Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

How to put a harness on a cat without getting scratched

By

A cat harness can let your indoor cat safely explore the outdoors with you alongside. Harnesses come in multiple styles, including the figure 8, H style, and vest harness. They’re designed to keep your cat comfy, but your cat might not be wild about the idea of putting a harness on the first few times you try. This can lead to scratching and biting, so it’s important to understand how to put a harness on a cat safely before you attempt this task. When you take your time, teach your cat that the harness is a good thing, and let your cat get used to wearing it, you can open up a whole new outdoor world for your cat. The following cat harness instructions can help you stay safe when putting your cat’s harness on.

Let your cat get used to the harness

You might be all excited to try the new harness you just got on your cat, but that’s one of the worst things you can do. Your cat will most likely struggle against the harness’s unfamiliar smells, and you might get hurt.

Recommended Videos

Instead, give your cat time to get used to the harness. Put the harness near his food dish and leave it there for a week or so. Soon, the harness will start to smell like food, and your cat will view it as a familiar object.

Cat proudly wearing a tan harness outdoors
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Time your session right

When you’re ready to put the harness on your cat for the first time, be strategic about when you try this. Look for a time when your cat is relaxed but not sleeping. Is he sitting next to you on the couch and just hanging out? That’s perfect.

During your first attempt at putting a harness on, it’s helpful to have a second person who can hold your cat. Hold the harness up next to your cat until he loses interest in it. Then, start by quickly but gently putting the head loop over your cat’s head.

How you handle the next steps of putting the harness on will depend on the style of the harness you’re using. Review the directions thoroughly and make sure that you and your helper know just how to fasten the remaining straps.

Your cat might fuss during this first session, and that’s to be expected. Don’t struggle with him and scare him so that he’ll be wary of future sessions. If you get only the initial loop over your cat’s head, that’s fine. Praise your cat, give him a treat, and try again another time.

Cat outdoors wearing a blue harness attached to a leash
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Teach your cat the harness is a good thing

Once you do get a harness onto your cat, he won’t necessarily understand that it’s a positive thing. The harness may feel strange, and some cats can get quite upset. Your furry friend might try to run, or he might refuse to move.

You’ll need to be patient with your cat as he gets used to the harness. Keep things positive — give him food, give him catnip, and praise him lots while he has the harness on. During those first few sessions, let your cat wear the harness for just a minute or two and then remove it. You can gradually lengthen the duration of the sessions as your cat starts to accept the harness more.

Keeping these sessions positive should help your cat start to associate the harness with treats, praise, and other good experiences. This should encourage him to fight it less and even to look forward to these sessions. Once your cat is fully acclimated to the harness and understands how to walk in it, you might venture outside with him.

When you first put a harness on your cat, you might be met with some protesting. That’s pretty natural, but be prepared. You’ll really have to watch your cat’s body language to determine what he’s comfortable with, and some cats might get used to a harness quickly while others might take much more time. Having a helper can help keep you all safe during these initial sessions. Don’t forget to make sure your cat’s claws are trimmed before you start to introduce the harness — if he does swipe at you, this can help keep you from getting too badly hurt.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Surprising reasons explained
Health concerns to harmless changes: Reasons cats stick out their tongues
Side view of a cat sticking out its tongue

If you've ever wondered, "Why do cats stick out their tongues?" you're not alone. Whether you've noticed your cat doing it and wondered whether your cat is sick, or you've simply seen a cute TikTok, try not to worry. Most cats occasionally "blep" or stick their tongues out, and it's rarely a cause for concern. In fact, it's downright adorable! (Search for 'cat bleps' online when you're feeling down; the precious images are the perfect pick-me-up.)
What causes cats to blep? We'll explore a few potential reasons behind this strange yet adorable behavior.
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Here are a few reasons

As odd as this behavior may look, you'll be glad to know that you rarely need to worry about a cat sticking out their tongue.
Your cat is exploring the world with their tongue
One of the most common reasons for an exposed tongue is rather simple: your cat is literally exploring their surroundings. When your cat leaves their mouth open and tongue out, they're collecting pheromones on their tongue -- this is called the Flehmen response. Those pheromones give your cat important information about other cats around, including whether they're in heat, via electrical signals from body to brain. Who knew something so cute could be so helpful, too?
Your cat may show their tongue if they're missing teeth
Sometimes, cats let their tongue hang out a little because they're missing their canine or front teeth. These teeth help keep the tongue within the mouth, so if your cat is missing one or two of these teeth, it's more likely that their tongue will slip out from time to time. No worries!
Your cat is trying to please you with a behavior they think you like
You might even be reinforcing your cat to stick their tongue out without knowing! If you laugh at your cat, give them attention, or give them a treat when they do this behavior, they may quickly learn that sticking out their tongue gets a positive response. You might start to see your cat do this repeatedly, mainly to get a positive reaction from you. Whether that's 'good' or not is up to you to decide.
Your cat may let their tongue fall out of their mouth when they're relaxed
Sometimes, when cats are relaxed, their tongues naturally slip out. This happens because your cat's jaw loosens up as they relax, so their mouth opens up just enough to let the tongue through.

Read more
Why is my cat peeing everywhere? Find out the reason and how to fix it
Helpful tips if your kitty is guilty of this
A black and white cat sprawls out beside a blue litter box with a pile of litter on the floor

Whether you've recently adopted your feline friend or they've been your constant companion for years, inappropriate urination is a problem you want to nip in the bud — sooner rather than later. Inappropriate urination, otherwise referred to as elimination issues, are frustrating for all pet parents. Don't think you're at fault. An estimated 10% of all cats will experience house soiling at some point in their lives.

Sadly, inappropriate litter box use is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters each year. You've come to the right place if you've been wondering, "Why is my cat peeing everywhere?" We'll share what you need to know about the most common reasons behind these issues, and we'll teach you how you can put an end to your fur baby's toilet troubles once and for all.
Why is my cat peeing everywhere?

Read more
Will cats share a litter box? How to make sure your pets live in harmony
Litter box setups for multi-cat households
Adult, cat teaches a kitten to use the litter box

The decision to bring home a new pet can be spontaneous or a well-thought-out process, but you still may find yourself caught off guard by all the shopping you'll have to do. Are you prepared to buy double the cat food? You might expect to purchase two of everything once your second kitty comes home, but some cat owners wonder, "Will cats share a litter box?"
Navigating the litter situation will take some adjustment from everyone, but your cats will figure out what works best for them. To help them get started, let's learn about different litter box setups for multi-cat households. Whether or not your cats share a litterbox, you can keep your home organized and clean with just a little planning.

Will cats share a litter box?

Read more