Thinking about taking your cat outside? A cat harness can make it much safer. Cats love to explore, but the outdoors has risks, like cars. Picking the right harness is important for their safety and your peace of mind.
Harnesses come mainly in two styles: leads or vests. Leads are simple. They work well for calm cats that don’t try to get out of them. Vests, however, offer more coverage. They are better for cats who might try to escape. Vests offer a more secure fit for adventurous kitties.
Our Top Pick for Cat Harnesses
We looked at many options to find the best cat harness. Here’s our top choice. You can find more detailed reviews of this and other harnesses further down.
Overall Best Cat Harness
BINGPET Escape Proof Cat Harness
The BINGPET cat harness is our top pick, by far. It gives good support but still lets your cat move freely. The soft mesh keeps them cool. We really like how it fits our cats—it’s very secure, tough to escape from, and has nice padding for comfort.
Our Rating: 5/5
What to Look For When Choosing a Cat Harness
When you’re picking a harness for your cat, a few things really matter. Keep these four points in mind:
- Is it cozy for your cat?
- Does it fit right? Always measure your cat.
- Can your cat slip out of it?
- Will your cat be safe, and will you feel confident walking them with it on?
Cat Harness Reviews
We’ve reviewed our favorite cat harnesses here. Most of these come with a leash, so you’re ready to go for a walk right away.
1) BINGPET Escape Proof Cat Harness
Our Rating: 5/5
This BINGPET harness is one of the best around. It comes in three sizes for a good, snug fit. You can choose from simple black or more fun colors like pink, red, or tartan. Your cat will look sharp when out for a walk.
The harness is made from a soft mesh material. This helps keep your cat cool on warmer days. It’s comfy, easy to put on, and adult cats will have no trouble with it. The D-ring, where the leash attaches, has strong stitching. This helps make sure your cat can’t run off.
When you get it out of the box, you can feel the good quality. It has extra padding around the neck and very strong clips. It feels much more solid than other harnesses. It also feels softer and more flexible. It was very simple to fit on our cats. The flexible neck strap felt the most secure. Overall, this harness fit our cats the best. It was stretchy enough to fit, but also secure enough so they wouldn’t escape. We didn’t use the lead that came with it, as we prefer a retractable one. But you could use it for a short stroll.
The BINGPET harness is triple-stitched for extra strength. This helps keep your cat safe. It’s also machine washable and made of good fabric that won’t shrink. With this harness, you can walk your cat outside without worrying about them getting away.
2) Toulifly Cat Harness
Our Rating: 4.5/5
The Toulifly cat harness is a quality vest made from lightweight, breathable air mesh. We found this vest to be well-made and difficult for cats to escape, thanks to its vest-style shape.
This harness comes with a short lead. It’s just right for quick walks or when your cat wants to check out new places. It has reflective strips, so it’s good for use at night. There’s also a safety belt to keep your cat safe while they wear it.
When we opened the package, we noticed the quality right away. It’s thinner than the Bingpet option. This could be a good pick for cats that get warm in summer or need something a bit lighter because of their weight. The wrap-around design feels safe and secure. However, we didn’t find it quite as secure as the Bingpet version when we tested it on our cats.
Overall, we think this harness is a good value. Your cat will look quite stylish strolling around in it.
3) Rabbitgoo Cat Harness and Leash
Our Rating: 4.5/5
This harness comes in seven different colors, so it’s sure to look great on any cat. You can choose from black, pink, red, purple, blue, green, and yellow. With its simple H-style design, it’s a good choice for smaller cats.
The harness is fully adjustable. It has two snap side buckles and four adjustable straps. This means it will fit your small cat well, for sure. It comes with a leash you can attach. It’s made from a breathable air mesh, which will help manage your cat’s temperature when you’re out exploring together.
When we unpacked this harness, it was definitely the lightest one we tried. It’s also the most adjustable of all the harnesses and has good padding. We liked the two previous harnesses better because their neck attachments felt stronger on our cats. So, they seemed safer and less likely to let a cat escape. If your cat needs a tighter harness, this one is the most flexible. You can tighten the straps as much as you need to make sure there’s very little room for escape.
4) Trixie 41960 Cat Set of Harness & Lead
Our Rating: 4/5
This Trixie harness, as you might guess from the name, is for larger cats. It comes with a leash and is made from strong material. It can handle powerful cats weighing 6kg and more. The price is reasonable compared to other harnesses on the market. It also offers plenty of space to keep your cat comfortable.
