Harnessing Cats

I've found that the more I think of things to write about, the more my attention comes to rest on my cats. Greg and I have cancelled our DirectTV subscription, and have felt only minor withdrawal symptoms; I think because of the high entertainment value that cats have.

For example, Cider is now about 7 months old, and I want to get her used to a harness so that she can be out gardening with me without being an outdoor kitty. So we found one that matches her fur beautifully, and, following all the advice given us, tossed it on the floor so she could get Used To Its Presence over the next few days. She lost interest within about 3 minutes, and it sat on the floor in the exact same spot for the next 3-4 days. So, with her Used To Its Presence, I decided that it was time to put it on her.

She say patiently while I clipped it on, adjusted it to fit her tiny runt-frame, and then I patted her on the sides and scooted her out into the middle of the living room floor. She looked at me, disgusted, and then began to walk like an old sway-backed mare. Her body was stretched; her stomach an inch off the floor, and then the weight of it all was apparently too much. She collapsed onto her belly with great drama, and began pathetically scooting about, pulling herself with her two front paws and pushing with her back. I was in fits of giggles at this stage, and Cider, seeing that her flare for acting had not pulled my heartstrings nearly enough, burst into action.

BOING! High up in the air I saw a flash of tortishell fur, and then another streak as she re-entered the atmosphere and went tearing around the living room. She did somersaults, cartwheels, she hopped to the left, then the right; she flopped over on her side and began scootching again, only to be hit with another burst of energy as she went zooming to the den. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. My sides hurt too much. I intercepted another wild dash and took off the harness, and with an indignant sniff, she went to get some food.

All the websites say that you should NEVER react to a cats behavior to the harness, laughing is specifically mentioned, so I suppose I'm a bad trainer in that fact. I need to keep putting it on and taking it off, and eventually we can work our way outside. As of right now, I don't see that happening anytime within the next 10 years. Especially if Cider has something to say about it.