Yes, I have! Even took her for walks. It can happen. So long ago, but it seems like I started out by putting the harness on and let her get used to it before adding the leash part. Wish you the best for big Bernie.

Never met a harness he couldn't get out of!!! And getting him into the carrier is not fun either!!!

It might be worth trying Feliway spray. You spray the inside of the carrier--and maybe a piece of cloth. It seems to help a little with my cat.

I have seen pictures of people walking their cats in harnesses but I have not had similar success. I had a cat harness which I tried on various cats. None of them liked it. If they couldn't get out of it, they would just flop down on the floor and refuse to move.

The Feliway is a good idea.

Good luck!

I wonder if fluffier cats have built in slippery so can wiggle out with more frequency?

Not easy. Misty has a tendency to pee and poop in her carrier, especially if it's a longer car ride to the vet. I line the carrier with puppy pads and carry paper towels and such to clean her up if it happens.

They do make carriers that are more like a soft sling with just their head out. But I'm thinking that would make any clean up even worse if you should need to.

If you use the harness, try to prep her several times before the vet...put her in it, leave her in it for a few minutes and give her treats to distract her and then take it off. Would be easier if she learns that the harness isn't a bad thing before heading to the vets.

I made my own harnesses for my cats that I used with them when introducing them to the outside world when they were young and they did fine. My grandmother lived near a busy street though and used to harness her cat and she took to it just fine.

My puppy was introduced to a cat last weekend. The cat was in a harness, which was probably a good thing or things may not have ended well for my pup. But yeah that cat wears a harness to take walks on the beach, etc. I don’t think she loves the harness but it works and she seems to enjoy the walks. This big girl can’t slide through or out of anything!

Less hissing with glass between them, though the even then the cat maintained a low growl which I’ve not heard from a cat before. Try again this coming weekend!

if Feliway spray is a pheromone spray to reduce anxiety would definitely use that a- to soak the harness in so that being in the harness gives off “good” vibes or b- to soak the carrier of last resort. Our senior boy had always tensed up on a trip to the vet. Even had “biter” stamped in red across his file after chomping down on my husbands hand. Started at a new vet who start off with a room soaked in pheromone spray and puss even voluntarily came out of the carrier! Now puss is referred to as Lord Leo by his vet who is sure he’s a gorgeous boy!

Don’t underestimate the effect of pheromones! 🙂

Who was the new vet? Dr Phil…….

Ooh, interesting vet!

we gave up on the harnesses, they slip right out of them.

Years ago, before kids, I would take the cats in the car with me to get Wendy’s or McD or something. When we got home, they got a sip of milk shake or nibble of hamburger in their dishes. So they never minded going in the car. (Although, when we did go to the vet instead, they let me know their displeasure afterwards by pooping in the car). I didn’t use a carrier in those days, now I know better that they should always be in a carrier, and the carrier secured.

I tip I learned is to put the cat in the bathroom before you get out the carrier. It’s hard to hid in a bathroom.

My neighbor takes his Bengal cat for regular walks. He started when he/she was very young.

Young likely matters. The calico above also showers without issue, as she’s done it since a young age.

My cat, Frances, is very compliant and I got her a harness when I registered her to be a visiting therapy cat. I sometimes walk her on a leash in our building lobby. When my friend came over with her baby in a harness, I put on Frances' harness so they could be twins.

Agatha would use one but could get out of every one I tried no matter what. She sort of rolled and flipped and out she came. I would take both of my cats at the time for walks and we had a Goose, Caroline, who was absolutely riveted by the idea of cats in harness. She would follow us around. Very aggravating. The last time I tried was with my Wesley. I used one of the body shirt types and he managed to get his lower teeth caught while trying to chew it off. Fortunately I was right there. I have seen cats so calm about it they could be staked out like a dog but panicked cats can get out of almost anything. Do lots of practice.

I've tried several times to train my cats, especially Thomas, to walk on a leash but he will have none of it. As mentioned above, he just flops down and won't move. Or, wriggles out of it.

One time I was a mean Mom and just dragged him around on the ground because he wouldn't stand up! It was winter and the trip to the basement was treacherous what with carrying two food dishes and a cat (Thomas, because he won't go to the cellar on his own). Thought I had the solution, but it didn't work at all.

When I put the harness on Peach, he did such acrobatics that I feared for his life and quickly got it off of him.

Pretty just froze stiff and cried, made me too sad; so off came the "torture device".

I do think if you work with a cat long enough they would eventually get used to a harness or begin when they are a kitten.

Our kitty Scoot has no problem with it as he knows it means he's going "outside". We just have to say that word and he runs to the door. Get the kind that's a vest, not a series of straps. Do not let him pull against the leash backwards as it can pull the harness right off over his head.

I've never had a cat, but do I remember that people would transport a cat in a pillowcase? No room or 'purchase' to do much fighting. At least you could just wash a pillowcase.

Our cat grew to tolerate her harness as that was the only way she gets to go outside (she proved herself to be a flight risk). It took some time and treats to get her to let us put it on her. You want the harness to fit quite snug. I think the more vest-like ones seem to hold more securely, as long as you get a good (snug) fit.

Pheromones worked pretty well with our prior cat who was very aggressive at the vet’s office. I’d definitely give those a try.

I think the vest type are part of the solution. With the harness I made, it would go around the neck another loop around the body and then the two loops were tied together along the chest and along the back so there was no escape. But as they were young kits they didn't struggle too much with it anyway.

My last cat Peeka, black long haired, loved to go outdoors in his harness. We staked him out next to vole holes....and he'd catch them proudly. Yell....with the vole in his mouth...for us to come and

see it before he killed it. Very chill cat.

Aspen, who is also a black long haired cat, like Scoot...will wear a harness...but he heels when we walk him...so really no need for a leash. He gets walked daily.

One of our cats insists on her weekly walk. Our cats accepted the harnesses being put on quickly, but I read that you might have to introduce the cat to the harness before putting it on. If so let the cat smell the harness first and give praise as the cat investigates itl. The comment about the harness without a leash is also a good idea, again praise the cat.

Before you take your cat to the vet on a leash, you'll want him to have better associations with it, so a couple pleasant walks should help.

Good luck

We don't put the harness on the cat. We put the cat on the harness. Lay it open on the ground and place the cat so its feet are inside the holes. Bring the sides of the harness up and over the cat and snap the latch closed. Easy!

This is similar to what we have. You just snap the closure together. There are two rings that the leash attaches to, which gives added protection.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/reddy-grey-cat-harness-set

Although it's not exactly this brand, it's very close. You put his two feet in it and then velcro and click it shut and attach leash. It still hasn't arrived.

I had a bengal, Foufou, and she used a harness when we lived or traveled, but at home no harness needed. She began when she was a kitten.

I bet a cat could back out of a harness.

We took our old cat to the vet in a pillow case. we could hold her with head sticking out. wouldnt work for all cats.

They can back out but only if you let them pull backwards against the leash. You'd have to be very distracted not to notice in time.

Agatha did not back out. She flipped and rolled so fast you could not see what she was doing and there went the cat and there lay the harness.