Thread: Training Maine coons on a leash?

Thanks for that. It was very interesting reading about your experiences. It's nice to know that they often do get to enjoy going out. Your male MC running to the end of the drive when you asked him he wanted to go for a walk is so sweet. It sounds like it just takes patience. Often the same with dogs unless you start early. I have a lupine harness I used on my dog when she was a puppy - can you use these on cats or can you buy lupines specifically made for cats?

Originally Posted by Karena

I have a lupine harness I used on my dog when she was a puppy - can you use these on cats or can you buy lupines specifically made for cats?

They make ones specifically for cats. See:
Lupine® - Cat Products

The cat harnesses are figure-8 or H-style. Some dog are but some are not.

The other harnesses we have are:
Buy Adjustable Figure H Cat Harness Blue Nylon - Cat Harnesses Online at Arcata Pet Supplies

Those say 11-18" girth, but the ones we have are 16" not 18". These have been fine for our 14lbs cats, but are too small for bigger male. The Lupine are 9-14 or 12-20". We got a couple of the larger for the bigger male, but he has not used yet (not big desire to go out).

I personally don't like very much this type of harness because I think it doesn't wrap the cat weel. I use for my cat 2 types of harnes:
-the first one has a little stuffed part that goes from the neck to the back. I use it to bring Mellow in the car, fasten to the seat belt. It's strong and comfortable for the cat. See the firt picture. It's made by Trixie.
-the second one his for dog but I use it to go out with my cat and I think if weel done. See from the 2nd to the 4th pictures. It's made by Ferplast.

Than I want to buy some type of harsess as follow, just to try them and see if they are safe and confortable for the cat. The 5th pictures is an harness made by trixie, cute, while the last picture is a type of harness called "cat walking jacket" that in my opinion (but I want to buy and try it) should be the best one!!!

Originally Posted by Marty.Mellow

I personally don't like very much this type of harness because I think it doesn't wrap the cat weel.

I have not had much luck using harnesses with a strap between the leg, but if your cat tolerates them then great. Just be aware that the way they get out of a harness is to *back* out of it, so having a chest strap will do nothing at all to prevent this. Our MC mix spent like 4yrs outside on a rope all day wearing one of the H-style harnesses plus going for walks every night. In all those many *thousands* of hours of wearing an H harness, he managed to get out of it only twice (and trees were involved both times).