To keep the harness always on or not?

[tinysalmon]

For cat owners who use harnesses, do you always keep it on or do you take it off when you don't need it anymore?

I just started putting a harness on my cat. At first she wasn't reacting well to it, but it was probably my fault for not approaching the situation properly.

The next couple of tries, I think I'm getting better at putting it on, taking it off, and tightening it with little fuss, but she still doesn't enjoy it, especially when I have to put her leg through one of the straps.

Right now I got it on her properly (the first couple of times she would put one of her front legs through the strap for her neck because I left it loose, and then just walk around, and it was harder to take it off her like that). And I'm not sure if I should leave it on forever, or make her get used to it coming on and off. 

What do you recommend? 

Thanks 

 

[yayi]

My QT (RB) was harnessed trained. She only wore it for her visit to the vet. Your cat needs to "like" the harness. I have found this link http://aspcabehavior.org/articles/116/Teaching-Your-Cat-to-Walk-on-a-Leash-.aspx  very helpful. 

 

[Willowy]

What do you use the harness for?

It's not safe to leave the harness on all the time. She could easily catch it on something and strangle herself. Collars are also dangerous unless they're the safety kind that snap open when pulled.

 

[StefanZ]

What do you use the harness for?
It's not safe to leave the harness on all the time. She could easily catch it on something and strangle herself. Collars are also dangerous unless they're the safety kind that snap open when pulled.

Right. That said, use always harness when you ride by car. Even if the cat is in a carrier (as it should). 

If anything goes wrong, you do have then this extra precaution of harness + "rope"...[edit = leash]

Lotsa of cats got loose during transportation and did wanished...  They had not harness on.

 

[jcat]

It's not safe to leave the harness on all the time. She could easily catch it on something and strangle herself.

Jamie goes out for a walk in a harness at least once a day, and it's removed as soon as we come back inside. He also wears it for vet visits. In my experience, dog harnesses are often easier to remove than cat harnesses. This is a dog harness with heavy-duty plastic clips - there's no need to put the cat's legs through anything.

 

[mystik spiral]

Right. That said, use always harness when you ride by car. Even if the cat is in a carrier (as it should).

I have to disagree here. Not about the carrier

. I don't even own a harness for my cats as they are strictly indoors. But when they are in their carrier being transported, the carrier is securely closed, and I buckle them up with the seatbelt. I don't see a problem with the added security of a harness, but I don't think it's wrong not to have one.

 

[jcat]

I take shelter cats to the vet's and put them in a harness whenever possible, in addition to a secured carrier. It's not simply because they're easier to handle at the vet's office. In the event of an accident and damaged crate, a harness would make it easier to get the cat out without it escaping, especially if you're talking police/fire personnel or Good Samaritans who might not be used to handling cats.

 

[tinysalmon]

What do you use the harness for?
It's not safe to leave the harness on all the time. She could easily catch it on something and strangle herself. Collars are also dangerous unless they're the safety kind that snap open when pulled.

I'm hoping to train my cat to go outside for walks with a harness and leash in the spring/summer time. So now, while it's cold and snowing outside, I want her to get used to having the harness put on and off, and walk around with it inside the house. 

 

[tinysalmon]

 This is a dog harness with heavy-duty plastic clips - there's no need to put the cat's legs through anything.
 

I wish I knew that before buying our harness lol. 

 

[ollieoxenfree]

For inside use I had my mom's and sister's cats in harnesses all the time. That was more than a year ago and since moving out both cats have been taken out of their harnesses. They never once got into trouble or snagged on anything inside. Not to say they're totally safe for inside use but I found it helped to have them used to the harness by having them wear it always. I also had roommates at the time and the 2 cats got outside. Grabbing their harnesses from under a car was far easier than trying to grab their under arms. I think it's a matter of what you feel is safe. If you have people always opening the door and rhe chances of the cats getting out is increased than I would be careful with harnesses. When  go home tomorrow I intend on training Oliver to his harness so I can take him outside, he's so restless!