Which Cats Can Be Leash Trained?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to harness and leash train your cat, we want to make one thing clear. Not every cat is going to take easily to harness and leash training. And many cats take several weeks (or even months) to get used to being on a harness. Whether or not you’re successful with leash training often depends on how consistent and patient you are with the training.
“In my 30+ years of training, I have only seen a few dozen cases where leash training would have been… challenging enough that it was probably best to let sleeping cats lie,” Appelbaum says.
It’s usually easier, he adds, to start leash training while your cat is still a kitten. But that’s not to say older cats can’t be leash trained.
It helps if they’re confident cats not easily scared by new things, trusting of you, and food motivated.
“In the vast majority of cases, leash training isn’t impossible, it just takes knowledge and patience… The oldest cat I know of that was leash trained was 16.”
Harness and Cat Leash Training: Step by Step
Step One: Familiarization
Before even thinking about putting a harness on your cat for the first time, you want to get her used to it as an object. To know it’s nothing to be afraid of.
Put the harness among your cats’ toys. Put it on the floor by their food when they’re eating. Give it to them to smell.
Step Two: Put the Harness On
Once your cat is familiar with the harness, it’s time to put it on.
Expect a struggle. Expect your cat to flop down on her side as if the harness weighs 50 pounds. That’s all normal.
“This is where food comes in handy,” Appelbaum says.
Once the harness is on, reward your cat with a special treat or two. Wait a minute or two, then take the harness off. You’re done for the day.
On day two, keep the harness on for a little longer. Maybe five minutes the next day or two, then 10 after that. Again, reward your cat with a special treat. Pet her. Give her a hug (if she likes that sort of thing). Then take it off.
The key is to train your cat to associate the harness with things she likes.
Keep this up for as long as it takes (often several weeks). Each time keep the harness on longer. But always remember to reward with treats and love.
You’ll know you’re ready to move on when your cat barely reacts to having the harness on – except, perhaps, expecting a treat.
A note about harness sizing: Leave enough space so that you can fit two fingers between the neck/body of your cat and the harness.
Step Three: Attach the Leash
The first few times you attach the leash, you don’t want to hold onto it. Let your cat drag it behind her so she gets used to the feel of the tug it creates.
As always, give her a treat. And repeat the process for as long as it takes until she doesn’t seem bothered anymore.
Step Four: Hold the Leash
Last step before taking it outside!
Start following your cat around while you hold the leash. Gently try to guide her by stopping her forward movement (not pulling, just stopping) and then tugging ever so slightly in a different direction.
Reward your cat if she follows your suggestion.
If that doesn’t work, try putting a treat on the floor in the direction you want her to go so she has more of an incentive to move that way.
Repeat this a few times, but don’t worry about perfecting the art of guiding your cat. Depending on your cat, it might always be her leading you.