What is the best cat harness/vest???

[sphynx4me]

Hi, everyone! I hope you all are doing well tonight. I have a question regarding harnesses. I don’t know what harnesses I should be looking at to purchase. Moses, my hairless Sphynx, has a smaller neck 9” and a larger chest 20”.
I also have another cat, Gracie, who is a long-haired American shorthair classic silver tabby. I do plan on purchasing a stroller when Amazon has their sale in May. So I need to get a harness/vest for both of them. Neither have been outside before. Moses is just a few years old, so he might be more adaptable to it, whereas Gracie (8 1/2 neck and 18” chest) is almost 14. Any suggestions?

And what about clothes for Sphynx cats who have a larger girth? I have ordered on Sphynx Cat Wear a new sweater for him. They have wonderful outfits. I’m just wondering if there are any other options out there or if I am just best sticking with what I know works? Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[Yoda mom]

@sphynx4me keep in mind.. no harness is escape proof , especially if spooked my noise etc. been there done that. with that said, many use the voyager harness. I use on my dsh black cat for daily walks in my back yard. members will surely chime in.. fyi, I see many strollers on fb marketplace. can meet up at local police station as precaution.

Mine sphynx go nakid. one of mine freak thing got "thumb " nail snagged and nearly fell from a high place. there are members that will chime in with harne and clothes info. hug n head smooches to Moses and Gracie!

 

[Yoda mom]

@Catzzzmeow and others for harness and clothes recommendations

 

[sphynx4me]

thank you so much for the info. That is so sweet of you. I’m sorry to hear about your little pumpkin‘s nail getting snagged and almost having a very bad fall. How scary!
My cousin said that I should check on buying a used one, but I just worry about possibly bringing home any type of unpleasant pests. Although they are not cheap, I am hoping to get a new one at a decent price in May. I already have one in mind. It would be one that it detaches away from the frame kind of kind of like a baby car seat. That way I will be able to have them both in there stroll them down the hall of the apartment complex I live in, detach it from the frame and fold it up, open the door and be able to walk them down the step in their stroller/car seat contraption and then open the frame up pop them in and off we go. At least that’s what I’m thinking. Lol.

 

[sphynx4me]

@Catzzzmeow and others for harness and clothes recommendations

Is Catzzzmeow

@Catzzzmeow and others for harness and clothes recommendations

Thanks, I will check it out!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

We have used this brand for many years. Size XS the Velcro lets it adjust a bit for sizing. Clothes I have gotten from Amazon, Temu, PetSmart etc.

 

[sphynx4me]

Thank you! I was looking at a lot of different ones on Amazon, but the problem I kept running into is that Moses has a neck of 9 inches but his chest is 20 inches, which puts him out of the categories.
It is as though it will be swimming around his neck. A lot of them don’t even seem to go up that high. And he doesn’t really look like a big boy to me at all. I guess has a larger chest.
So far, I’ve only been able to find info on having one handmade for him due to his chest size and his neck size. My other cat, Rosebud, she will fit into one off the rack, so to speak. No problem there.

 

[sphynx4me]

How much adjusting…wiggle room…will it give you?
I really don’t think my Moses looks like some unusual size…but the sizing on the harnesses had me perplexed. It has to fit him properly.
Did you wonder about this initially too or have your little pumpkins always fit within the size range?
I do really love the look of the Voyager harness.

Here is one other question: Since I will be taking Moses and Gracie out in a cat stroller, what size length of leash should I get that attaches to the safety straps that are inside the stroller? Also shield it be stretchy or non-stretchy?
Thank you.

 

[sphynx4me]

Quick update: I ordered the Voyager harness in extra small. It should arrive tomorrow. I’ll have to let you know if it fits.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Will be looking for your update…hope it works.

I never use a stretchy leash. I want to know I have immediate control.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Yoda mom]

@sphynx4me non stretchy leash. I actually walk raven black furbaby cat on an XS voyger harness that you can still see there is room as she got older (20 yrs old) and I actually use a 6 ft leather thin lead. she does not mind at all. it was Gunnar aussies' pupply leash

*** if Moses and Gracie are microchipped, ** please cal the company directly to confirm registered (often times microchipping procedure does not include the one time lifetime registration fee ) also, if it did include the registration fee, call and confirm they have correct contact info. yrs ago I did a routine check and found someone had typo'd incorrectly entering my phone number. Now I make a habit avery year to double check info. often times people move, get different phones, no longer with the people that was the back up contact etc.

