Thread: Training Maine coons on a leash?

Cool - If I were going to try a harness on Simba that's the one I'd try

If your cat is able to immediately back out of its harness, you do not have it adjusted tightly enough. As I have posted before, we had a MC mix that was outside on a harness and rope during the day every day for over four years, so he spent many thousands of hours wearing a standard cat harness, unsupervised. He also went for a walk around the neighborhood most nights. We had virtually no problems with the standard cat harness--after we got it adjusted (sized) properly. So sorry, but people who claim a standard cat harness cannot be secure are simply wrong!

It is basically impossible to end up with a harness that a cat cannot possibly get out of if it is not put on tightly enough, and despite what the designer claims, this design is no different. It is the diameter of the openings that matters, not the width of the "straps." What makes cats different from dogs is: "Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by free-floating clavicle bones, which allows them to pass their body through any space into which they can fit their heads." [Wikipedia] This is why the chest strap is not escape proof on a cat as it is on a dog.

I do have some potential concerns about this design: it might bother the cats more as there is a lot of material pressing on them, you size it anew each time as you put it on (how tightly should you wrap it?), the sound of velcro ripping apart when you take it off will freak out lots of cats, and should they start wriggling back through it, there is a lot of fabric they might get stuck in (e.g., could they suffocate themselves if they got it partway over their heads). (Standard harnesses can also present safety hazards of course.)

Perhaps if you are not careful, this design is easier to get a tight fit than with a standard harness. However, the advantage of a standard clipped harness is that you can keep adjusting it until the fit is just right, and then it remains like that forever. I would rather spend several sessions fussing with fit until it is optimal, than to essentially do it anew each time I put the harness on. But that is clearly a personal preference.

MJ is big enough and confident enough to attempt some walks around the city this summer I feel. She is good with the harness indoors and on the patio, can't wait to go for a stroll. Although they will be kept short and extremely close to home, due to the high number of dogs. Although MJ is now about 24" head to bum and is intimidated less everyday.

Originally Posted by hammyt

MJ is big enough and confident enough to attempt some walks around the city this summer I feel. She is good with the harness indoors and on the patio, can't wait to go for a stroll. Although they will be kept short and extremely close to home, due to the high number of dogs. Although MJ is now about 24" head to bum and is intimidated less everyday.

Sounds like you both are ready! As I have related before, from my experience cats do not go for walks like dogs do, and if you expect that to happen you will probably be disappointed. With my cat that went for a neighborhood walk each night, I more often than not ended up carrying him back home. This in fact became part of the ritual, with him developing a routine for letting me know when he wanted to be picked up to head home. Actually, him snuggling against me on a cold night and purring away as we walked home is definitely one of my most cherished memories from my time with him. Luckily he was only 14 lbs though! Getting them to head home on their own is definitely easier if you stay close to the house. Cats also like to stop and just watch for things periodically. Often on our walks we would end up sitting somewhere for 10-15 minutes.

One of our current girls likes to go out in the yard. She has progressed from always being on a leash to sometimes going loose. Some days she is just constantly on the move, going round and round the house. Other days she gets fascinated by something and wants to just sit and stare. We also have some light ropes around the yard so that I can attach her if I want to do some yard work. I do not take her for neighborhood walks, as she is perfectly happy in the yard. You might just start with your yard.

There are a couple of dogs in our neighborhood that I consider a danger to cats, so I am very cautious. It could be very hard to protect your cat from a large dog and avoid getting bitten yourself. I won't take a chance on either one of us being injured, so I virtually always carry something called Halt! when I have a cat outside. It is a pepper spray that is made specifically for use on dogs. I also carry it when biking, and can confirm that it works great. Will stop a charging German shepherd dead in its tracks! Additional bonus is that it is a great training aid. Never had to use it more than twice on the same dog. After that they don't even bother standing up when I ride by. Halt! is a USA product, but there are probably similar things if you look. Around here only biking stores sell it. Note that Halt! is 0.1% capsaicin, while pepper sprays designed for use on humans are 10%. I would not advise using them on dogs. Halt! does not injure the dogs at all.

This is something I want to try with Gryfn, especially as a lot of people have said they want to meet him.

Originally Posted by NCarver

Sounds like you both are ready! As I have related before, from my experience cats do not go for walks like dogs do, and if you expect that to happen you will probably be disappointed. With my cat that went for a neighborhood walk each night, I more often than not ended up carrying him back home. This in fact became part of the ritual, with him developing a routine for letting me know when he wanted to be picked up to head home. Actually, him snuggling against me on a cold night and purring away as we walked home is definitely one of my most cherished memories from my time with him. Luckily he was only 14 lbs though! Getting them to head home on their own is definitely easier if you stay close to the house. Cats also like to stop and just watch for things periodically. Often on our walks we would end up sitting somewhere for 10-15 minutes.

One of our current girls likes to go out in the yard. She has progressed from always being on a leash to sometimes going loose. Some days she is just constantly on the move, going round and round the house. Other days she gets fascinated by something and wants to just sit and stare. We also have some light ropes around the yard so that I can attach her if I want to do some yard work. I do not take her for neighborhood walks, as she is perfectly happy in the yard. You might just start with your yard.

There are a couple of dogs in our neighborhood that I consider a danger to cats, so I am very cautious. It could be very hard to protect your cat from a large dog and avoid getting bitten yourself. I won't take a chance on either one of us being injured, so I virtually always carry something called Halt! when I have a cat outside. It is a pepper spray that is made specifically for use on dogs. I also carry it when biking, and can confirm that it works great. Will stop a charging German shepherd dead in its tracks! Additional bonus is that it is a great training aid. Never had to use it more than twice on the same dog. After that they don't even bother standing up when I ride by. Halt! is a USA product, but there are probably similar things if you look. Around here only biking stores sell it. Note that Halt! is 0.1% capsaicin, while pepper sprays designed for use on humans are 10%. I would not advise using them on dogs. Halt! does not injure the dogs at all.

Good info thanks!

I don't plan on walking MJ like a normal dog, rather explore the local urban environment. Also, I would like to take her to the park and/or beach if at all possible, she is an extremely curious cat. I'm also thinking of grabbing one of those portable outdoor enclosures for the park/beach'ing as well.

You don't have to tie up your cat to keep it safely on your own property. The PetSafe PIG00-11007HW Deluxe Underground Cat Fence from Pet Shoppers Palace
It is the best way to let him wander freely without wandering off the property.

Originally Posted by IrishKitty

Has anybody experience of training their Maine Coons or other cats on a leash?
Would be interesting to hear some stories and tips if you have some

A lot of my Mainecoons and Abyssinians are trained to a leash and also when they are requested by new owners.

Get you cat used to a harness in the house wearing it for a couple of hours per day not lead attached and when they are with you sitting on your knee etc just pull a couple of times on the harness, keeping doing this for a week or so and then add the lead, again just tug a few times make it like a game use a feather toy on a stick with the harness and lead attached then, when you have done this for a short time, take bay outside and do the same make it a game no dragging and pulling the excitement of seeing new things is just amazing for them and usually they adapt.

Being a biking country both here in Germany and the Netherlands where a lot of my cats live, most of my cats go in baskets on the new owners bikes with a harness and leash attached..


Success with your training...


Debbie x

Originally Posted by JeffreyNew

You don't have to tie up your cat to keep it safely on your own property. The PetSafe PIG00-11007HW Deluxe Underground Cat Fence from Pet Shoppers Palace
It is the best way to let him wander freely without wandering off the property.

Shock collar ? Er, no thanks. Prob illegal in the UK / EU too.