Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Boomer Goes For A Walk...Almost....

We bought a harness a few months ago to see if we could take the cats for walks. We started with Boomer, thinking he might especially enjoy the walks since he grew up on the streets (and now a completely indoor cat). I had him wear the harness indoors for sometime now and it's time to take him outdoors.

This is an adjustable "8" harness by Coastal. Very good fitting, the negative would be that if the cat doesn't cooperate and bunny kicks at the strap under the front paws, the noose around his neck would tighten...so this should only be used under very close supervision
"I refuse to cooperate! Get it off me!"
See, Boomer? You get to go outside again... Isn't it nice?
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Oh dear, Boomer, you better stop being so angry and getting so hot and bothered...you are melting into the ground!
Arrrrghhhhhh!
This was taken the night before....
And this is the next morning.....
Here he is, acting like a brat
Throwing an awful noisy tantrum
Oh Boomer...will you ever cooperate? (He has managed to get one front paw out of the harness)
Mommy here :: I have ordered a "Puppia Ritefit" harness to see if it will work better. Thank you, Kjelle Bus and Mommy for helping me with the sizing.  :)
If anyone has tips on how to get the cats to cooperate while in a harness and leash, please do share!

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

BOL! Oh this is funny! Hardy Har Har
Butt seriously what about a remote controlled mousy to lead the way on the walkie ;)

Waggin at ya,
Roo

Angel Simba said...

That could be our Simba or Audrey! They will not walk with a harness and even go "boneless" when they have to wear any type of harness. It is very frustrating, isn't it?

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

My boys go for a walk outside every day on a harness ~ but even though I started them off doing this when they were kittens it took a while to get them to accept it. They are both really cool about it now and sit nicely waiting for it to be put on.
The thing is you will need to be very patient ~ and fit the harness every single day ~ offering the cat a treat and petting it, when you have the harness on.
Don't be surprised if they refuse to walk in it at first ~ don't be tempted to drag them ~ play with them and distract them instead and use a quiet reassuring tone of voice. Eventually they will walk on it ~ maybe after a couple of weeks of "training".
At first Milo used to slink along on his belly in his harness ~ but now he walks with the confidence of a dog in it. Alfie LOVES his harness because he associates it with going outside and he LOVES being in the garden.
I tried various different sorts before I settled on a suitable harness ~ they key is a SAFE one with easy on /off clips.
Jan xx

haopee said...

LOL Boomer! You're such an evil little kitty. I bet you'd enjoy going out in the big world with mommy right beside you.

Huggies and Cheese,

Haopee

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

PS: I also got a long retractable (and lockable) dog lead that clips on to the harness (about 25 feet long). That way the cats can wander about without feeling I am tugging them. I can shorten the lead and lock it if I need to, but give freedom when it's safe in the garden. it also means I can sit on a bench while they wonder a bit ~ and don't have to run all the time!
Jan xx

Remington said...

Well, someone doesn't seem to want to go for a walk....ha ha....I don't think I could get my kitty brothers and sister to wear that either....

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Mama tried that harness thingy on me...and of course I refuse to surrender. So, nowadays, she'll put me in PTU and take me out for my 'walks' in the cage. Serves me right, she said. purrr....meow!

Katie Isabella said...

Boomie! You have a HEART on your left shoulder...is that for ME?

My mom wants to have a harness for me too, but she would get the one that fits alll over my back with something in the middle to attach the lead. But she hasn't gotten the courage yet. She remembers the other two girls before me whose bones were stolen by the harness and they were melted cat puddles on the ground.

I <3 you too Boomer. A kissy for your strawberry nosey. And I loved having you over Sunday. XOXOX

Old Kitty said...

Beautiful Boomer!! You are feisty and fabulous!

Me and Charlie have absolutely no experience with harnesses and suchlike but we know some kitties take to them just like that some need to be eased into it.

I've just read "A Street Cat Named Bob" and Bob's human had to try several harnesses in the shop before Bob the cat approved of one of them! LOL!

Take care
x

Hannah and Lucy said...

We have nothing to contribute to the harness talk as we live in a quiet area and can come and go as we like during daylight. At dusk Mum locks our little doors!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Marg said...

Oh Boomer, we would do the same thing. Just lie down. But you got some good advice. We have never walked on a leash, so we sure don't have any advice. Boomer, you might have fun if you let Mom do this. Take care.

Sandra said...