It’s simple to adjust, and the snap buckles hold your cat securely, but also safely. If your cat isn’t used to wearing a harness yet, you can distract them with some treats. Just put the harness on while they’re munching away. This lead harness is much easier to use than a jacket-style one, which can be tough to get your cat into.
5) Trixie XL Cat Harness with Leash
Our Rating: 4/5
If you have a big cat, you’ve probably had trouble finding a good harness for them. Large cats need a sturdy harness. It needs to hold them safely and still let them move easily.
This Trixie cat harness is a great option, plus it’s priced well. It’s very easy to adjust. The plastic clips are strong, making it tough and escape-proof. The fit is perfect. It can fit cats of all sizes comfortably, no matter their weight.
This is a great harness if you just moved and want to take your cat outside for the first time. The secure hold will stop your cat from escaping. You both can have a good time checking out the new neighborhood.
But pay extra attention to your cat’s reactions. Cats, just like us, need time to get used to new places. Some cats might get scared by busy roads and car horns. This is especially true if you moved from a calm, quiet area. You should be patient with your cat. Help them adapt to their new surroundings.
Cat Harness Buyers Guide
Buying a cat harness can feel tricky, especially if your cat hasn’t worn one before. We’ve listed the main things you should think about when looking for the best harness.
Size
The most important thing is that a cat harness must be comfy and fit properly. Take your time and be exact when you measure your cat. The right size means your cat can move freely. More importantly, it means they can’t slip out.
Usually, harnesses are measured around your cat’s chest, behind their front legs, and up over their shoulder blades. Some harnesses also use a front measurement. This goes from your cat’s breastbone, in front of their front legs, and over their shoulder blades.
When you measure your cat, keep the tape measure fairly tight. Don’t leave too much slack. When you fit the harness, it’s a good fit if you can slip one or two fingers between the harness and your cat’s body.
The Harness Style
Cats will react differently to various harness styles. We prefer vest harnesses. They are usually harder for cats to escape, which means they are safer for both you and your cat.
Vest Harness
We find vest harnesses to be the most secure. They are the best choice for cats that often try to get out of things. Look for a harness made from a mesh material. This helps control your cat’s temperature while fitting snugly against their fur.
H Style Harness
The H-shape harness is pretty basic. It just wraps in front of and behind your cat’s front legs. It fastens on their back. H-style harnesses can be tightened well and are flexible. This often makes them hard to escape from. They also feel less restrictive on your cat, which some cats might like better than a vest.
Step in Harness
A step-in harness is just what it sounds like. It has two holes for your cat’s front legs to step into. Once their legs are in, you fasten the harness on their back. This means you don’t have to put the harness over your cat’s head. However, they are usually thought to be the easiest type for a cat to escape from.
Training Your Cat to Use a Harness
Cats can be funny creatures. They often react poorly when new things are introduced too fast. Give them time to get used to things.
When you train your cat with a harness, first let them check it out. Let them sniff it in their safe spot. We suggest leaving the harness near their food or favorite sleeping place. Reward your cat with treats as they start interacting with the harness.
Once your cat is a bit used to the harness, you can start having them wear it. First, try stroking your cat. Then, gently stroke them with the harness, or place it on their back while they’re on your lap. If your cat stays calm, or doesn’t get scared, give them treats and pets.
After your cat reacts well, it’s time to put the harness on to wear around the house. Be very gentle. Don’t worry too much about tightening it just yet. Let your cat get used to wearing it first. Once it’s on, praise your cat with treats. Let them wear it for 10-15 minutes, then take it off. You can slowly make this time longer. You can also let them go into the garden or outside with the harness on to help them adjust.
Finally, when your cat is okay with the harness, you can try attaching a lead. You might want to get your cat used to the lead inside your house before going outside. When you’re ready, let your cat explore outdoors on their own. Don’t pull them. Don’t plan specific walks. Your cat will likely feel most comfortable close to home. As they get more practice, they’ll become more brave!
Like most things, patience and not giving up are key when using a harness. Be gentle. Try to make every experience a good one by giving your cat treats as a reward.
Closing Thoughts
Cats can get bored easily. Taking them out for regular walks is a good idea. It’s a great way to bond with your cat. They can satisfy their curiosity about what’s outside the house. It also helps expose your cat to different places and people.
If your cat is a bit chubby, walking them regularly can help them burn off extra fat. This will boost their metabolism. They’ll be in much better shape quickly. You just need to get a good cat harness, and you’re ready to start.