Collars - pros and cons

[FushandChups]

Fushcat has lost her second collar in just over a week as we replaced the collar she loved and wore with no complaint with one with the easy release catch as recommended by the vet.

Obviously, won't be putting the old collar back on as it's dangerous but am a little at having to shell out on the things as they're not that cheap (she will only wear leather, apparently she is allergic to the others?)

She is chipped and doesn't stray too far from the house as is always within calling distance so am wondering whether it is worth replacing.

What are the positives v negatives. I know they're not the law like with dogs and she can be traced if she was lost provided the vet checked for a chip. What says you?

[DrHolmes]

I prefer my cat to have the quick release collar. I wanted him to have a bell but also so that people dont think he is a stray. However, i am on my third collar because he just loses them!

Non collar wearing cats kill more animals so i prefer collars. Mine is also chipped.

[cozietoesie]

None of mine have ever tolerated a collar, I'm afraid.

[FushandChups]

Fushcat definitely disliked her collar (was always scratching at it) so I am more-than half convinced she lost it herself so can only envisage this happening ad infinitum.

I might see how she goes without it although I have yet another spare in the kitchen drawer which I could use as a last ditch attempt (although the last time I used this particular one, she lost it by that same evening ).

Gosh, the weather is so miserable at the moment - kind of amazed she wants out at all... but she most definitely does!

[Lovethesea]

I don't put collars on mine as I see no need with the microchips. I think they are safer and a lot more comfortable without a collar.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I put a pink one on mine so people think he's a girl & go easy on him when he's out.

[BabyMummy29]

I got a collar with a bell for my boy after he twice brought (still alive) birds into the house.

He lost it, so bought 2 more which he also lost so gave up in the end.

He is now collarless and has not brought me any more "gifts" - fingers crossed!

[Oohlookakitty]

I have 3 Cats 2 that are good at wearing collars (though not the quick release ones) and the other thinks he is houdini and can escape out of any collar possible .

I have tried them with the quick release but they just take them off as soon as put them on so they have sparkly leather collars on and Houdini wears a cheapo one from the pound shop .
All on a loose fitting so they can get out if they want to .

I much prefer them with collars on as where i live the unwritten rule seems to be if the cat has no collar on then anybody thinks they can keep it

[cozietoesie]

With the greatest respect, Fluffy, if I saw a puma lolloping down the road with a pink collar, I'd still shriek call out 'Puma'!

[Oohlookakitty]

Cozie

[PeanutPatty]

No collar here. They get caught on all sorts. Lots of cats locally don't have collars.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Ours wear them, they are the quick release sort and loose, partly because we are close to a main road and one cat is dark so it makes them more visible if they cross the road after dark. I also like hearing the bells tinkle as they go round the house, when they aren't wearing them I have nearly tripped over them as they have crept under my feet and one has silently followed DH up the loft ladder and been shut in. They almost never miaow so really would be silent without.

[Wishyouwould]

Mine doesn't have a collar - tried one and she hated it. She is micro-chipped though so happy with that.

@ Fluffy

[Caitlin17]

I've always put flea collars on mine with tags with address and phone number. None of them have minded. The collars all have stretchy bits and are changed regularly.

[moonbells]

I think we were lucky - bought quick release collars, put one on Mooncat first and she didn't seem to mind. When we did Moonkitten a week later he was fine, stood still for it and everything. Since then, Moonkitten's lost one (within a week of him learning to climb out the garden so I bet I know which tree it got caught on!) but so far the second one's lasted. And I know the collars come off safely!

Just got cheap(ish) ones from Petsathome and added a second bell to each of them. Yes I know some of you don't like the bell aspect of collars, but I'm also a bird person and I like my little feathery visitors. So far have no feathered presents which is good. If the cats want to go after the mice under the shed then good luck to them will stop the little buggers eating my bulbs.

[TheDoctorsNewKidneys]

Ours won't wear them, but they're house cats so it's not really necessary.

[Bamaluz]

I won't use a collar on my cat since my mum found her cat hanging from a tree from hers, alive, cat was fine but might not have been if left any longer.
And recently DS found a young cat in a bad way after getting it's front leg through its collar. it must have been like it for a while as it had a bad injury. He took it to the vet but it died.

[FushandChups]

Thats why the vet recommended we changed Fushcats collar, Bamaluz. The ones she has lost have an easy release catch so incidents like you mention can't happen as the collars simply come off after a slight struggle.

I think I am comfortable with no collar for now. She is most definitely happier and no more manic scratching (was beginning to wonder if it was fleas as she was getting stuck in despite not long being 'dropped')

Thank you all for your stories - at least I know she won't be the odd one out amongst her neighbourhood buddies

[DramaAlpaca]

It would never occur to me to put a collar on a cat.

[MissHobart]

Ours all (3) have quick release collars, used to have tags with name, address and phone number on too but they lose then so regularly tags became too expensive! We take the bells off as it disrupts their natural (though very poor!) hunting instincts! I like them to have a collar so people know they're not stays, they're all chipped as well.

[chemenger]

I haven't put a collar on a cat for years. Last time, when I had one of those magnet operated cat flaps, one of the cats got her leg stuck through it and was really distressed. When I got nastycat she had obviously had a collar on her at her previous owner because the fur round her neck was worn away. With microchips I don't think they are necessary. The only cat who had a collar round here was the local stray who somebody half adopted - bought him a series of sparkly collars and fed him but didn't groom, deflea or neuter him and put him out at night. I was on the point of kidnapping him and vetting him when he was killed on the road, shiny collar didn't save him .

[thecatneuterer]

I don't use collars and we (CHAT) generally don't recommend them. Even the easy release ones can cause injury in the seconds before they release (in fact the cat of a friend of mine was involved in a rta and was dragged down the road by his quick release collar. He was severely injured but survived and made a full recovery. The vet said that had it been a 'normal' collar he would have been killed, but conversely had he had no collar at all he probably wouldn't have been injured).

However the main reason we don't recommend them is because people tend to assume that a cat with a collar has an owner. So if a cat with a collar gets lost somehow then it has to be in a much worse state than a cat without a collar before people will thinking of doings something to help it.

[ThistledownAndCobweb]

No collars here. I hate them.

Two of my rescue boys came to us with huge problems caused by collars

One had been trapped and needed extensive surgery to save his leg and his neck was in a dreadful state. He used to scream when flies came near he, we assume when he was trapped (height of summer) he was plagued by them attacking his wounds.

The other had been abandoned as a young cat wearing a collar. He had continued to grow and by the time he was caught the collar had to be surgically removed. For years he wouldn't let anyone stroke him on the neck.

[FushandChups]

That settles it - no collar! She's happier by a long way and that's kind of what's important and if even the quick release don't always stop them getting hurt - no brainer really.

Thank you all

[ThistledownAndCobweb]

Yaaay. I'm really glad you came to that decision