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Post by vicsy on Jul 6, 2014 21:06:56 GMT
Hello all,
I've recently got a 6 year old female bengal cat (Minnie). She's lovely and really well behaved. She's been an indoor cat all her life but would like her to have some supervised access to the outdoors. I've bought her a harness and lead and introduced her to it in the house and she gets on with it fine, she doesn't seem to mind wearing it. The problem is when I take her outdoors the slightest thing scares her and she goes running in the opposite direction. I'd love for her to spend some time rolling in grass and sniffing around enjoying herself but she doesn't seem to be enjoying it at the moment. Has anyone else got any tips or had a similar problem? Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Vicky
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Post by tonib on Jul 6, 2014 22:07:52 GMT
Welcome to the forum vicsy, hope you enjoy it here. I'm Toni with 4 rescue cats aged between 4 & 15. Our cats have unrestricted access to the outside so I;ve not got much experience of using a lead & harness. I did use one for when we introduced some our cats to the garden when we first let them out. Roman was fine, Osiris & Penny wouldn't take to the harness at all. Lexie eventually was fine indoors but outside did run for home if there was anything startling so we couldn't safely use it for her, we also made the mistake of using an extending lead so if we had to let go it was a bit noisy behind her. Have you taken Minnie outside of your house/flat & garden or has she just been in the garden? If you have an enclosed back garden I would use this to get her used to the lead & harness & also a fixed length lead to start with so that you could let go if necessary. I would keep a back door open so she can run for home but there is also the risk that she might try to jump out the garden. Perhaps just take her out on the lead & sit calmly with her just watching what goes on. Gradually she may get used to the sights & sounds, however she may not like being outside - some cats don't and Bengal's usually know what they want or don't want to do! There are others on the forum who have successfully used a harness, Kupo.Kisses uses one with her Penny but these days is not on the forum so much but may see this & advise. |
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Post by scallywag on Jul 6, 2014 22:10:31 GMT
spider also takes moonbeam out on one. Welcome to the forum, Im from the dark side but still enjoy joining in on cat talk x
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Post by spider on Jul 6, 2014 22:19:59 GMT
hi vicsy welcome ya cats that have been inside for so long have there ways and it takes loads of carry me u cant really think i am going to walk on the green stuff bengal cats are stunning we have taken moonbeam on hols with us and we went for a walk o my scared very scared when it got a little darker we tried again still not happy but he could see better and that did seem to help just make sure all is well clipped together on the lead would a secure area outside be a way to start just an idea i am sure u and i cant be the only two people that have cats that scare at the drop of a hat
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Post by smilesbetter on Jul 6, 2014 22:24:03 GMT
Hi vicsy welcome to the forum! I'd try just taking her out to your garden if you have one firstly, at feeding time, and give her her food there. It will help her to associate being outside with good things and help her to feel more comfortable there. She might not eat much at first but coax her gently and sit with her to provide a sort haven for her. If you have a door leading to a garden then you would be best to leave it open and sit with her while she eats there, slowly over the course of a few weeks getting it further out till eventually she should be excited to go out hopefully! If you don't gave a garden, then perhaps try this just at your front door and feeding further away (but with door still open) slowly as per in the first message. You'll look mad to the neighbours probably haha and it takes time, but a good way to build confidence. Anyway good luck and have fun! |
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Post by spider on Jul 6, 2014 22:31:06 GMT
neighbours know im mad so i dont worry about them  thats a good idea about feeding and outside i will also give that a go coz moonbeam is still not sure of outside |
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Post by tonib on Jul 6, 2014 22:53:42 GMT
spider also takes moonbeam out on one. Sorry forgot that  |
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Post by scallywag on Jul 6, 2014 22:56:39 GMT
spider also takes moonbeam out on one. Sorry forgot that  |
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Post by smilesbetter on Jul 6, 2014 23:08:06 GMT
Haha spider I use food to coax my animals to do all sorts of things. It works wonders! Feeding to get pets used to certain situations is almost always my advice when people come on here needing advice about getting pets over fears or to like other pets etc  it's always worked for me! Although with certain pets it can take a long time doing this method to get them used to stuff, it's totally worth it in the long term  Planning to do this with Carlotta and Mieze soon actually! Just getting them used to wearing the harness indoors at the moment and once they are okay being walked around here, we will move the show outside haha! |
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Post by vicsy on Jul 7, 2014 16:10:36 GMT
Thanks everyone. She does have outdoor access to our secure balcony and she's fine there. I took her out last night and she seemed so much happier all of a sudden! The only thing that was different is that my boyfriend was there too, she seemed to be happier knowing she had 2 people watching over her She was even stress-free enough to start hunting moths. I would love to let her out unsupervised but she obviously has no road sense so I hope she remains happy enough with the harness and the balcony. I don't want her to get bored by being inside all the time! |
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Post by tonib on Jul 7, 2014 16:17:08 GMT
Sounds like it you're getting somewhere vicsy - just a case of confidence out rather than the harness. Must have been fun holding on to the lead whilst she was hunting moths |
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Post by jess on Jul 7, 2014 23:02:05 GMT
When our Oscar was a kitten we used to take him out on a harness and leash in the first few weeks of him being allowed outside - he hated this and would wriggle out of it. He also much prefered to be allowed out with no harness, just supervised - and he'd never wander far because he knew we were in the garden and would catch him if he tried too! Fast forward 10 years to when he had to have his eye out and the vet told us we had to keep him indoors until his stiches were out and healed, well this didn't happen, however again we let him out for short periods of time (half hour max) supervised and he never went far at all. I don't think cats like to be restricted by a harness but will understand not to go far if they're supervised and there's a promise of food if they come when called!! |
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Post by lotsofcats on Jul 8, 2014 11:48:49 GMT
Hi Vicky, I've got 6 cats that are indoor and have access to a cat pen in the garden. I tried a harness and lead but found that if a cat panics they can reverse out of one. One of my cats, Blackberry, got the lead caught around a big stone in the garden and totally panicked and escaped - I managed to drag her out of a rose bush behind the cat pen. I then discovered Mynwood cat walking jackets and they are brilliant - they are made to measure and have velco fastenings and a cat can't get out of it. Much safer. Have a look on the Mynwood website - I think they are priced about £12.99 to £14.99 and are available in lots of colours and patterns. T Here's Blackberry in her skull and crossbones jacket.  |
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Post by tonib on Jul 8, 2014 12:40:11 GMT
I was trying to remember who'd gone for the jackets & their brand name lotsofcats. Nice to see Blackberry in hers Do they often use them? |
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Post by lotsofcats on Jul 9, 2014 9:34:59 GMT
I was trying to remember who'd gone for the jackets & their brand name lotsofcats. Nice to see Blackberry in hers Do they often use them? Not as often as they should - I am going to make an effort to get them out on their jackets more. I bought them for Kiba-Khan, Kai Ruki, Bramble, Blackberry and Willow. I didn't get Kali one as she does go out in the garden on a Sunday morning before Toffee is allowed out of the pen (otherwise he chases her). |
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thats a good idea about feeding and outside i will also give that a go coz moonbeam is still not sure of outside 
it's always worked for me! Although with certain pets it can take a long time doing this method to get them used to stuff, it's totally worth it in the long term 