My colleague said her cat wasn't reluctant to wear the harness, but when it came to leaving the house he wouldn't budge. She took him in her arms and took him outside. When he was out, he was so enthralled by the surroundings, that he forgot about the leash. Since than he connected leash and being outside and has been good about it ever since.

Thank you so much for your comment on my last post. When Swifty went to the vet, he was fine - this wobbly legs happen on and off, it is not a constant and no, he is in no pain. But the vet has seen that video and agrees it must be neurological. I will tell them to look for an acupuncturist as well. Have no idea if there are any around here though.

Fuzzy Tales said...

I tried a harness on Nicki once and he freaked so badly I was scared to leave it on to even let him get used to it. LOL.

Annie would wear a harness without any fuss, I didn't even need to train her to do it. I think she'd have endured anything to get outside. LOL.

Love the shots of Boomer -- and we'll cross fingers and paws that another type of harness will work better for him. :-)

Autumn said...

Kitties don't like being controlled, do they. LOL

Gattina said...

Hahaha ! what a fight with this strange thing ! Not all cats accept wearing a harness. Arthur does and Pookie too, but impossible with Rosie or Kim. But anyway they go in and out like they want. But once I had to buy a harness to walk Arthur in the yard, because his tail was broken and he was impossible staying inside ! He meauwed a whole opera !

Mariodacat said...

I didn't like my harness and leash at first either, and was terrible when M tried it on me in the house. But once I got outside, I didn't hate it so much. Now I go outside 3 or 4 times a week on a leash, and then they put me in the kritterkondo after I've walked around a bit and I lay in the KK and watch the birdies in our yard.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Well Boomer, you do look totally unimpressed!

Finn said...

Hm, this doesn't look like this is going to happen anytime soon! But I wouldn't give up on it! I think he'll like the sunshine!

Random Felines said...

practice, time and patience. :)

Mom has been to Best Friends where several of their cats go out for walks....they start wearing their harnesses inside until they get used to them and then eventually move to the "great" outdoors. Mom is thinking about trying it with one of us....we may have to hide!

Seville at Nerissa's Life said...

Getting a paw out of a harness is pretty difficult. Boomer is one smart cat. Kitties unite!

Cindy said...

Great pictures! I don't think the harness will be much fun.

Tamago said...

Boomer, you look good on your harness! My Goro gets all excited when we have his harness out because he knows he can go out. But as soon as he puts it on, he lies down on the floor and acts like he can't move. I hope you get to like it so you can walk outside!

GLOGIRLY said...

I'm an indoor kitty too and Glogirly only tried this once with me. It was a harness I called "Pink Bondage." ; )
I think she's too scared that I might actually like it outside and try to escape, then get lost... whatever. We all know I'm too smart for that, but that's how she thinks.

So go enjoy some of the fresh airs and smells for me!
xo Katie

Katie Isabella said...

Boomie! You have another (upside down) heart on your delightful manly and lean side too. xoxox

Marilia said...

I tried to use but Nelson ate and hates the collar... i never tried again!! =)

A Tonl said...

Maxwell: DUDE! Yer so not looking happy in that harness thingy there! We'd be doing the very same thing! We kittehs were Born Free, we were!

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

I used to take several of my cats outside (not at the same time) on a harness... I found that I didn't so much take them on a walk but instead walked with them, or hung out with them while they enjoyed the outside world.

meowmeowmans said...

Boomer, we understand completely. Mom tried that thing with Sammy a few years ago, and he just laid flat on the ground and refused to move...

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Boomer

MOL!!!!
Way to go buddy!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

Pat Wahler said...

Bogey has done the leash thing, and I think would do quite well if I kept at it. But I'm a slacker on practice. Anyway, our main issue is that he expects me to walk where he wants to go, not him walking with me as a dog would do. A definite change in perspective!

Pat
Critter Alley

The Island Cats said...

Boomer, I was the same way when I first started wearing a harness. But I when I realized that wearing the harness meant I got to go outside, I love wearing it now! I think you'll get used to it!

Wally

Dachshund Nola said...

BOL! Can't help you their, kitty sister won't even let mom put a harness on
Dachshund Nola

Gigi said...

The Kitty Who Came Before (Mr. Teeth) LOVED to go for walks in his harness. But ME?? Ha ha ha--NO WAY. The Human tried to put one a them things on me and I wented INSANE & practically foamed at the mowf! She never tried again!

Hi Boomie. How ya doing there, Big Boy??? I wonder what Katie thinks of your non-cooperation. Hmmm.

BeadedTail said...

