Cat owners across London are increasingly walking and travelling with their felines, some using harnesses, in a trend which has provoked concern from animal protection charities.
One in six owners (15%) now use harnesses, up from 10% in 2024, according to a recent survey by charity Cats Protection.
The charity said the use of harnesses can cause significant stress for cats, triggering their natural fight or flight response – but stopped short of advising against the use of the accessory altogether.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, Cat Behaviour Officer at Cats Protection, said: “We shouldn’t be taking cats outside unless it is directly for the benefit of the cat.“
Cat owners across the capital have mixed opinions on the trend, with some arguing that training cats with harnesses from an early age can help them adjust and enjoy outdoor travel.
Other owners rule out the accessory altogether and prefer to let their cats free roam when outside.
Content creator Mac, who has racked up nearly 200k followers on Instagram posting videos of ‘London’s famous shoulder cat’ Matteo, has spoken out against the use of harnesses.
To hear Mac’s thoughts, and dive deeper into this purr-plexing new trend, watch the video below.
Featured image credit: Asha Birdi
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