Should I Give Up On Harness Training And Walking Outside?

I've been trying to harness train my 5 month old kitten in the hopes of taking her on walks outside. The harness training in my apartment went well. Then, we went outside 3 times to a quiet park. Each time was a combination of us sitting on the grass or a bench, and walking. When we would sit in the grass, she would try to crawl on my lap or under my legs and hide there. She would occasionally venture to sniff some grass and then come back. She would also jump into the carrier and sit there. When we tried to walk, she would mostly refuse to walk except to go under a bush or up a tree.

She loves sitting on the open windowsill in my house to listen to the birds on the tree outside. But when we actually go outside, I think she's too scared and shy. Should I just give up on harness training because she doesn't have the personality for it? Or can I mold her personality to enjoy walks?

Well you could try a window catio if you can in your apartment. My cats like to explore from the door to my place. Also I let him use my common yard off my patio or roam the hallways from my front door. You might try that. You could also try a cat stroller or putting a towel over your carrier.

I would get your cat used to your apartment hallways then right outside your apartment, then a little bit down the road to the park. With cats you need to think baby steps. Go slow and repeat until your cat is strutting with it’s tail up. Then give your cat a week or two of strutting, then go 5-10 feet further. I leave my apartment door propped open slightly when he is searching the apartment hallways downstairs so he can always run back to safety if he feels the need. Lots of treats do not hurt.

i agree with the above. Almost all cats are afraid when away from what they are familiar with. Short walks should be taken with always allowing her to take the lead. If it starts with just venturing out the open door, then be it. It will take months to get her comfortable with even being around her house. None of my cats were comfortable with being outside my yard. If she refuses to go outside, I wouldn't push it. You are really lucky to have one that doesn't constantly want to get out.

I, personally, would be VERY grateful I had a cat who wants to be an inside cat and isn't a door dasher. I've never been convinced hat cats really understand that they only go outside on the harness and not alone. I did take one cat out on two occasions. On the first one she terrified the neighbor's adult male Scottie and on the second she drug me through a holly bush. YMMV

Thanks, I think based on your replies, we'll make her an indoor only cat for now. Less trouble all around. We'll continue to open the window (there's a screen, of course), and in the future when we move, we'll think about letting her into a backyard under supervision.

1) I'm not allowed to have a cat wander the hallways in my apartment. In addition, I don't want to because I don't want the cat to dash out my door. So that's why I've been carrying her in her crate outside of my apartment before letting her out.

2) Right outside my apartment building door is surrounded by steel fences and cars. She darted underneath a car once and through a fence into a hedge another time. It was a small hassle to get her out. So that's why we had been taking walks in the park itself rather than from my house to the park.

Oh no my boy is in his harness when he walks the hallways!

A cat stroller might give her fresh air without the risk. Also when you get a yard you can get a catio or fencing toppers that keep cats inside the yard.