I always say it is my job to keep all paws safe
hugs n scritches. looking foward to updates

 

[sphynx4me]

Thank you for the info on the leash. I will certainly keep that in mind. . As of right now, I only plan on having them stay inside the carrier and attached to the inside. I don’t plan on walking them. That whole thought freaks me out a bit... actually, a whole lot. Even having them in a stroller is making me a bit nervous, but I thought that it might be very nice and enriching for them to be able to smell the air and experience the outside, but in a very limited way. I even called my vet to ask her if she thought that I was making a good decision. She thought that they would be enriched by getting to experience the outside by being in a stroller.
I really think that is as far as I will take it. The idea of them getting out of their leash and running off, I would never forgive myself.
That is why I am planning on getting a stroller that will be one that detaches. That way they will already be in their stroller compartment and situated before I go outside and put it on its base and secure it in place. That is the only way I could figure to do this. I have a step down onto the landing of the porch, then I have another step to go down before getting to the sidewalk. So they will have to be situated in their carrier and secured in before I walk out my door.

 

[sphynx4me]

I sure hope I am doing the right thing here. Have your cats ever gotten out of their harnesses? All the cats that I’ve ever had, have always been inside only. I have never contemplated this whole stroller idea until just a little while ago.
I figured that’s the safest way to do, would be with them staying in the stroller. I was eyeballing the Bicystar 3 in 1 detachable pet stroller.

 

[sphynx4me]

Update on the harness. I received it this morning. I tried it on Moses, but it is digging into his armpits. So I have now ordered the small and I should receive that tomorrow morning. I will let you know how that goes! Thanks!
As a sidenote, do you watch Marshall, the hairless cat on Kuzmin s YouTube channel? What a hoot!!!
And if any of you out there like MAC cosmetics, they are running a 30% off various lip products right now.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Thank goodness for easy returns through Amazon!

 

[Yoda mom]

@sphynx4me , YEs and YEs... escaped several harnesses. my first was my bengal in my fenced back yard years ago. He got spooked by a noise and lighting fast backed out of the come with me kitty harness.
I personally dont take my sphynx out in a stroller or harness figure my job is to keep all paws safe,, and loose dogs running up etc. that happened too while I was walking my pup.

with that said, I rescued adopted black cat Raven whose owner refused to come get her. Owner said she was an outside cat. well, I do walk her in my back yard only on her voyager harness and she is not allowed to free roam. and YES, she got spooked by a loud noise and started to back out of the harness. so always mindful of no harness is escape proof.

 

[sphynx4me]

@sphynx4me , YEs and YEs... escaped several harnesses. my first was my bengal in my fenced back yard years ago. He got spooked by a noise and lighting fast backed out of the come with me kitty harness.
I personally dont take my sphynx out in a stroller or harness figure my job is to keep all paws safe,, and loose dogs running up etc. that happened too while I was walking my pup.

with that said, I rescued adopted black cat Raven whose owner refused to come get her. Owner said she was an outside cat. well, I do walk her in my back yard only on her voyager harness and she is not allowed to free roam. and YES, she got spooked by a loud noise and started to back out of the harness. so always mindful of no harness is escape proof.

Thank you so much. Maybe I should forget this whole idea. I really never ever would forgive myself I’d something happened to them due to a stroller/harness incident.
I am in my 60s and I’m not going be able to try to run after them that quickly if they ever got out. I have artificial hips, so there are limitations with running. That would be so horrible. I can’t even barely think about something like that. I really would never forgive myself ever.

 

[sphynx4me]

Thank goodness for easy returns through Amazon!

Wow, the one I bought it really did not fit within the chest size, so I did put it on both of them, so I might just eat the cost of that one. But the one that is coming tomorrow morning, the one that is going to be perfect and pristine condition, I can just return that.

 

[sphynx4me]

Thank you all so much for all of your help.

Maybe I will get them some new puzzles and leave it at that.

