Can anyone explain this reaction?

My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue

I would check the harness to see if it is too tight on top. Also, don't lock
it into place. Attach the leash gently and then when secured take him
outside and the put him down on the ground to get the feel of the leash with
the harness.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"blkcatgal" wrote in message
...
My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to
it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact
that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash
onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very
upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem
with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught
him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on
him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue

I would check the harness to see if it is too tight on top. Also, don't lock
it into place. Attach the leash gently and then when secured take him
outside and the put him down on the ground to get the feel of the leash with
the harness.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"blkcatgal" wrote in message
...
My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to
it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact
that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash
onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very
upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem
with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught
him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on
him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue

"blkcatgal" wrote in message
...
My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue

Don't have an answer to your question, but wanted to let you know I'm in the same
situation and did the same. I have the Top Paw smalles retractable leash and take my
kitten out while I read in the pool area. My kitten get scared but tolerates the thing and
is glad to get back home. I plan to get a collar with address tag and let him get used to
being outside more.

My guess is your kitten needs more time to get used to the leash.

Adam

"blkcatgal" wrote in message
...
My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue

Don't have an answer to your question, but wanted to let you know I'm in the same
situation and did the same. I have the Top Paw smalles retractable leash and take my
kitten out while I read in the pool area. My kitten get scared but tolerates the thing and
is glad to get back home. I plan to get a collar with address tag and let him get used to
being outside more.

My guess is your kitten needs more time to get used to the leash.

Adam

In article ,
enlightened us with...

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.


He doesn't understand the pulling sensation.
Get a light line first (clothesline will do if you don't want to buy a
light kitty leash), not a retractable. ONLY in the house, attach it, and
let him get used to it. Then, gently pull on it WHILE you are holding
him or petting him. Make it a game. Laugh - they know laughing means
something is supposed to be fun (crazy, but it helps my kids). Pet him.
Give him treats. Play with the end of the line with him - make it FUN.

Do not attach a retractable "flexi" lead until you can literally pull
him 2 feet or so and he just looks at you funny. Or even better, he
responds by coming towards you. He should not be upset by the pressure
caused by pulling. If he hits the end of the Flexi and feels a lot of
pressure and freaks out while he's outside, that would be bad. Flexis do
not offer control and you can't grab them without getting your fingers
nearly sliced off.
If he is at all upset or put off by that feeling of pressure, don't put
a flexi on him. Keep working with the light line.

Do not try to go too fast - he isn't a dog. The process of getting used
to the pressure sensation can take a week or more.

Honestly, I'd be hesitant to use a Flexi at all on a cat until I was
confident that they weren't going to flip. I've used one with my Rowan,
but she's been going out since she was a baby. I didn't like it - she
likes to roll when she's outside and the Flexi gets all mudged up.


--
--
~kaeli~
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

In article ,
enlightened us with...

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.


He doesn't understand the pulling sensation.
Get a light line first (clothesline will do if you don't want to buy a
light kitty leash), not a retractable. ONLY in the house, attach it, and
let him get used to it. Then, gently pull on it WHILE you are holding
him or petting him. Make it a game. Laugh - they know laughing means
something is supposed to be fun (crazy, but it helps my kids). Pet him.
Give him treats. Play with the end of the line with him - make it FUN.

Do not attach a retractable "flexi" lead until you can literally pull
him 2 feet or so and he just looks at you funny. Or even better, he
responds by coming towards you. He should not be upset by the pressure
caused by pulling. If he hits the end of the Flexi and feels a lot of
pressure and freaks out while he's outside, that would be bad. Flexis do
not offer control and you can't grab them without getting your fingers
nearly sliced off.
If he is at all upset or put off by that feeling of pressure, don't put
a flexi on him. Keep working with the light line.

Do not try to go too fast - he isn't a dog. The process of getting used
to the pressure sensation can take a week or more.

Honestly, I'd be hesitant to use a Flexi at all on a cat until I was
confident that they weren't going to flip. I've used one with my Rowan,
but she's been going out since she was a baby. I didn't like it - she
likes to roll when she's outside and the Flexi gets all mudged up.


--
--
~kaeli~
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

Just try a plain old light weight leash. Perhaps your kitten saw the leash
retract and that bothered her.

--
Barb
I can only please one person a day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

Just try a plain old light weight leash. Perhaps your kitten saw the leash
retract and that bothered her.

--
Barb
I can only please one person a day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

"blkcatgal" wrote in message ...
My 8 month old kitten has really wanted to go outside. I will not let him
go outside without supervision. So I decided to get him a harness and a
leash. I put the harness on him inside the house to let him get use to it.
At first he didn't like it, but after a while (hour or two) he seemed to
accept it. Then I tried to put the leash on him. I had purchased one of
those retractable ones that usually are for dogs, but I liked the fact that
the leash could be extended to16 feet. As soon as I clicked the leash onto
the harness, my kitten went beserk running frantically through the house
until I could catch him and remove the leash and harness. He was very upset
but I managed to calm him down.

I waited until the next day, put the harness on him again. No problem with
the harness on him. Again, after about an hour or so, I put the leash on
and again, he went ballistic running through the house. Once I caught him,
I removed the leash and calmed him down. I have not tried to put it on him
again.

Does anyone have any ideas why he would react this way to having the leash
put on him? He didn't seem to mind the harness, only the leash.

Sue


He doesn't like it, Sue. That's all there is to it. Probably akin to
some type of phobia. We took ours to the beach on one of those things.
My wife thought he would "like the birds." He never even looked at
them. Even when the seagulls came right in to attack him! He just
twisted and spun against it, and tried and tried to get into his kat
karrier. That told me all I needed to know, so I went ahead and put an
end to the wife's family beach-blanket folly.


IBen