Harness for cats: review of the best harness models in 2021 (types, recommendations, reviews, new products)

How to put a harness on a cat

It should be noted that this accessory should be comfortable for your pet so as not to cause anxiety or unnecessary excitement.

There are several basic steps that will help you correctly and correctly put a harness on your cat:

It is necessary to let your pet sniff the harness and get used to it in order to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
Before starting the process, it is important to pick up your pet and, if he appears anxious, pet him and calm him down.
Do not make sudden, noisy movements, do everything carefully and calmly.

If these points are followed, the procedure will give the desired result and will not take much time. Next, we will look at various methods for collecting harnesses depending on their type.

Trixie with reflective stripes is the best option to buy

A comfortable nylon harness for cats with reflective stripes and a leash will not allow your pet to get lost even in the dark. Reflective elements are sewn into the fabric of the product, providing additional safety for your pet.

Product dimensions: 22×42 cm. The width of the strips is 1 cm. The cat leash is included in the kit and is connected to the harness with a reliable carabiner. The product is suitable for teaching cats discipline, visiting veterinary clinics and exhibitions.

Plus: does not rub the animal's skin.
Disadvantage: gradual training of the animal is necessary before use.

How to assemble a cat harness

Depending on the configuration, temperament and breed of your pet, there are different variations of harnesses.

The main guiding factor is maximum comfort - it is important that the harness fits your cat and does not rub or squeeze the animal.

There are certain nuances when assembling different types of harnesses.

Eight:

This accessory consists of parts. One part - a small loop is put on the cat's neck, it should slide over the animal's head, it does not need to be unfastened. The carbine ends up on the animal's back. The front paws are inserted into the second part - a large loop; it should go around the cat's chest. The loops can also be adjusted to make them wider or narrower.
Next, you should put the smallest of the loops on the animal’s head. The junction of the loop and the connecting strap should be slightly above shoulder level. The middle of the figure eight should lie between the shoulder blades.
You need to take the ends of the large loop that are located under the animal’s chest and connect them.
It is important to ensure that none of the loops are twisted and become a source of irritation for your pet.
It is necessary to check the fit of the belts. There should be 2 fingers between the harness and the animal.
The leash must be fastened to the ring located in the animal’s back area, after which the harness itself is checked for strength.

What types of harnesses are there?

Even if your pet is exclusively domestic, he still needs fresh air and walks in nature. But not a single loving owner will let his furry friend go outside alone, because there are dangers lurking for the pet there in the form of dogs, vehicles, etc. Or the cat may simply get scared and get lost.

And harnesses for cats will serve as an excellent solution, because thanks to this convenient product the pet will be under the supervision of the owner and feel free. And although you can now buy harnesses of any color and size, you should not buy the first model you come across. First you need to understand what type of cat leash is right for your pet. Today, four of their varieties are most popular.

Eight.
This design is made in the form of two loops that are attached to the animal’s neck and behind the front legs. Such a device covers the body tightly enough, preventing the pet from freeing itself from it.
Type "N".
This product is almost an analogue of the previous one, with the only difference being that two loops on the back are connected into a bar. As a result, such a harness looks like the letter “H”.
Type "V".
Similar to the first types, only the loops are connected on the chest with the letter “V”.
Harness-jacket.
A denser variety is not just loops, but a product made in the form of a jacket. This design will protect your pet’s fur from dirt and the body from the cold. The harness-jacket is considered a fashionable model and is already included in the category of clothing.

DIY cat harness

A photo of the V-harness is shown below:

In order to correctly and competently make a harness for a cat with your own hands, you must initially take measurements of the pet: the circumference of the neck, as well as the chest, the length of the neck from the base of the head to the middle of the chest. The result will be two circles - a large and a small one and a line between them.
Next we will need A3 paper, a pencil, a ruler and a centimeter. The length of the paper is determined by the size of the animal - it should be the same or slightly longer than the circumference of the cat.
You also need to add 1 centimeter to the resulting measurements in the drawing to make sure that you have trimmed the fabric enough. This indentation will be the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitches.
Then you need to cut out the template and try it on the cat.
The next step is to prepare the necessary material for making the harness. For this we will need: thick fabric (denim or cotton is recommended, as it is quite dense, soft and durable), lining, thread matching the color of the fabric, scissors, D-ring, protective fabric, sewn-on Velcro.

