, use a proper harness and leash.

If your cat refuses to move in it's harness even after a few weeks, consider buying a cheaper, strap style harness as opposed to a more secure vest style harness just to get them used to wearing one (as typically it's the weight of the harness that throws them off) then gradually ease into a better; more secure harness afterwards.

Step 3:

After your cat has been comfortable walking around the house wearing it's harness, start attaching a leash to your cats harness and following your cat around inside for a little while, taking off the harness, and rewarding with a treat regularly.
Do not force your cat to walk; drag your cat, yell at your cat, or do any nonsense like that ever.
Just casually walk around with your cat indoors holding the leash. Goal: to get your cat adjusted to the sensation of walks, especially the feeling of a leash attached to their harness & the weight of it. This phase of training typically only takes a day to a few days, but can take a week or more depending on the cat.

Step 4:

Once your cat is totally cool with the leash, you can change the routine to:
putting your cat's harness onattaching the leashgently putting your cat inside it's carrier; closing the dooropening the door after a few seconds, then proceeding to walk around indoors for a bit with the leash

You'll want to repeat this routine for a few minutes daily or at least very regularly. You can tweak the time spent in the carrier a bit after your cat is comfortable, from a few seconds to 9 minutes or so. Not for hours though, only minutes!

Step 5:

After your cat is comfortable going inside of it's carrier and then walking, start taking the carrier outside for a few seconds/minutes when it's quiet out. Keep the cat inside the carrier. If your cat starts crying, take it back inside, let it out of the carrier; take the harness off, and repeat this routine for a few days/weeks until your cat is calmer going outdoors inside it's carrier.

Once your cat is more comfortable doing this, start sitting the carrier down on your back porch/front porch or somewhere equally calm and sitting next to it for a few minutes.

The goal is just to get your cat comfortable with the outdoors in a safe contained way, it can be incredibly dangerous to skip this step. Getting your cat adjusted to the sounds of the outdoors; the smells; the sights, etc is essential to a safe walking experience. If you skip the warmup period, you can risk your cat getting spooked and running off; getting lost, injuring itself or you, or simply becoming too traumatized of the outdoors to try walking again.

tip: if the cat is major freaked out at this step, try instead serving your cats breakfast in these sessions to associate it with good things (food.)When your cat is crying, don't start baby talking; touching the bars, moving the crate, or being dramatic. That just adds stress. Be calm always.

Step 6: Finale!!!!!!!!!!

Once your cat is calm sitting in it's carrier outdoors - and it's quiet + safe to do so, open the carrier door; reach in, grab the leash; then allow your cat to step out and explore a bit. Keep close to your house, keep the carrier in your other hand at all times (or on your back if it is a backpack style carrier) to put your cat back inside once finished to safely return home. As usual, no drama. Be calm.

If things get hairy - your cat gets spooked, things get loud/busy outside, you hear or see a dog or other animals that could spook or harm your cat, or you notice your cat getting worked up, scoop your cat into it's carrier and retreat. Always take your cat outdoors inside of it's carrier and always take your cat back home inside of it's carrier for safety.Don't allow your cat to eat any plants/bugs outdoors or eat/drink anything found outdoors, don't let your cat eat stuff given to you by strangers. Stranger danger!Don't let your cat cross or get close to the street, always cross the street with your cat secured inside of it's carrier.
Typically this is all it takes, the first little walk probably will only take a few minutes, make sure to end on a high note.

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