Boomer, you made us giggle with you trying to get that harness off! We've never had one on but we're sure we wouldn't like it at first either!

The Daily Pip said...

Boomer does NOT look happy!

Your pal, Pip

Unknown said...

Both Kozmo and Nellie are leash trained. We started with each when they were young. The only time they were allowed out was when they were in the collar and leash for the first 4 months.
As Kozmo and Nellie are both outdoor cats, getting them to walk nicely on the leash can be difficult unless we do it every day for a week before we are traveling.
treat training helps :)
Nellie's Mom

Oui Oui said...

Wow, that was some fight! And you even turned your eye lasers on. We tried putting Oui Oui on a leash and harness but it was embarrassing dragging her around because she refused to walk!

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

That's the exact harness we have for Star! When she's in it, she acts like she doesnt have legs, wont stand up, and crouches low to the ground if she does move. I couldn't imagine actually trying to walk her in it, MOL. We put her in it if she wont stop attacking Leo. It makes her a real 'humble bumble' and after an hour in it, she doesnt attack for at least two or three days. Poor kitty.
If Boomer can get his leg out of it, I wouldnt trust it with him outside. If something freaked him out, he might get out of it and run.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

Boomer is so silly!!!! You know what I used to use for my Angel Bobo? I DOG COLLAR and a DOG LEASH! Yep! I sure did! When I first put the leash/collar on Bobo he walked like he was in the war...he would lay really low to the ground. He did that for a few days, then he was fine! He loved it! I bet Boomer will eventually like it too!

yuki and rocket said...

i'd love to see if you're actually able to walk a cat! yuki and rocket run away from their harnesses, so they feel boomers pain!

Beth said...

Hhhmmmm....doesn't look too happy....I don't think I could get one on my kitties....

animal lover, quilt lover said...

Boomer says he was out on the streets and he doesn't want any part of the streets when he has it so good inside!! Why go out he says!!!
I was thinking of you too!!!

unikorna said...

I let my Mister Miaw go out whenever he pleases and he returns whenever he wishes or as soon as I call him, but I live in a secluded area, I suppose that would not be possible with Boomer. He is so adorable, I hope he'll get used with the harness. Kisses lovely lovely lady.

Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal said...

*MOL*
Boomers Mom I´m sorry for laughing !
This is not something to laugh about say´s my mom , so I better quit or maybe not ;-)
Both me and mom hope that Boomer will like the Puppia harness better !
So he doesn´t try to escape from that too !

Gigi said...

I think the problem is that the harness steals all your bones and makes you unable to walk. Yep, that's the ticket--they might as well just give it up.

Anonymous said...

Haha too much fun! Whoever first thought of a cat on a leash is a genius! :o)

Petro said...

What a wonderful idea to have a blog dedicated to our sweetest friends.
I am a cat lover too and although right now I can't afford to have cats I plan to add few more members to my family soon :)

Gigi said...

Hi efurrybuddy at Whisppy! What's up, pussycats??? Yo, Boomie, man--I've been visiting "our" girl--how bowt you? Or are you still all tangled up in that harness? Hee hee hee!

animal lover, quilt lover said...

They say you have to try a cat on a leash really in kitten hood to get them to except walking on a leash-- I have heard.

Brando and Bogart said...

Good luck with Boomer, seems he might not want to return to the outside. Our Elvis Pursley goes out into the yard for a minute and wants to come in right away!

Mr Puddy said...

MOL Boomer, at least, you have real goof fun with it ; )
Cat Style...tree...heh....heh
Xoxo

Unknown said...

Oh I know that face Boomer - it's the 'why are you doing this to me...I'm a cat stupid!!' Sookie does this every time I have tried to leash train her. Wish I could offer some good advice but i'm afraid my patience is rubbish and I keep giving up (bad kitty mother that I am!!) xoxo from Kitcaboodles

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

We like the Puppia style harness, just wish the buckles were more 'cat sized'. Teri got one for Disco cuz he is the ummm, largest and more dog sized. The rest of us wear Cloak and Dawggies Mesh harnesses, which close with velcro so we don't use them outside even though they seem secure, if a doggie scared us, Teri is not sure they would hold but she thinks they would. We love the Come with me Kitty bungie leashes, but not so much the harness as it's a bit fiddly to get adjusted just right. She has not tried them, but the Kitty Holster looks very secure, too. We took right to our harnesses but then we are a bit unusual. Teri recommends letting kitty wear the harness around the house for 5, then 10 then 15 then 30 minutes etc until they are comfortable eating, play and napping in them.