The protective fabric is used to strengthen the main fabric. It should be the same weight as the other type of fabric or less.

The ring should be wide enough to allow the nylon tape to pass through it freely. The length of the nylon strap itself should correspond to the middle circle of the vest. It is important to note that the thicker the tape, the more difficult it will be to sew.

To make a harness pattern we will need: a sewing machine, scissors, pins, an iron, a tape measure. If you don’t have a sewing machine in your arsenal, you can sew it yourself, but it will take a little more time.

We do it ourselves

You can make a harness for your cat from belts yourself; the quality will not be inferior to store-bought ones, if you choose the right material and stitch the fastenings properly.

Choose dense fabrics: soft denim, nylon. Reliable fastening: buttons, straps with clasp.

To make the common “H” shaped harness model, a large sewing needle is sufficient. Measurements are taken: the chest is grasped behind the front legs, the radius of the neck, and the distance of these measurements from each other.

The width of the straps should not exceed 1.5 cm in finished form. For strength, they are stitched on both sides.

We sew fasteners to the edges for the neck and chest. We connect them with a jumper, onto which we pre-attach the ring for the carabiner of the leash.

For those who love handicrafts and sewing on a sewing machine. Patterns for a harness-vest for a cat are not difficult to find on the Internet. Or come up with an original style.

Pattern of a harness for a cat

It is necessary to cut out the fabric, lining and face protective fabric, then place the harness diagram on top of the cut out and attach with pins. It is important to remember to indent 1cm from the main measurements.
Let's start sewing all the parts of the pattern. You should start from the wrong side, folding the edges. This is done to ensure that the seams are inside the vest. Next, you should align the edges relative to each other and stitch around the perimeter, then iron everything.
On the part of the harness that will be located in the animal's back area, you need to sew a D-shaped ring. It should be threaded through the nylon tape with the rounded part facing out.
Finally, we sew the Velcro to the harness. They should overlap each other; accordingly, we place part of the Velcro on the wrong side of the pattern, the other on the outside.

After the manipulations have been done, you should try on the resulting vest on the cat and check how it sits on it.

Advantages and disadvantages of harnesses

Like any design, harnesses also have their pros and cons. What are their advantages?

The ability to safely walk your furry friend in the fresh air.
Absolute control over your pet during a walk, be it in the yard or on a trip out of town.
It is very convenient to visit the veterinarian without keeping the animal in a cage all the time. And also transport your pet on the train, take it to the country, go on a visit and much more.
The roulette leash allows you to expand the scope of your walk by adjusting the distance.

Now about the cons. They are minor and can easily be avoided if desired.

Be prepared for the fact that the cat will not immediately accept the harness; the first reaction will be fear.
At first, the pet will begin to struggle and twitch, so it will need to be trained.
It happens that cats break out of their harness and run away. This is why it is important to buy a quality product. The same goes for the quality of the leash to the harness.
If the cat has gained weight, you will have to buy a new product; the old one will weigh on him.

Photo of harnesses for cats

What is it and what is it for?

A harness, or as it is often called a “cat leash,” is a device designed to hold a pet while it walks outside. A cat leash looks exactly the same as a dog leash, the only thing is that it is fixed not on the neck, but between the animal’s shoulder blades. Harnesses are used in cases where the cat needs to be taken outside the house. This can be not only a walk in the fresh air, but also a trip to a summer cottage, a visit to a veterinary clinic or exhibitions.

