My progress will probably be slow, so I thought I would keep you all updated. Photos will be provided when Furbies are more comfortable with it.

Day 1: We got the harnesses, and I put them on the kittens one at a time - harness only, no lead.

Attempt #1: Oscar immediately attempted to take it off, which he would have done it is wasn't clipped. I assisted him in removing it, and rewarded him as he kept still when I put it on him.

Attempt #1: Wilbur allowed me to put the harness on and then fell to the floor in a flop and refused to move. I removed the harness but rewarded him for allowing me to put it on/take it off with no fuss.

Attempt #2: (2 hours later) Oscar sniffed the harness and allowed me to put it on him with no protest. He then walked around the table looking a bit unsteady whilst he was testing out his range of movements but quite comfortable in wearing it. He did not jump off the table though and was hesitant to do this until I removed the harness. I kept it on for a few minutes then removed it with a treat and praise.

Attempt #2: (2 hours later) Wilbur stayed upright this time after the harness was put on. He tried to catch the fastening and then decided to sit down as he was still unsure of his movement. I removed the harness as soon as he sat down looking sorry for himself and rewarded him. I allowed him to continue to sniff the harness.

Oh, I feel this is going to be slow.....but hopefully worth it!

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Oh it will be, wait til you see the proper commando movements!


Jet is fab now on his, as is lilly, but with lilly, she gets sooo excited when putting it on shes like a fizzy bottle of pop, shes everywhere, she cant wait to go out

Its very rewarding when they are used to them

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One day i'll learn where the spellcheck is on my phone, so sorry for any mistakes

Day 2:

Attempt #1: Oscar strapped in for a few minutes. He moved around fine with it on and had no problems with me putting it on/taking it off.
Attempt #2: (2 hours later) Oscar held perfectly still when I put the harness on and was walking around and playing for about 5 minutes with no problems. I chose to take it off.


Attempt #1: Wilbur allowed me to put the harness on and jumped over to the window. When I called him over for a treat he fell over to his side and didn't want to move. I took the harness off, gave him a treat and a cuddle.
Attempt #2: (2 hours later) Wilbur let me fix the harness on and walked around and then fell to the side. My husband said that didn't look right so he took a toy for Wilbur to chase. Wilbur chased it and then flopped again. My husband is concerned there is something wrong with Wilburs hind legs and his balance. I took the harness off.
Attempt #3: (5 minutes later) Wilbur has no issues with me putting the harness on and was walking around in the harness without balance issues that I could see or falling over but had his tail upright so I took it off as I didn't think he was happy.

I am now concerned with my husbands comments that there may be something wrong with Wilbur and his balance/legs. He has said this before that he thinks Wilbur walks differently. I don't see this myself and I have never seen a cat jump as high as Wilbur and I have not noticed any restricted/different movement.

I put his falling over when I put the harness on as a reaction to the harness and getting used to it, but could there be something actually wrong with him? Could it be he is balancing differently and the harness is upsetting that balance. How could I tell if it was more serious?

[Can I just note that whilst writing this both kittens are manically chasing each other around the flat. Surely if there was something wrong with him he wouldn't be doing this?]

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cats feel airflow through their fur and air movement - they automatically 'slink' from contact on their fur as to them it's like a really low ceiling.

Until they get used to the sensation of the harness (specially jacket harnesses) they will keep 'ducking' from the perceived surface automatically - it's not conscious.

Your vet would also have had a feel for any obvious abnormalities to do with skeleton and muscle when you first took them for a visit so I wouldn't worry if he otherwise seems fine

Some cats do just flop more than others plus it sounds reasonable that it could be a reaction to the feeling of the harness on his back

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Thanks you to both replies - that makes a lot of sense about automatic response.

I had also felt that the Vet would have picked up on it, as the Vet did a full examination at both vaccinations, the second at my insistance, as the first had been done with CPL when I wasn't present.

I haven't noticed any difference between the two when they walk, as all cats look graceful and like they are tiptoeing. The fact that he runs around, eats, sleeps and toilet's well is what I have been observing, as well as his general behaviour. When my husband started going on saying this is what his cat was like after having a stroke it REALLY worried me.

Thank you so much for putting my mind at rest. I will keep going with his training and I am sure when he sees Oscar being fine with it, his brain might kick in and realise it is a jacket not a ceiling.

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Training?! I just stuck it on Benji and took him out on to the steps. He flopped a few times but all in all liked being outside so didn't care much I think he was concentrating on the smells and the sounds rather than what was on him!

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Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

Yeah "training", as cats can be funny about stuff and once they decide they don't like something they won't even attempt to try it again. I thought I would start slowly to see if they like it rather than force them and scare them off; both me and the harness.

They are quite snotty really when you think about it. If they were work colleagues we would ignore them. Mind you, I wouldn't stroke a work colleague on my lap, so maybe a bad comparrison

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It may be worth popping it on though and taking them out in the garden, as their focus will be on all the interesting things and they will associate wearing the harness as a condition of getting to explore

Popped it on Benji again last night and he automatically looked up at the door handle

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Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

OK, will try that tonight

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