Leash training your cat is a great way to let your kitty outside for fresh air and exercise without worrying about them wandering off. But it can be dangerous to clip a leash or tether straight to your cat’s collar — you need a safe and secure harness for outdoor activities.
Cat harnesses come in a variety of different styles, each with its own pros and cons. These reviews include all the different harness styles and options available to help you find the best one for your pet.
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The 10 Best Cat Harnesses in Canada
1. Travel Cat Reflective Harness — Best Overall
| Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Clip and snap |
| Care Instructions | Hand wash only |
The Travel Cat Reflective Harness is our recommendation for the best overall cat harness in Canada. It offers a customizable fit and should be difficult for your kitty to slip out of. It comes in four sizes, each of which can be adjusted for a better fit. It fastens at your cat’s shoulders, is easy to put on, and doesn’t require you to pull the harness over your cat’s head. Additional safety features on this harness are reflective striping for increased visibility in low-light conditions and a breathable mesh fabric that prevents your kitty from becoming too hot.
That said, some cats may still not like wearing it.
2. PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness — Best Value
| Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Buckle |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash |
If you’re looking for a cat harness on a budget, the PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness is the best cat harness in Canada for the money. It’s an H-style harness, so it consists of only straps and buckles that can be individually adjusted to fit your cat. It’s easy to put on and take off, and most cats aren’t offended by wearing this style of harness.
The downside of the PUPTECK harness is that it’s only available in one size. While it is adjustable, it won’t work for large cats. H-style harnesses also tend to be easier for cats to escape from than other styles.
3. INVENHO Mesh Harness — Premium Choice
| Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Snap |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash |
The INVENHO Mesh Harness comes with a leash and seat belt to take your cat with you on your travels. Once you have it adjusted to fit your cat, it easily snaps on and off with two buckles. You don’t have to pick your cat up to put it on. This harness is made for longer wear and provides plenty of ventilation and extra padding for comfort.
For small cats, the INVENHO may be easy for them to escape, as the neck can’t be adjusted. Creative kitties can use this opening to wiggle out of the harness.
4. Rabbitgoo Escape Proof Cat Harness– Best for Kittens
| Material | Polyester, nylon, plastic |
| Closure Type | Buckle |
| Care Instructions | Hand wash only |
The Rabbitgoo Escape Proof Cat Harness is a vest-style harness that equally distributes pressure onto the chest and back pieces. It’s made from breathable mesh and has multiple adjustments to custom-fit your cat’s body. The D-ring is located on the back, giving you good control on the leash, and reflective striping keeps your cat visible at night.
The downside of this Rabbitgoo harness is that you have to pull it on over your cat’s head. Many cats won’t tolerate this, so you’ll need to desensitize your kitty to this action.
5. Rabbitgoo Breathable Cat Harness
| Material | Nylon, polyester |
| Closure Type | Clip |
| Care Instructions | Hand wash only |
The Rabbitgoo Breathable Cat Harness is made entirely from breathable mesh to keep your cat cool on your outdoor adventures. It comes with a nylon leash and has four adjustment points to custom-fit the harness to your cat. The D-ring is located on the back to avoid pressure on your cat’s neck, and reflective striping keeps your kitty visible at night.
This harness has to be put on over your cat’s head, which requires desensitization training for most cats. While this style of harness is meant to be escape proof, it’s relatively easy for cats to slip out if they want to. However, it comes in different sizes, so measuring your cat carefully for the right size may reduce the ease with which they can shirk the harness.
6. PetSafe Come With Me Kitty Harness With Bungee Leash
| Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Buckle |
| Care Instructions | Machine washable |
The PetSafe Come With Me Kitty Harness is a simple harness that’s comfortable for your cat to wear. It has a dual-adjustment mechanism to comfortably fit cats of all sizes, and the D-rings are located on the back, so your cat won’t feel discomfort with leash pulling. A bungee leash comes with this harness that is suitable to use on kittens and large cats. It’s also made from chew-proof material if your cat decides to nibble on their harness.
The biggest downside of the PetSafe harness is that it doesn’t have any mesh or padding built into the body of the harness. This not only makes it easier for cats to sneak out of, but it can also make the harness uncomfortable when worn for long periods.
7. Voyager Step-In Lock Cat Harness
| Material | Mesh with Velcro closure |
| Closure Type | Pull-on |
| Care Instructions | Machine washable |
The Voyager Step-In Lock Cat Harness comes in five sizes and 16 colors to suit any cat owner. The pull-on style and Velcro closure are extra secure and nearly impossible to escape. The trade-off is that it’s tough to put on and requires holding your cat and pulling the harness onto their body.
