Advice on ID tag for cat.

[WalkingThePlank]

Not sure what size tage to get for our new cat who we are getting next week. Am looking online and hoping it will arrive before the cat does.

What sort of size is right for a cat. I'm assuming a simple round shape is most comfortable too.

[thecatneuterer]

The problem with tags is that they need collars to attach them to, and they can be dangerous and generally not a good idea. See the latest 'collar' thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2221681-Cats-and-collars-should-they-have-one

I would just make sure he or she is chipped and leave it at that. If it's from a rescue it should come ready-chipped I would imagine.

And how exciting!

[timtam23]

congratulations on your new cat!

Having posted on the collar thread (and being pro-collar although aware of the safety concerns) my cat has since then managed to lose 2 collars + name tags in 2 days so I think I now have to admit defeat

He is chipped and I think we will leave it at that, as thecatneuterer says.

I did get him a special engraved round name tag a year or so ago but it was pretty expensive to get done, and he lost that collar too, so since then he had the little "barrels" with a slip of paper inside with phone number etc (which are a lot cheaper)

[gamerchick]

I just got a screwy one with a bit of paper inside attached to those quick release collars. She isn't going to be let out though and I like the bell so I know where she is.

[WalkingThePlank]

Hmm, that makes for interesting reading.

Not sure what to do. The cat will be chipped but I am not sure that the people around my way would take her to the vet if she was found - lots of old people who perhaps wouldn't know about chipping. I'd hate to lost her and I bought her a lovely sparkly collar

[Meow75]

Well, you can always give it a go. Some cats tolerate collars, others not even a bit.

Your new kitty will let you know which camp she falls into pretty quickly I suspect.

[timtam23]

Just make sure it is a quick-release collar and test it to make sure that the quick-release is going to work under pretty light pressure. That's what I did, and it presumably worked because the cat has come back 2 days running minus collar. However, the other side of it is that he had presumably snagged his collar on something in order to make it release, and if it had not given way he could have become caught up on something and perhaps even injured. So although I worry about people not knowing to check for a chip, I think we will try him collarless for a bit as he tends to stay in the local area and is terrified of strangers so unlikely to approach anyone/go into someone else's home

[bonzo77]

Get a pleather collar and write on it with a sharpie. Or a fabric one and use those Stickins name tapes with your number on.

[chockbic]

We got one from pets at home. It seems to have a light quick release catch. There's also a barrel we've attached and written his name on the bit of paper inside.

So far, so good.

[catsofa]

Yes, the smallest size of round tag should work fine - get two as one will get lost eventually.

Also if you're going to put a cat in a collar then my 2p worth is that it'd be it should be a reflective, hi viz one which may help the cat be seen in the road. Being run over is a very common cause of death for cats, so I always thought this was worth doing when mine used to go out. You can get silvery coloured ones so they don't have to be that nasty hi viz yellow colour.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOHNSONS-REFLECTIVE-CAT-KITTEN-FELT-FLEA-COLLAR-4-MONTH-PROTECTION-YELLOW-SILVER-/311006952393?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Cats&var=&hash=item4869757bc9 these repel fleas and have elastic for emergency release too.

[catsofa]

Oh and a bell stops them killing too much wildlife, which is a huge problem for a lot of small birds. It also means you can tell where they are in the house!

[thecatneuterer]

catsofa A collar with elastic isn't a safety collar. A safety collar is a snap-release one. Also it's a very bad idea to use flea collars. Flea collars don't really work, but they also can't be used at the same time a 'proper' flea treatments.

[bonzo77]

Flea collars made my cat and my mums cat very ill. Both recovered within hours of taking them off. Avoid.

[catsofa]

Ah ok. I used one for mine just because she had marks from her old collar and I wanted one with the soft fluffy inside so it wouldn't rub. She had no ill effects, but don't risk it if yours might.

These ones come in choice of colours, are reflective, have the "snap" type of safety catch and don't have the flea treatment www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANCOL-GLOSS-REFLECTIVE-CAT-COLLAR-with-or-without-ENGRAVED-ID-TAG-/261064177966?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Cats&var=&hash=item3cc8a3392e

[timtam23]

I tended to buy collars from a shop rather than online so that I could test the quick-release before buying. Some of them can be quite stiff & I wouldn't want to risk using them.

[WalkingThePlank]

I have bought a collar already and it is quick-release. I did check it before I bought it. I will ask the rescue lady what she recommends re: collars when I collect the cat.