Why Do Cats Fall Over When Wearing A Harness

I once tried to take my eldest Maine Coon cat out for a walk, using a harness, however, he bizarrely kept wobbling over which initially baffled me!

So I decided to investigate why do cats fall over when wearing a harness? I found this subject so interesting that I read and absorbed various feline advice and studies.

Cats go limp or fall over when wearing clothing or a harness due to overstimulation and a freeze response. The new sensation causes many cats to feel as though they are trapped or held in the jaws of a predator. Slowly introducing your cat to harnesses from a young age will make it less likely to go limp when wearing one.

If you think your cat would benefit from going outside on walks, teaching it to walk on a leash and harness is an essential first step.

Going on walks outdoors is a perfectly safe way to provide enrichment and exercise, and it can strengthen an owner’s bond with their cat.

Read on to find out all of the top tips for getting your cat acclimated to a new harness!

Why Do Cats Fall Over When Wearing A Harness? (Or Clothes)

Countless cat owners want to bring their indoor cat on outdoor excursions but soon find their pet is not comfortable wearing the necessary harness.

If you want to take your feline friend out to experience nature, discover the reasons why cats fall over when wearing a harness, and what you can do to prevent this.

Freeze Response

Most cat owners agree there’s nothing cuter than a kitty in a costume! Unfortunately, dressing your cat up isn’t always easy, not advisable.

Most people have heard of fight or flight responses, but the freeze response is another survival response cats and humans alike use for protection. 

When you put a cat in clothes or a harness, its brain will not have any way to categorize this new information except as a threat.

Many cats feel as though they are held in the jaws of some great predator, or completely trapped.

By the time a cat has been caught by a predator, the best thing it can do is stop moving.

The parasympathetic nervous system activates, slowing the heart rate and reducing blood pressure.

This instinctual behavior might make it look as though the cat is relaxed, but studies show that the body releases stress hormones like epinephrine during freeze responses.

If you notice your cat freeze in any situation, you should give it some space and make sure you remove any stressors causing the response.

Overstimulation

Another common reason cats fall over in harnesses and clothes is due to overstimulation.

Cats are much more sensitive than humans in just about every way. They are easily overwhelmed by:

• Rough Play
• Loud Sounds
• New Smells

When you put your cat in a harness or onesie, it experiences pressure and sensation over much of its body, which it is not at all used to.

This new sensation comes with unfamiliar touch and smells. It is too much for your cat to process, causing it to simply fall over and lie limp while its body tries to get used to the sensation.

While it’s a good idea to be consistent while getting your cat used to a harness, pay close attention to your cat’s behavior and look out for signs of stress.

Spraying, hair loss, or hiding more frequently in closets or under the bed indicates you might be taking harness training too quickly.

Not Socialized

You might be curious as to why your cat’s body goes limp when it’s in a harness but doesn’t react at all to wearing a collar.

Sometimes cats fall over when wearing a harness or leash because it is entirely new.

An old cat is much more likely to have a stronger response to wearing a harness than a young cat because when cats are young, their brains are still absorbing everything about the world.

Their brains categorize things into safe and unsafe based on their experiences.

When a cat experiences something new outside of this growth period, they automatically categorize it as unsafe.

It takes lots of time, patience, and positive reinforcement to teach a cat that their harness isn’t dangerous.

Wrong Type Of Harness

It’s worth investing in a high-quality, well-fitted, and escape-proof harness like these, for safety and comfort.

Even if your cat isn’t much of an escape artist, a harness that’s too loose or poorly designed will be easy to slip out of. Cats have highly flexible shoulder blades, which can slide backward out of many harnesses.

While there are many types of harnesses, the safest option for cats is a vest harness. Getting an adjustable harness will allow you to get the most comfortable fit possible.

When selecting your first harness, however, it might be a good idea to get something cheaper. That way, you can always get a size bigger or smaller until you find the right fit. It should be a snug fit without being restrictive.

Furthermore, make sure you select a harness made from breathable fabric. Since cats are already covered in fur, a harness is too thick and will raise your cat’s body temperature.

When you’re first getting a new harness, you may want to try different materials and brands.

Each cat is different, and you don’t want to cause any skin irritation or tightness (source 1,2,3).

How Long Does It Take For A Cat To Get Used To A Harness?

Unfortunately, how quickly your cat gets used to a harness depends on lots of factors like the following:

• Cat’s personality
• Openness to new experiences
• The methods you use to introduce it to the harness

If you’re teaching a kitten to wear a harness, it might be ready to go on real walks in a matter of weeks. Whereas, other cats might take a couple of months or even longer!

It’s important to go at your cat’s pace.

How To Harness Train A Cat

If you’re excited to take your furry friend on outdoor adventures, then training it to walk on a leash and harness is a great first step!

Here are the ways you can get your cat acclimated to wearing a harness and, eventually, walking on a leash and harness in the great outdoors!

1. Start Young

It’s easiest to train a cat to walk on a leash and harness if you start from a young age. Kittens are more open to new experiences.

However, older cats can still be taught to walk on a lead, though they often need more time, training, and patience before they are ready to explore outside.

2. Focus On The Harness

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember when training your cat is to go slow.

The first time you put your cat in a harness, do it in a safe space.

Take it off immediately if your cat has a strong reaction. Otherwise, leave it on for just a couple of minutes before removing it.

Once your cat seems comfortable in the harness, you can transition to walking outside.

3. Go Slow

Even if your cat seems to be adjusting well, wait before bringing it into a new environment, as this will greatly overwhelm your cat.

If you live in an apartment building, you can slowly get your cat adjusted to walking on a leash in the hallway.

Then, you can slowly get your cat acclimated to going on short walks.

Short sessions will make it easier for your cat to view leash training as a positive experience, and your cat will be more likely to become excited about your walks.

4. Clicker Training

Using a clicker is a great way to build a positive association with harness training.

First, you can get your cat accustomed to the clicker by giving your cat a treat whenever you click it.

Then, you use the clicker whenever your cat is behaving well throughout the process.

Slowly, your cat will associate the harness with treats and lots of praise, and they will be more likely to enjoy these training sessions.

5. Routine

House cats are creatures of habit. They feel most regulated when they can rely on their owners to cuddle them, play with them, and feed them at the same time.

Since human owners can’t communicate with words, our cats have no way to anticipate when they are going to the vet, getting a treat, or when their owners are going on vacation.

Building a stable routine will give your cat time to anticipate its daily schedule, which will make training much easier (source 1).

Conclusion

If you’re curious and want to know why do cats fall over when wearing a harness, the answer has to do with a cat’s instincts when facing danger.

Many cats perceive a harness or onesie as a threat, such as being trapped somewhere tight or being bitten by a large predator.

You should slowly get your cat acclimated to its harness by putting the harness on in a safe space indoors before slowly transitioning to wearing the harness outside.