This is an all-weather harness, so it’s safe to use in any type of outdoor condition, and breathable mesh keeps your cat comfortable at all temperatures.
8. SlowTon Cat Harness and Leash
| Material | Nylon |
| Closure Type | Buckle |
| Care Instructions | Hand wash only |
This vest-style harness from SlowTon comes in three different sizes to fit all sizes of cats. Two buckles on the back make it easy to take on and off. It’s a walk-in style, so your kitty will need to put their paws through the holes, but most cats allow their owners to pick up their feet and place them in the harness.
If you go on night walks, this harness is more visible than most other options. It’s fully covered in 3M reflective stripes to make your cat visible. The back of the harness has double D-rings for leash attachment. This distributes pressure evenly across your cat’s shoulders instead of only having one pressure point.
There’s no mesh on this harness, so it could become hot and uncomfortable with long-term wear. Customers also say that it’s not that adjustable, so it’s important to measure for the right size.
9. Eagloo Cat Harness
| Material | Mesh |
| Closure Type | Clip, snap |
| Care Instructions | Machine washable |
The Eagloo Cat Harness is a jacket-type harness that covers a large portion of your cat’s body. It’s constructed from breathable, lightweight material with double-stitching for added durability. This harness is a good choice for cats with sensitive skin, as the fabric is extra soft.
Unfortunately, this harness is only made in small sizes, so it’s not suitable for large cats. While it is adjustable, it doesn’t always provide a snug fit to your cat’s body, so it may not be as escape proof as it claims.
10. Faveetie Escape Proof Cat Harness
| Material | Nylon mesh |
| Closure Type | Hook and loop |
| Care Instructions | Hand wash only |
The Faveetie Escape Proof Cat Harness is easy to put on and has a quick hook-and-loop closure system. It’s made from breathable fabric and has a 360-degree rotating hook on the back to better give your cat freedom of movement on the end of the leash.
While this harness is comfortable and easy to wear, it has a few downsides. It only comes in one size, and the sole adjustment is being able to tighten the closure on the back. This has limits, and hook-and-loop closures also tend to wear out after excessive use. Once this starts to happen, this harness is easy for your cat to pop out of.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Cat Harness in Canada
Cat Harness Styles
Our reviews refer to three different styles of cat harnesses.
H-harnesses
H-harnesses don’t cover much of your cat’s body and only consist of straps that go around the chest and back. These harnesses are usually adjustable and comfortable for your cat to wear.
The downside to H-harnesses is that they are the easiest type of harness for cats to escape. All it takes is for them to pop a leg through the strap, and your cat is out. That’s why it’s important that a harness is snugly fitted to your cat.
Vests
Vest harnesses are the most popular for cats because they are the ideal combination of comfort and security. They are harder to escape from than H-harnesses, but they only cover your cat’s chest, so your cat won’t get sweaty and hot with the harness on. Most vests are made from a breathable material, and many include reflective stripes for visibility.
Vest harnesses don’t restrict your cat’s mobility, so they are free to run and jump at will, making it less likely that your cat will try and take it off.
Many vest harnesses are designed for dogs rather than cats, though, so they don’t have neck adjustments. They also have to be placed over your cat’s head, which many cats simply won’t tolerate.
Jackets
Jacket-style harnesses are designed specifically for cats and cover most of your cat’s body. They use Velcro and buckles to keep your cat secure and are as escape proof as a harness can get.
If you walk your cat in cold weather, a jacket harness is ideal because it provides an extra layer of warmth. However, this can work against you in warm weather because it can make your cat too hot.
How Do You Measure Your Cat for a Harness?
Measuring your cat is the most accurate way to fit them into a harness. You’ll need two measurements: chest girth and neck circumference. If you have a fluffy cat, press the measuring tape tight against their body so it doesn’t alter the measurement. Check your numbers against the manufacturer’s size guidelines, and use the sizing tips as directed.
Conclusion
We recommend the Travel Cat Reflective Harness as Canada’s best overall cat harness. It’s easy to use and provides versatility for taking your cat with you wherever you go. The PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness is the best cat harness in Canada for the money. This H-style harness provides great value if you need a cat harness on a budget or just a basic harness for trips to and from the vet.
Featured Image Credit: ignartonosbg, Pixabay
