WAFFLES: Happy Spring, Boss! Are you ready to break out our harnesses? I'm thinking a picnic in the park. Just you, me and a bucket of chicken.
KATIE: I had something a little fancier in mind. Fine china and crystal perhaps. I'm not going to be seen eating out of a bucket.
WAFFLES: That's not what you said when you got caught on the kitchen counter with a KFC drumstick in your–
KATIE: WAFFLES! You did NOT just say that.
Ready for Spring with our Favorite Harnesses
Just recently we've received a number of messages and comments on Facebook asking for our recommendations on the best cat harnesses. We've tried a LOT of them! But our absolute favorites are the Puppia harnesses.
It's true, these are actually small dog harnesses. But the design and fit is perfect for most cats. We've tried harnesses that were made specifically for cats, but unfortunately none of them fit nearly as well as the Puppias.
There's just enough fabric and coverage for a secure fit, without being super bulky. Those skinny harnesses made from thin straps are a little too loosey-goosey for us and very easy to wriggle out of. The bulkier vests that almost look like a jacket are a bit constrictive. For us, Puppia is just right.
Size Matters
It's all about getting the right size. When we purchased our first Puppia harness, we bought three sizes to try out just to be sure. Katie and Waffles both weigh approximately 10 pounds and regardless of the style, wear a Puppia Small. We recommend taking some measurements too.
It's very important the harness not be too big. You definitely want to make sure kitty can't squeeze out of it. For cats in-between sizes, we really love their Rite Fit style. It has two adjustable buckles positioned at the shoulder that really help to ensure a snug fit. Of course, you want to make sure it's not too tight. Just keep in mind that many cats are master escape artists.
SIZE
|
Neck (base of neck)
|
Chest Girth
(min.~max.)
|
XS
| 7.5 (inch) | 9~13 (inch) |
S
| 9.8 (inch) | 12~18 (inch) |
M
| 12.5 (inch) | 14~21 (inch) |
L
| 14.0 (inch) | 19~29 (inch) |
XL
| 15.7 (inch) | 21~32 (inch) |
XXL
| 19.0 (inch) | 26~39 (inch) |
|
|
Style Matters Too!
With so many colors and styles to choose from, we have a harness for almost every occasion! And of course a coordinating leash to go with each of them.
This is Puppia's Rite Fit harness in Sky Blue. In addition to the adjustable chest belt, this harness has adjustable buckles at both shoulders. These extra buckles help to create a more customized fit. The Rite Fit harness comes in nine pretty colors.
Puppia's Soft Harness is their classic. It comes in even more colors– 12 solids and a camouflage print. It's incredibly soft and comfortable. There's a matching leash for every color too. Though all of our harnesses are smalls, we prefer the medium leashes. They're not heavy at all but offer just a little more length which is nice.
We customized Katie's pink harness by removing the Puppia chest label and replacing it with a fun hear shaped patch. We also added some pretty flowers and bling to the back of her harness. This was a super popular DIY project we featured on our blog last year:
Katie's DIY Cat Harness Makeover
Puppia also has some really fun fashion harnesses. This is Waffles' Hunter Harness in brown. It's made with an ultra soft camo-print fabric and has an stylish and hip hoodie attached to the back. The fashion harnesses are a great way to have some style-fun without dressing up your cat in clothes.
Practice Makes Purrfect
Harnesses take a little getting used to. It's best to take some time and introduce the harness to kitty gradually. Taking the time with these simple steps can help cats to accept and enjoy their harnesses.
- Let them get used to the smell of it before you even put it on. Leave it out for them to explore for a couple of days.
- Use treats as a reward when putting it on and taking it off.
- If you can't get it on the first time, don't worry. Just give them a treat and try again the next day. It might take a couple of tries for both of you to get familiar with it!
- Once you have it on, distract and reward with interactive play. Wand toys are perfect for this.
- Keep the harness on for only a few minutes the first time. Gradually work your way up to keeping it on longer and longer. Again, use play and treats as both distractions and rewards.
Where to Buy
We've bought all of our Puppia harnesses and leashes through Amazon. We've shopped around, even went to Puppia's website, and have found the best pricing and return policy on Amazon. We have a Prime membership so our shipping is always super fast (2-day) and free. ...we get free streaming movies too! But if you buy enough, shipping is often free even without Prime.
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