Teaching an older cat to walk on a harness.

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by James Bond 007

I actually jokingly asked my vet on my last visit if she did house calls. She actually said she did, which surprised me, though there's an extra charge for it of course.

I will ask. My old vet did it but my cat screamed bloody murder when they tried to get blood out of him and I had to pay to bring him in and be put out. However, I feel like my cat is too old to be killing myself (13 years old) to get him blood work. He has lived a good long life and it probably will be more traumatic to take him in.

My main goal is that he needs asthma medication and I have been told they will be happy to give him another prescription as long as they take a look at him and determine he doesn't like have blood coming out his eyes but don't want to do it if he looks sickly or is breathing hard.

[Rowan123]

Originally Posted by EmilyFoxSeaton

I will ask. My old vet did it but my cat screamed bloody murder when they tried to get blood out of him and I had to pay to bring him in and be put out. However, I feel like my cat is too old to be killing myself (13 years old) to get him blood work. He has lived a good long life and it probably will be more traumatic to take him in.

My main goal is that he needs asthma medication and I have been told they will be happy to give him another prescription as long as they take a look at him and determine he doesn't like have blood coming out his eyes but don't want to do it if he looks sickly or is breathing hard.

13 Isn't old for a cat at all. Even if he is traumatized it will only be for a short while. He could have a number of good years left. I can't imagine how awful it would be not to be able to breathe, please take him in and get him his medicine. It's the best thing for him.

[Nanny Goat]

I had 2 cats that walked w/ leashes on (in the yard), infrequently though, but they both did great w/ it.

I had 1 that refused, pulled, jumped, went nutty and that was the last time.

I guess it's very dependent on cat.

[Delahanty]

Originally Posted by EmilyFoxSeaton

Well you may all remember I was trying to teach my older cat to walk on a harness. I purchased a velcro harness. I thought I was safety proof.

However, today, going down the stairs my cat slipped and somehow the harness came up and was strangling my cat in the mouth, my cat was screaming and literally jumping, making it all the worse. I had to get in there and pull the velcro but in doing so my cat bit me HARD on both hands. I got it off and my cat went running. He appears ok.

I am not so much. I had to go to the doctor and get antibiotics. Now my hands have swollen and are hard to move.

I am FURIOUS with the harness. It was sold to me as the safest but the way my cat slipped sent the whole thing tightly forward on her mouth -- I swear the only way possible to do this. I am grateful that it was easy to get off but bitter as I think the velcro made it easier to slide up than a traditional one.

Forget that idea.

What a terrible experience!

I was determined to try a harness because I felt bad that our cat saw the dog going outdoors lol. But I was never comfortable with it. The cat is a long orange tabby, and the harness looks so "short" on him--as if it would slip off. I've even heard of the Kitty Harness slipping off occasionally.

As much as I'd like the cat to adjust to a harness, I can't chance his slipping out of it. We have an orchard, with coyotes, behind the house, and I don't want to set him up.