I discovered a flaw in Frankie’s harness. I know it is a little big for him and not the most secure harness in the world, but it is very easy to put on him, and it has worked so far.
Walking a cat is not like walking a dog. You go where they want to go. On a recent walk, Frankie took me behind our house and across the next street. The roads get very hot in the summertime around here, and I saw that Frankie was being affected by it. He seemed to hurry across the street and stand in the grass where it was cooler. After inspecting the bushes for a while, we headed back to the street. A few seconds later, Frankie found refuge in the shadow of a car.
I normally try to keep him away from cars because I don’t want him under them, but in this case, I knew his feet were hot, so I thought I would give him a minute or two to cool down. Before I knew it, he was under the car, pulling at the leash. In an instant, I was holding a leash and an empty harness. It seems that the trick to escaping this harness is backing up.
I was not thinking like a news reporter, so I put my phone in my pocket and stopped taking pictures at that point. I tried to coax Frankie out from under the car, but he wasn’t having any of it. Eventually, I walked home and came back with a pool noodle that was in my shed. I thought I could intimidate him with the noodle, but that didn’t work. Instead, he growled, hissed, and attacked the noodle.
I gave up on the noodle ideas and brought it back to the house. I looked for something else that might work and found a water bottle. I thought a little water might encourage him to get out from under the car, but he wasn’t there when I returned.
I looked around for a minute, thinking he would be very difficult to find, but I found him hiding in the bushes next to the car. I picked him up and carried him home while he hissed at me all the way.
Bad Cat Chris 
Tsk tsk tsk. Cats do have a mind of their own… the same has been said about me for some reason. I’m hoping mom doesn’t see this post and get any great ideas about putting a harness on me. Snorts. XOXO – Bacon
At least you know how to escape now.
This is very true. Thanks! XOXO – Bacon
The harness looks like it is difficult to escape backwards, but everything is possible for a cat. It is terrible feeling when your cat disappears, I know. But this story has a happy end with some hissing.
Yes, a little hissing is normal. 🙂
You’re right – it’s all about just following them holding the leash as they do whatever they want to do……but usually a gentle tug will redirect Sam – however he’s had the harness/leash situation to live with for almost 17 years. He cooperates. You may have to just pick Frankie up to change his direction or head where YOU want to go. They sure can squirm out of situations (and harnesses!) when they want to!
Pam
I tried putting Chris in a harness 5 years ago but gave up because he always escaped it. He is a little Houdini.
My human tests my harnesses inside by pulling forward on them and letting me struggle backwards to see how easy it is for me to get out of them. It’s not as annoying as it sounds for me, it just takes a quick moment, and it’s surprised her a few times to see how easily I could slip out of certain harnesses. The one I use most now is a simple strap harness from PetSmart… it’s actually really difficult for me to get out of! Binga has pretty much taken over my older pink Puppia harness because her head’s bigger and she can’t get out of it the way I can.
I had to find one easy to put on because Frankie struggles but it seems just as easy to get out.
huh – that doesn’t LOOK that easy to get out of. at least he didn’t go too far before you caught him
He was out of it two seconds after he started pulling. He was under the car so I didn’t actually see how he did it.
Leave it to a cat to figure out how to get out of a harness.
I know. Let’s see a dog do that. 🙂
I am glad you were able to catch him.
Thanks. Me too.
That is exactly why when I used to take my Angel Bobo out I had bought him a DOG collar and HEAVY chain dog leash! I do not trust harnesses AT ALL! Glad he was ok! catchatwithcarenandcody
I had a collar for him too that was a “breakaway” collar, and it broke away.
I think he liked to be harnessless…and free 😀 Glad you could pick him up so quick..sigh… Pawkisses for a happy day 🙂 ❤
He was born to be wild. 🙂
Glad you got him, hissing and all!
Thanks, me too.
Mom thinks you should take treats with you when you walk in case you get into a predicament like this again. Maybe staying away from the hot pavement would be a good idea as well. That’s always the easy way out of the harness when you have the tension of someone holding the leash. So happy Frankie wandered no further than the bushes. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
When I volunteered at the Humane Society, they taught the dog walkers to bring treats. They said a dog will give up it’s freedom for a treat, but not so with cats.
That Frankie; the escape artist!
That he is.
I remember that post – “the great escape”…..!
Hugs, Pam
🙂