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If you are going to be traveling with your cat one of the most crucial things you are going to need is a cat harness. It’s a necessity if you plan on walking them at some point and it can be really useful for other situations if you happen to be in them.
Why Get A Cat Harness?
The most common reason you would want to get one of these is because you would want to walk them. Here are some reasons why I think this would be a good idea to get your cat walking with you in a harness.
1: Exercise
This is one of the biggest reasons why I would do this with your cat. Like any other living creature we need exercise. Getting your cat into a harness will allow them to do this without getting into much trouble or possibly getting hurt.
2: Mental Stimulation
Being inside of the house can be really boring and it’s no different with your cat. If you get them into a harness they won’t be bored with nothing to do and can see what is beyond the house.
3: Stress Reducing
Walking or just being active in general has been proven to combat depression and stress. Getting your cat out of the house will make them overall happier and will like you more for it.
Other Ways A Harness Is Useful
These can also be really useful if you are taking them out of a cat carrier in a public place such as an airport or a car so it will be much harder for them to get away.
These cat harnesses can also be really useful for when you are going to the vet. If your cat is the type to hide out of fear these harnesses will help you with that problem which means less time spent at the vet.
Why Not Just Attach A leash To Their Collar?
This is fine for dogs but for a cat this is a really bad idea. This is really unsafe due to the fact cats throats are really sensitive and be can damaged in the process of doing this especially if they are doing something like climbing a tree while you have them on the leash.
Can You Use A Dog Harness On A Cat?
The truth is some people will say that dog harnesses won’t fit a cat but this is false and will fit a cat just fine. You just have to pay attention to the sizing and you should be good. In fact a lot of listings on Amazon, Ebay etc. pet product companies will put in the description of the harness that their harness will work for both dogs and cats.
Which Kind Of Harness Should You Buy?
There are two types of harnesses. The leads which are basic straps that wrap around your cat and the vest types which looks more like…well a vest.
Vests can either wrap around your cat or you can get a style that is a simple step in kind. Either one is fine but the step in style of harnesses tend to be less secure than the other type of vest harness.
Lead harnesses are completely fine to use but if you want the most secure type of harness that will make it a lot less likely for your cat to escape you want the vest type that wraps around your cat. I still however listed some lead types if you want to look at those.
One thing I should also mention is to check the measurements because some harnesses might not fit your cat. This is important because it will make it easier for them to escape if it isn’t properly secured onto them. Some of these might also not come with a leash.
If that’s the case you can get the “Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Color Dog Leash (Click here for the chewy.com link)” which you can get at chewy.com. I did a lot of research on both leads and vests and these are some of the best ones that you can get in my opinion.
How To Put On A Cat Harness
There are different kinds of harnesses that cats can wear so they all go on differently here is a video on how to put on the H-style harness.
Here is another video on how to put the jacket style one on as well.
Some Things To Consider Before Buying A Cat Harness
The first thing you should really pay attention to is the sizing. Cat have really weird bodies so if the harness does not fit exactly as it is supposed to they can easily slip out of it especially the lead type of harnesses.
You’ll want the harness to fit snug but not to the point where its too tight. If you can fit two fingers between the fabric and your cats body it is an ideal and comfortable fit.
Cats also can be startled by the sound of hook-and-loop Velcro closures and will not like hearing this. There are cats that also don’t like mesh material. They don’t really like how it feels on them.
Some cats won’t mind wearing this material but your cat might be an exception to this. If they don’t like the feeling of the harness this might be the culprit.
Another thing that you should consider is that this is something that also takes a lot of time for your cat to get used to. Cats are known for really hating these things until they are trained enough to enjoy them. After that they will probably beg you to go outside.
Vest Harnesses
1: Kitty Holster Cat Harness
This is probably the best cat harness you can buy and is my personal favorite. It really stands out and not only that its the one that Jackson Galaxy from the TV show “My Cat From Hell” recommends.
This one has many styles including a tiger and bandana type design and would be a good choice to go with if you like harnesses with unique and different patterns on them.
If you don’t like designs like this they also have solid colors as well. Click here for the chewy.com link.
2: Mynwood Cat Jacket
This is also a really good harness to go with and is the closest thing to the Kitty Holster in terms of quality. This harness has a very simple black look to it and is very secure.
These fit all kinds of cats including adults and kittens up to 8 months. Click here for the Amazon listing for the adult version and click here if you want the Amazon listing for the kitten version.
3: Gooby Soft Breathable Mesh Dog Harness for Small Pets
This one is a good secure fitting choice and a lot of people seem to like this one. I personally like the aesthetic of this one. It also comes in a lot of cool colors including black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red and comes in a variety of sizes. Click here for the amazon link.
4: Frisco Wrap Cat Harness
This is a great cat harness if you want something basic. It made out of breathable poly/cotton material and the sizes include petite and medium. Its also very easy to clean. Only con of this harness is it comes in grey. Click here for the current price on chewy.com.