Thanks to this design, walking the cat becomes much easier, since he is held and constantly under control. This is especially important when an animal finds itself in an unfamiliar environment and begins to panic out of fear and climb to heights, after which it is extremely difficult to get the pet from a tree or other place. In addition, cats can simply run away in such situations, hiding in a quiet shelter and then not be found.

The same applies to trips to the country, where free walking is allowed only a few days after the pet gets used to the new environment. To speed up this process, owners need to walk the cat on a leash every day, gradually introducing it to the surrounding area. The main advantages of cat harnesses include:

the possibility of a comfortable and safe walk with an animal on the street, which will provide both the pet and its owner with positive emotions and good health;
having control over the cat, he will not be able to run away and climb a tree;
the ability to adjust the distance between the animal and its owner;
financing trips to the country, exhibitions and to the veterinary clinic.

As for the shortcomings, they also exist.

Cats may panic at the sight of harnesses, break free and become nervous. Animals try to free themselves from the leash in any way and often cause harm to themselves.
The leash and harness must be securely fixed, otherwise the pet will easily break free and run away. Then it will be difficult to find it.
Models made from cheap fabrics and low-quality materials quickly tear. Harnesses from well-known brands last a long time, but are expensive.
It is not recommended to use these devices for kittens that are under 5 months old. Their body is not yet adapted to private access to the street and they can easily “pick up” any infection.

In addition, experts advise against walking on a leash in the following situations:

if the animal does not have the necessary vaccinations;
after a previous illness or surgery;
during the period of heat.

Before you decide to buy a cat harness with a leash, it is important to consider that many pets have difficulty adapting to unfamiliar conditions, so such walks are contraindicated for some of them . They will not be of any use, and stressful situations will negatively affect the animal’s immune system and cause heart pathologies.

You should also not take overly aggressive cats outside, as they will only cause problems (fights cannot be avoided). This also applies to pets over 10 years old who have not previously been walked on a harness. It is best not to try to accustom them to it.

Harnesses are usually sold complete with a leash. They consist of two collars, one of which is fixed on the cat’s neck, and the second on the stomach. Therefore, when choosing a particular model, it is very important to pay attention to the parameters of the animal and buy a harness that is not too small or large. The leash is attached to the harness using a special ring. Its maximum length can reach 2.5 m; there are also models 4 meters long.

Today you can find a huge assortment of cat harnesses on sale, which differ in the material they are made of. Most often, this accessory is made of thick fabric and tarpaulin, but it is best when the harness is leather. In addition, products can differ in color and decorative options; models decorated with stripes and rhinestones are very popular. To participate in exhibitions, pet owners, as a rule, purchase original harnesses. For ordinary walks, you can give preference to cheaper options.

The most common types of harnesses include the following.

Harnesses-overalls . They are considered universal because they allow you to additionally protect your cat from cold and pollution. On the back of the accessory there is a ring with which you can attach a leash. Thanks to the chic selection of colors and designs, harnesses and overalls can be easily selected to suit every taste.

Vest-shaped harnesses. Such models are equipped with fasteners to which you can quickly attach a leash. They are reliable in use, but are not suitable for summer, as the pet will be hot in them. In addition, many experts believe that such vests limit the cat’s freedom of movement.

Collar leash. It is ideal for docile and calm cats. To make your pet feel comfortable in it, you need to choose the right size. The harness should not hang loosely around the neck or put pressure on it. Accessories of this type in the form of a figure eight are extremely popular. The products consist of two loops fastened together, one of which is put on the pet’s neck, and the second on the body up to the front paws.

The connection point of the loops is on the back (between the shoulder blades), and a ring is fixed to it for connecting the leash. The loops have convenient adjustment, which is carried out using special fasteners. This allows you to adjust the size of the harness to the specific dimensions of the cat.

This model has one main advantage - it completely eliminates the possibility of suffocation of the pet. In addition, the product is low cost and light weight; animals do not slip out of it.

Leashes and collars in the shape of the letter V are also available for sale . They are similar to regular harnesses, the only thing is that the straps are connected to each other under the chest.