Walking your Bengal cat can be a great way to get some exercise, and we would all love to be able to walk our cats with ease, but not all ways of walking cats are created equal. Putting a leash on kitty’s collar isn’t safe and won’t keep her from slipping out at a sudden noise and running off. Harnesses are the best option.
Based on our research, we pulled together the harnesses to make walks with your Bengal cat fun and no issue.
Key Takeaways
- Walking a Bengal cat in a harness can be awesome, but a proper harness is essential to prevent your cat from escaping and for safety reasons.
- The Kitty Holster harness is the editor’s choice for Bengal cats due to its lightweight, comfortable design, and high praise from cat parents making it highly recommended.
- Harness training your Bengal cat requires patience and gradual acclimatization, with short initial sessions leading to longer periods of wear and indoor walks before venturing outdoors.
The 5 Best Bengal Cat Harnesses
1. Petsafe
If you are looking for an economical and lightweight H-style harness strap option, the Petsafe is a solid choice.
Designed for kittens and smaller cats that weigh less than 12 lbs., it is highly adjustable for cats of the appropriate dimensions.
It’s comfortable design, with the lead fitting around your cat’s neck and back, will evenly distribute pressure, which is why many veterinarians recommend H-style harnesses.
Before purchasing this harness, make sure to measure your Bengal cat carefully, and if, within these limits, this harness is a great choice.
Neck size: adjustable from 7 inches – 10 inches; Chest size: adjustable from 10 inches – 17 inches.
And with durable snap-lock buckles, you’ll find the Petsafe easy to put on your cat and take off after your outdoor adventures.
We recommend the Petsafe because this product is on the list as one of the greatest Bengal cat harnesses.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Well-made of quality materials
- Highly adjustable to work with your cat’s dimensions
- Leash (included) length lets your cat explore without getting into trouble
- Useful instructions help you get your cat used to the harness
Cons
- Requires patience from your cat and you to adjust the harness correctly
- Determined cats may wiggle free
2. Kitty Holster
This stylish harness comes in S, M & L to fit your feline friend to perfection.
Furthermore, It’s made of comfortable and breathable materials, and is easy to put on and take off.
And, with its Velcro closure, plastic buckles and clips for adjustments, it is one of the few harnesses, and is really at making sure to keep all Bengal cats secure.
With its double rings for leash attachment, you can enjoy your outdoor adventures with confidence. Size L: Fits chest girth 14.1″-16.1″, neck girth 9″-13″, leash length 4.9 ft.
Check out the Kitty Holster harness if you need a harness for your Bengal cat.
Pros
- Shaped to fit a cat’s body with multiple adjustment points
- Calms anxious cats with its thick material and snug fit (like a “thunder coat”)
- Velcro closures and snap buckles for extra security
- Thick quality materials and leash included
Cons
- It runs slightly small
- Watch neck adjustment to prevent discomfort
3. Red Dingo
The Red Dingo is another good option for a H style harness. The Red Dingo comes in one size that can be adjusted to fit any size cat. This is nice because you don’t have to worry about purchasing the wrong sized harness.
It is also one of the most affordable harnesses that can be found, while still being high quality and having highly rated feedback.
This harness comes with a leash whereas some options only come with the harness. You can pick from red, black, green, and pink to fit whatever preference you have.
The place where you hold the leash has additional padding to not hurt your hand. One negative aspect of this harness is it can rotate if you pull from the side. The clips on the harness are made to look like fish which looks neat.
Pros
- Affordable
- Comes in a few colors
- Good ratings
- Simple but effective
Cons
- Harness can rotate on cat
- Some cats are able to escape
4. Travel Cat
The harness hugs tightly to the body of the cat which makes the odds of your cat worming out of this very low.
There is reflective material near the base of the harness to make this harness more safe for night use. If a car shines their lights on your cat, they will be able to see your cat and avoid them if your cat ends up in the road.
The leash is 4 feet long which is ideal. It is not too short where you are constantly dragging your cat back, but it is not too long where your cat is so far away that you couldn’t react if you needed to. The fastener where you attach the leash is able to spin in every direction so your cat can go in any direction with ease.
If you are interested in getting your Bengal harness trained while they are kittens, this brand has the option for a very small harness.
Pros
- Cool logo
- Won’t overheat kitty
- Comfy feel
Cons
- Cats can escape
Having A Harness Is For More Than Just Walks
The main purpose of having a harness is so you can take your cat on walks. But, there are lots of other occasions where having a harness can be handy. It is a great alternative to cat carriers. If you need to get out of the house fast and need to take your cat, then throwing the harness on your cat is a lot better than having them run free. Or if you are going on a trip, and don’t want to have to put them in a carrier every time you have to go from point a to point b. A harness can even be used for trips to the Vet. If you have other cats, and are curious if they can be walked, check out this post about breeds that like going on walks.