 

[Yoda mom]

@sphynx4me , there are some great DIY puzzle enrichment ideas on line using used toilet paper rolls etc.
I am over 60 , my sphynx are senior kitties ,15+ and they do just fine not going out in strollers, harnesses. I just didn't take a chance if they got out of harness and ran in street or got away and never found again.. or stray dogs , coyotes etc running up... that's just me.

here are some ideas, many more online, videos how to make
DIY cat enrichment can be easily made at home using common recyclables to stimulate your cat’s hunting and foraging instincts. Top hacks include creating puzzle feeders from toilet paper rolls, building cardboard box forts or mazes, setting up "bird TV" (window bird feeders), and crafting homemade catnip toys from old socks.
Foraging and Puzzle Toys

• Toilet Paper Roll Puzzle: Cut holes in the sides of a toilet paper roll, place treats inside, and fold the ends shut. The cat must bat it around to get the food.
• Muffin Tin Puzzle: Place treats in a muffin tin and cover the holes with tennis balls or small paper balls, forcing the cat to remove them to reach the treat.
• Egg Carton Forager: Put kibble in an empty egg carton for a simple, accessible foraging challenge.
• Bottle Dispenser: Cut small holes in a plastic water bottle (remove the cap/ring) to turn it into a rolling treat dispenser.

Environmental and Sensory Enrichment

• Cardboard Box Maze: Tape several empty boxes together with cut-out holes to create a fun tunnel or maze.
• Window Bird Feeder: Attach a bird feeder to the outside of a window to provide hours of visual stimulation.
• Paper Bag Hideout: Leave out paper bags (removing handles for safety) for crinkling and hiding.

keep us updated! hugs n head smooches.

 

[sphynx4me]

Thank you for all the tips on DIY cat toys/puzzles! I will have to maybe try a few and see what happens. Gracie might be more interested in the puzzles. She likes treats. Moses has no interest in treats whatsoever.
Have you tried any of these tips yourself? If so, how did they work?
Thank you again so much. You’re so very sweet.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

We have treat puzzles here is one I put out this morning. I try to rotate toys etc so they do not lose interest. This was the first time the kitten saw it and she had fun. I also swear by bird feeders by windows or suction cupped to them. It is great fun for them.

 

[sphynx4me]

I have seen that one on Amazon and wondered about it. I have one that has various blue pedal/droplet shaped plastic pieces that swivel and has round while pieces that shift around a tract that call also house treats. Neither one seems interested at all in that one. I just bought another one thinking that maybe if it was simpler they would like it better. This one has a blue base and white bones to hide things under and also rectangular hinged white little cubbies to hide treats in as well. Moses, my hairless, has no interest in it whatsoever. He really is not treat motivated. He just likes his normal food. I don’t know if I should try another puzzle treat or give it up on that one. Gracie looked at it for a little bit and sniffed seeing it, but then simply walked away. She is 14. I just thought maybe a puzzle toy would be beneficial but they sure don’t seem too interested. I was hoping that they would like to forage.
Is there a puzzle that I am missing here???
I do have a toilet cardboard roll that I could try. I just have to be careful with Gracie, because she has pika and she tends to want to eat paper and I have to keep plastic baggies far out of her each. She might go after the cardboard though.
Then I thought maybe giving kitty cat massages might be a nice added touch.

 

[sphynx4me]

Your cat are absolutely beautiful!

 

[Yoda mom]

my crew clairebare turning 15 this month, batman 15 1/2, and Raven dsh black furbaby 20. a good ole paperbag from the grocery store with the top folded back and a ping pong ball liked for a little while.. about once a week lol.. today I took the 36 pack pepsi one box cut the handle area and Raven had a good time playing in it before I put it in the recycle bin. Clairebare likes fetch with a hairband on the bed, then I always put away in a jar as soon as we are done. lol batman would be to lazy for the treat puzzle and just sit and look at me cute like you get those treats for me peasant and he is highly treat motivated. Claire bare would look at it and go.. eh and go back in her blankie lol. every kitty is different. the win here are grocery store brown paper bags and boxes... and the Yeowz cat nip banana, only that one though for some reason... I tell Batman get his Nana and he kicks and plays with it all the time..
you could start a post on DIY puzzle and enrichment toy ideas or store bought reviews , recommendations

hugs n head smooches Moses and Gracie! love to see pics of them. all paws are family