5: Yizhi Miaow Cat Harness
If polka dots and blue or pink are your thing then this would be a really good choice to go with. It also has the convenience of coming with the leash as well.
This particular harness also has a really nice premium look to it and comes in many sizes including ones for kittens. Click here for the current Amazon price.
6: Puppia Authentic RiteFit Harness
This one seems to be aimed for dogs but that doesn’t really stop people from buying this one for their cats.
It has the same look and breathable fabric as a lot of cat vests you can get and comes in many colors including beige, black, camo, green, pink, purple, red, royal blue and sky blue. Click here for the chewy.com link.
7: Ruri’s Cat Jeans Jacket Harness Vest
If you want something that stands out a bit you or it happens to be Halloween at the time you’re reading this you could go with this option. It also comes in many sizes including for kittens. Click here for the current price on Amazon.
8: DogJog Cat And Dog Harness
I like this one a lot because it comes with everything you need including the leash and it even has a seat belt attachment if you decide you want to ride in the car with your cat which there is a good chance that you probably will at some point.
This one comes in extra small, small and medium and the colors you can get are black, blue, pink and red. Click here for the current price on Amazon.
9: GAUTERF Cat and Dog Universal Harness
This is another great harness you can go with if you want something with a lot of color choices and sizes. It comes in five sizes and the colors you can choose from are Black, blue, bright red, brown, dark blue, grey, pink and red. Click here to check the current price on amazon.
10: Necoichi Ninja Cotton Cat Harness
This is a really cool harness with a oriental design on it and has a bow and a gold charm. If you have a five to ten pound cat this would work really great for them. Its made out of cotton, polyester and PVC. it also comes in some nice colors including red, navy and green. Click here to see the current price on chewy.com.
11: Didog Adjustable Pet Mesh Vest Harness and Leash Set
If you are looking for a more girly looking cat harness this would be a really good choice to go with. It has lace and a neat little bell on the top of it. It comes in four sizez and the colors you can get are blue camouflage, grey flower and pink strawberry. Click here to check the current price on amazon.
12: Bolbove i’Pet Cat Harness
This one is interesting because it has pink angel wings on the top. This would make a good choice if you want something more feminine and want to stand out a bit. This one also comes with the lead which is nice to know. It comes in X-small, small, medium and large. Click here to check the current price on amazon.
Lead Harnesses
1: PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness
If you have a cat that is about 8 pounds this one should be a good choice. I like this one a lot because it comes in a lot of colors which are black, black and blue, blue, colorful (which is a rainbow color), orange, pink, purple, red, red and pink, rose and comes with the leash as well. Click here for the current Amazon listing price.
2: Rella Home Cat Harness
If you are looking for something really cheap this would probably be the best option to go with if you have a kitten. These also have a lot of colors including black, blue, brown, green, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow and light blue which you can choose from. Click here for the current Amazon price.
3: WALKABOUT Chest Halter Adjustable Dog & Cat Harness
This is another option that I also think would be a good choice. It only comes in black however but it would be a great option if you have a kitten or a cat for that matter. Click here for the current price on chewy.com.
4: PetSafe Come with Me Kitty Harness
This one is pretty unique compared to other cat leads because it has a bungee leash that prevents from hard pulling or tugging. Its also recommended by the ASPCA.
It also comes in six other colors including royal blue/navy, red/cranberry, lilac/bright purple, electric lime/green, dusty rose/burgundy and black/silver. Click here for the chewy.com link.
5: Frisco Nylon Step In Back Clip Dog Harness
This is a nice simple harness thats works very well and is for a decent price. Its made out of nylon and it comes in red, black, blue and pink which all the colors are fade resistant. Click here for the current price on chewy.com.
6: Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Nylon Step In Back Clip Harness
If you want a cat lead that has all sorts of colors that you can choose from this would be a good choice to go with. These include turquoise, dark orchid, royal blue, french pink and emerald. You can also get this lead in 3 sizes including small medium and large. Click here to check the current price on chewy.com.
7: Red Dingo Designer Cat Harness and Lead Combo
Even thought his one isn’t very popular I think this one is a nice choice and has many colors you can choose from from Circadelic Brown, Cosmos Dark Blue, Daisy Chain Purple, Love Sprinkles Pink and Snake Eyes Orange. I also really like the packaging as well. Click here for the chewy.com link.
8: SCIROKKO Cat Harness and Leash Set
If you want something that is more feminine looking this would be a good choice for you. You can get pink with a cat paws design or you can get a black one with stars and moons on them. Click here to check the current price on amazon.
Conclusion
Most cat harnesses are pretty much the same. As long as it is very secure, fits your cat well and made out of lasting material it should be a good choice. Haven’t trained your cat to walk on a leash yet? Click here to go to my article about that here “How To Leash Train A Kitten: A Complete Guide.“
