Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
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.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Travel Cat Reflective Harness
Hard to escape
Doesn’t require pulling over the cat’s head
Several options for size adjustment
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Best Value
PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness
Affordable
Two leash clips
Leash included with harness
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Premium Choice
INVENHO Mesh Harness
Includes leash and seat belt
Easy snap buckles to put on and take off
Breathable mesh body
Check Price
Best for Kittens
Rabbitgoo Escape Proof Cat Harness
Comfortable fabric
Adjustable fit
Reflective striping
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Rabbitgoo Breathable Cat Harness
Adjustable
Breathable mesh fabric
Comes with leash
Check Price
The 10 Best Cat Harnesses in Canada
- Travel Cat Reflective Harness — Best Overall
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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.
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Material Nylon
Closure Type Clip and snap
Care Instructions Hand wash only
That said, some cats may still not like wearing it.
Pros
Hard to escape
Doesn’t require pulling over the cat’s head
Several options for size adjustment
Cons
Not tolerated by all cats
- PUPTECK Adjustable Cat Harness — Best Value
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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.
Hard to escape
Doesn’t require pulling over the cat’s head
Several options for size adjustment
- Hard to escape
- Doesn’t require pulling over the cat’s head
- Several options for size adjustment
Not tolerated by all cats
- Not tolerated by all cats
Material Nylon
Closure Type Buckle
Care Instructions Machine wash
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.
Pros
Affordable
Two leash clips
Leash included with harness
Machine washable
Cons
Only one size available
Easier to escape than most other harness styles
- INVENHO Mesh Harness — Premium Choice
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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.
Affordable
Two leash clips
Leash included with harness
Machine washable
- Affordable
- Two leash clips
- Leash included with harness
- Machine washable
Only one size available
Easier to escape than most other harness styles
- Only one size available
- Easier to escape than most other harness styles
Material Nylon
Closure Type Snap
Care Instructions Machine wash
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.
Pros
Includes leash and seat belt
Easy snap buckles to put on and take off
Breathable mesh body
Cons
No adjustment on the neck opening
- Rabbitgoo Escape Proof Cat Harness– Best for Kittens
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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.
Includes leash and seat belt
Easy snap buckles to put on and take off
Breathable mesh body
- Includes leash and seat belt
- Easy snap buckles to put on and take off
- Breathable mesh body
No adjustment on the neck opening
- No adjustment on the neck opening
Material Polyester, nylon, plastic
Closure Type Buckle
Care Instructions Hand wash only
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.
Pros
Comfortable fabric
Adjustable fit
Reflective striping
Leash included with harness
Cons
Slips over your cat’s head
- Rabbitgoo Breathable Cat Harness
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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.
Comfortable fabric
Adjustable fit
Reflective striping
Leash included with harness
- Comfortable fabric
- Adjustable fit
- Reflective striping
- Leash included with harness
Slips over your cat’s head
- Slips over your cat’s head
Material Nylon, polyester
Closure Type Clip
Care Instructions Hand wash only
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.
Pros
Adjustable
Breathable mesh fabric
Comes with leash
Reflective striping
Cons
Requires careful measuring for size
Must be slipped over cat’s head
- PetSafe Come With Me Kitty Harness With Bungee Leash
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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.
Adjustable
Breathable mesh fabric
Comes with leash
Reflective striping
- Adjustable
- Breathable mesh fabric
- Comes with leash
- Reflective striping
Requires careful measuring for size
Must be slipped over cat’s head
- Requires careful measuring for size
- Must be slipped over cat’s head
Material Nylon
Closure Type Buckle
Care Instructions Machine washable
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.
Pros
Suitable for all sizes of cats
Easy to put on and take off
Better pressure distribution than most other brands of harness
Chew-proof material
Cons
No breathable mesh
- Voyager Step-In Lock Cat Harness
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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.
Suitable for all sizes of cats
Easy to put on and take off
Better pressure distribution than most other brands of harness
Chew-proof material
- Suitable for all sizes of cats
- Easy to put on and take off
- Better pressure distribution than most other brands of harness
- Chew-proof material
No breathable mesh
- No breathable mesh
Material Mesh with Velcro closure
Closure Type Pull-on
Care Instructions Machine washable
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.
Pros
Extra secure
All-weather, breathable material
Many sizes and colors
Cons
Hard to put on and take off
- SlowTon Cat Harness and Leash
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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.
Extra secure
All-weather, breathable material
Many sizes and colors
- Extra secure
- All-weather, breathable material
- Many sizes and colors
Hard to put on and take off
- Hard to put on and take off
Material Nylon
Closure Type Buckle
Care Instructions Hand wash only
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.
Pros
Even pressure distribution on the shoulders
Walk-in style
Visible at night
Cons
No breathable fabric
Not adjustable
- Eagloo Cat Harness
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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.
Even pressure distribution on the shoulders
Walk-in style
Visible at night
- Even pressure distribution on the shoulders
- Walk-in style
- Visible at night
No breathable fabric
Not adjustable
- No breathable fabric
- Not adjustable
Material Mesh
Closure Type Clip, snap
Care Instructions Machine washable
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.
Pros
Large surface area
Breathable and lightweight
Soft fabric for sensitive skin
Cons
Not as escape-proof as it claims to be
Only available in small sizes
- Faveetie Escape Proof Cat Harness
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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.
Large surface area
Breathable and lightweight
Soft fabric for sensitive skin
- Large surface area
- Breathable and lightweight
- Soft fabric for sensitive skin
Not as escape-proof as it claims to be
Only available in small sizes
- Not as escape-proof as it claims to be
- Only available in small sizes
Material Nylon mesh
Closure Type Hook and loop
Care Instructions Hand wash only
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.
Pros
Breathable fabric
Easy to use
Rotating D-ring enables freedom of movement
Cons
Hook-and-loop closures wear over time
Easily escaped
Only comes in one size
Not adjustable
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 are made up of several straps.
Vests cover a portion of your cat’s body and slip over the head.
Cat jackets cover most of your cat’s body and are the most escape proof.
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.
Breathable fabric
Easy to use
Rotating D-ring enables freedom of movement
- Breathable fabric
- Easy to use
- Rotating D-ring enables freedom of movement
Hook-and-loop closures wear over time
Easily escaped
Only comes in one size
Not adjustable
- Hook-and-loop closures wear over time
- Easily escaped
- Only comes in one size
- Not adjustable
H-harnesses are made up of several straps.
Vests cover a portion of your cat’s body and slip over the head.
Cat jackets cover most of your cat’s body and are the most escape proof.
- H-harnesses are made up of several straps.
- Vests cover a portion of your cat’s body and slip over the head.
- Cat jackets cover most of your cat’s body and are the most escape proof.
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
