Harness Training Mr. Christy
Mr. Christy would love to go outside. I can tell because he sits in my window sill at times avidly watching what is going on outside.
I’d love to let him go outside, but he is so little and the town I live in poses many dangers for such a tiny creature. We get a fair amount of traffic, there are many loose dogs and there are coyotes, one of which probably killed his mother.
So I read up on training cats to walk on leash. I learned that if you start them early enough, and have the patience of Job, it can be done although cats never really learn to heel and mind like dogs do. Good enough.
I went to the pet store and found the smallest possible harness. They had a harness for a teacup poodle or chihuahua.
When I got home I pulled Mr. Christy onto my lap and the fun began. Kittens don’t really take all that well to having a harness put on them and Mr. Christy was no exception. He was confused first thinking that I was playing with him so every movement of the harness was met with teeth and claws to catch and immobilize the harness. Then he decided this wasn’t a fun game at all and writhed about frantically as I pulled it over his head and fastened it around his belly.
I let him go and he treated me to an energetic acrobatic contortionist act that was as comical as it was frenzied. Up on his tiptoes with his backed arched, he flew across the room in jagged bounces frantically chewing at the straps. Then rolling about on the floor in a mad panic, chasing the side of the harness with his teeth. He finally came to rest underneath the table panting and looking at me with disgust. I told him he had done very well and offered him a treat. On hobbly kitten legs he trotted over to me to accept his treat and his praise.
I left the harness on him for about an hour and he seemed to come to terms with it, no longer fighting or attacking it.
Round one accomplished!