{"id":317100,"date":"2025-11-25T03:19:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T03:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/easy-steps-so-your-cat-will-actually-walk-in-one\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T03:19:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T03:19:19","slug":"easy-steps-so-your-cat-will-actually-walk-in-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=317100","title":{"rendered":"Easy Steps So Your Cat Will Actually Walk In One"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Going for a walk with your cat? You\u2019ll be the talk of the neighborhood! <\/p>\n

Wearing a harness is the first step in getting your cat to walk on a leash. Your cat needs to feel completely comfortable in the harness which can be done using positive reinforcement clicker training.<\/p>\n

Below I\u2019ll show you what supplies you need and walk you through the steps for harness training a cat easily and successfully. By the end, your cat will actually want to walk in their harness instead of pretending that their legs don\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase an item through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Please read the full disclosure policy <\/a>for more info.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"cat<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Train Your Cat Amazing Tricks in Under 15 Minutes a Day!<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Training A Cat To Walk In A Harness (And Not Act Paralyzed)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first, you\u2019ll need a harness. This isn\u2019t as simple as going to the pet store and grabbing the first one you see. <\/p>\n

In fact, many of the harnesses out there were originally made for dogs and then manufactured smaller to fit a cat. But with how flexible cats are, this is a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n

The last thing you want is for your cat to slip out of their harness while they\u2019re outside. This is a dangerous situation where your cat could become injured or even killed.<\/p>\n

So before you start with the training, please read my article about the Best Harnesses and Leashes for Cats<\/a><\/strong> to help you pick out a harness that is escape-proof for your furry friend.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re new to clicker training, read about what positive reinforcement is<\/a><\/strong>, easy clicker training basics<\/a><\/strong>, and the tools I recommend<\/a><\/strong> before starting.<\/p>\n

Supplies:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I prefer using a clicker\/ target stick combo<\/a><\/strong> for cats since it\u2019s easier to hold, but you can use a separate target stick if that works better for you.<\/p>\n

Training Steps:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In order to harness train, your cat should already be trained to target.<\/strong> If yours isn\u2019t, follow my steps for target training<\/a><\/strong> and harness training guide before continuing on.<\/p>\n

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  1. Place the harness on the ground in front of you. Whenever your cat positively interracts with teh harness, click and reward them with a treat.<\/li>\n
  2. Hold the harness up and open it. Use the target stick to get your cat to stick their head halfway into the harness. Click and treat.<\/li>\n
  3. Continue working on getting your cat\u2019s head into the harness until they feel comfortable with their head all the way through. Click and give a treat each time. <\/li>\n
  4. Next, work on slowly brining the harness between your cat\u2019s legs and buckle it over their back. Click and give a treat. Go very slowly here so your cat isn\u2019t afraid.<\/li>\n
  5. Once the harness is completely buckled, use the target stick to coax your cat to move around, getting them used to moving in the harness. Click and treat.<\/li>\n
  6. Work up to slowly tightening and and adjusting the harness to fit, making sure to click and treat throughout the process.<\/li>\n
  7. Slowly build up the time your cat wears the harness. Focus on rewarding your cat whenever they\u2019re in the harness.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Each cat harness is different so you may need to adjust the training to work for your particular harness. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Once your cat is comfortable wearing and walking around in a harness, continue on to the Training Your Cat To Walk On A Leash<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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    \"clicker<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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    This training came from my book, How To Clicker Train Your Cat<\/strong>. If you want more fun and easy tricks to train, you can check out the book here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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    Why does my cat fall over when I put a harness on him?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    If your cat falls over whenever you put a harness on them, it has likely triggered a response from when they were young. As a kitten, whenever their mother picked them up by their scruff, their body would go limp while being carried. <\/p>\n

    Often, a harness will put slight pressure on the same area behind your cat\u2019s neck, which triggers this behavior. Another reason your cat falls over with the harness on could be that it restricts their movement and your cat would rather not move until you take it off.<\/p>\n

    For either of these scenarios, you can work with your cat using positive reinforcement training that\u2019s fun and full of treats in order to get your cat used to the harness. <\/p>\n

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    \"Stephanie<\/div>\n
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    Stephanie Mantilla<\/span><\/p>\n

    Positive Reinforcement Trainer & Enrichment Specialist<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

    Stephanie has over 12 years of experience <\/a>training and enriching exotic animals as a Zookeeper<\/strong>. During this time, she received a certificate in Behavioral Husbandry<\/strong> from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is an expert in animal behavior.
    In her free time, she uses positive reinforcement to train her numerous pets at home and is always thinking up creative ways to prevent her pets from getting bored. On Curiosity Trained, Stephanie now helps people make their pets\u2019 lives better by giving them easy to follow tips and science-backed information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n