How To Harness Train Your Bengal Cat
- Keep the harness in an area that your cat frequents for a few days. This achieves the effect of the harness not being totally foreign to your cat and they are not completely shocked when you first put it on them.
- Get the harness on your cat. This is not going to be easy. Do this before they eat, so that they are more focused on their food than the harness. The first time you put the harness on, only leave it on for no more than five minutes. The next day, put the harness back on your cat and this time leave it for 10 minutes. Each day leave the harness on for a little bit longer until your cat is starting to look like they don’t mind wearing it. Every time that you get the harness on your cat, recognize the progress by giving them treats.
- Attach the leash to the harness and go for a short walk around your house for a few minutes, but don’t pull on your cat at all. Allow them to lead the way, and keep slack in the line. Again, build up the duration of your indoor walks inside your home.
- Switch to walking your cat indoors but guide them gently by keeping some tension on the leash. Continue with until they are okay with the tension and it seems like they are ready to go outside.
- Take them for a walk outside in a very peaceful and controlled environment. This could be your front yard. Keep your first walk short and gradually build up the length with each walk you take them on. You can switch to new locations as your cat becomes more accustomed to walking with a harness.
What Should You Look For In A Harness?
A properly chosen and fitted harness will perfectly wrap around your cat’s body and neck, ensuring you’ll stay in control and keep her safe when the unexpected happens.
You want your adventures to be fun, safe, and easy. Look for a harness that is the right size to keep your kitty comfortably and one that she can’t wiggle out of.
Today’s harnesses are generally straps that adjust around kitty’s neck and chest or a vest that fits around your cat’s chest and torso.
A leash attaches to the back of the harness, which can be a short leash while your cat gets used to the harness and leash or a longer leash when she is comfortable and ready to explore.
Which harness you choose depends on what your feline friend is like and the environment you’ll be exploring together.
Our team at Kitty Cat Reviews wants to share this cool article on how to walk a Bengal Cat on a harness.
Straps and Leashes
There are two styles of harnesses when it comes to harnesses for Bengal cats. Strap & leash harnesses are light, adjustable, and the most affordable.
If your cat is already harness-trained & docile, or your out-door environment is low-risk (few or no threats from traffic, sudden loud noises, or other animals), a strap leash can be a good option.
Harness Vests
If your cat is not strap tolerant or is a feline Houdini, check out these harness vests, which your Bengal may find more comfortable and they are more likely to prevent escape.
This post describes how to put a harness on a cat.
To conclude, Harness vests are a great choice when you would rather be safe than sorry in making sure your cat doesn’t find a way to escape.
Common Questions
How to calm your cat down when walking?
The best way to calm your cat is to never allow them to get in an anxious state. It is important to be patient in the harness training process and to get your cat very comfortable being walked on a harness. Next, you will want to carefully consider the route you are thinking about taking. What hazards are you likely to run into? If you know that there will be lots of noise or a high likelihood of an encounter with a dog then that is likely the wrong place to take your cat on a walk. Search for a route that will be the most peaceful for you and your cat. Don’t force your cat to continue onwards if the walk is stressing your cat too much, end it there
If you are in a situation where you need to calm your cat down, the first thing you should do is get away from the stressor. If your cat is stressed by noise, find somewhere peaceful. If your cat is stressed by an animal, get a good distance away. Have some treats ready to feed your cat. Remain calm to allow your cat to see that you are calm which will calm them. If a walk is stressing your cat too much, then don’t continue, turn back and allow your cat to be back in the safe and peaceful space of your home.
What is the best age to harness train a cat?
Harness training your cat when they are kittens is the best. With kittens, everything happening to them is new, so the additional thing of learning how to walk with a harness is not that big of a deal. As they get older, cats get more stuck in their ways, and change is harder. It is definitely possible to harness train an older cat, but it is best to start young.
What are the potential risks with walking a cat on a harness?
There are a few potential risks that can occur when you are walking your cat.
Even with the most secure harness, cats are able to break free sometimes and this can result in a few risks. They can become lost and they can get hurt when they are not under your watch.
Another potential risk associated with walking cats is the fact that you are likely to run into dogs being walked. Dogs can become aggressive at the sight of a cat and this can cause problems.
Walking near roads with your cat can also be dangerous. Here is a cool video describing the pros and cons of walking cats.
What is the most secure harness for a cat?
The most secure cat harness is a vest or jacket style harness. These wrap the cat snugly and allow very little room for your cat to break free.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read our post.
Finding the right harness opens up a world of possibilities.
But, cats need more than one way to transport them around efficiently.
Car carriers can be a great way to transport them around. Check here for more information.
Also, if you are looking for more ways to entertain this crazy breed, I think you should check out our post on Bengal cat toys.
References
Blaine is a pet owner and animal lover. His two passions of cats and blogging met and KittyCatReviews was formed.