Collars..

[StrawberryFizz26]

My 2 rescue boys are allowed out next week, they've never been outside cats (they're 1) and I am nervous/ excited. They're really nosey so I'm sure they are going to love it but they will not keep a collar on and I'm scared of what gifts they might bring me if I can't get them used to wearing one, any tips from anyone?

Here's a pic. Happy Thursday

[dementedpixie]

I don't use collars. My 2 are microchipped instead

[StrawberryFizz26]

Mine are micro chipped but that doesn't come with a bell so little furries won't be aware of them coming.

[dementedpixie]

But they are a strangulation risk.

[andpeggy1]

My cat brings me gifts with a collar n bell on. With him it makes no difference. He's too good a hunter

[StrawberryFizz26]

and thank you! That's what I'm worried about, Bobby especially is going to be good!

[Fluffycloudland77]

It makes no difference, their ambush predators. By the time the bird/mouse has registered the bell it’s in the cats mouth.

It’s too dangerous to use collars.

[GiantKitten]

I know the arguments against collars, and my cats are chipped, but I like them to have ID tags & be reflective at night (esp the black one), so they wear them.

They also have 2 bells - 1 big & loud - & combined with the tag they make quite a row. We had one dead bird in early April before I put the collars back on after winter (they hardly go out then) & since then all we’ve had is 1 shrew.

OP, try these ROGZ collars. The quick-release catch is adjustable for different weights of cat, & there’s no elastic so they can’t get a leg caught.

[GiantKitten]

Picture fail 🙄

Try again 😄

www.amazon.co.uk/Rogz-Reflectocat-Collar-8-12-Inch-Yellow/dp/B0746SY68F/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?s=gateway&keywords=rogz%20cat&qid=1559250712&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[StrawberryFizz26]

Thank you giant
I didn't realise there was such controversy around cat collars.
I'll read up & have a look at those collars.

I've been a dog mum for the past 5 years!

[Phoenixrise]

I use the quick release collar on mine. He has a habit of climbing and we’ve found many a collar attached to branches with no ill effects to him - so they seem to work well

[GiantKitten]

Big loud bells from ebay
Recommended

[ChesterDrawsDoesntExist]

My cat likes her collars. When one comes off she brings it home and pops it on the doorstep.
I know the risks of collars and like most people, only buy quick release ones but so many people don't check that they actually DO release easily. I can stand in a shop for a good twenty mins yanking the various collars to find the ones that don't put up resistance. I'd rather lose 50 collars than have a collar injury. My girl is microchipped but I like to have my number on her collar and two bells to make her a bit worse a hunter.

[thecatneuterer]

We see collar injuries and even deaths from even quick release collars which frequently don't really release quickly. The dangers of collars far outweigh any benefits.

Also if your cat gets lost or injured people will ignore it for much longer if it's wearing a collar than if it isn't, as they assume 'it's ok, it's got owners'.

[dementedpixie]

I would think a big giant bell jingling in your ear all day and night might make you go a bit insane

[violeticecream]

Personally I think collars are a bad idea for cats and are unnecessary. I also think having a bell ringing all the time would be awful for the cat.

[Wolfiefan]

Collars aren’t necessary and can be very dangerous. Don’t google collar injuries. Yuck.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Cheddar has a reflective one so I can see the little bugger if she escapes.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Cheddar has one so I can see the little bugger if she escapes after dark.

[springtime12]

I would never use one because of the strangulation risk. Mine are microchipped tho if they get lost

[GiantKitten]

I’m balancing the risks to my cats of wearing a collar with the risks of no bells to local wildlife.

Also, knowing that cats found dead aren’t routinely scanned for chips (currently depends too much on circumstances), I hope that if one of mine was eg run over, the tag might lead someone to ring to tell me.

(& the bells are under their chins, not ringing in their ears )

[chemenger]

I would never put a collar on a cat sinceone of mine struggled home with her leg stuck through one. I would not trust a quick release mechanism. (I teach risk assessment to engineers and one of the basic principles is that all mechanical systems and devices, however simple, have a failure rate. When you assess a risk you combine that failure rate probability and the consequences if it fails. Killing or seriously injuring my cat is too big a consequence to accept a tiny probability of failure). Most cats will be fine, as the anecdotes above show, but ask any vet or rescuer like thecatneuterer if they have seen collar injuries, or google for images if you feel brave, and it may change your mind. My cat was lucky, she must have been close to home. I’ll never take that risk again.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

For an decent cat a bell does not prevent them hunting the move it round so it sits on their sternum between their clavicles so it doesn't jingle - so for most hunters their is no benefit to the wildlife population.
Collar injuries in particular the type where the collar moves so it is half round the neck and half Round an armpit are horrendous and take years or never completely heal.
In my area absolutely every dead or injured cat is scanned for a chip. Lack of chip is no longer a big issue for us, but failure to update details when people move is a massive issue.
So no collars for me, always chip, but remember to update details when they change.

[ExpletiveDelighted]

No collars here either, luckily my two are crap hunters.

[Wolfiefan]

Lone I’ve only ever seen that type of leg through collar injury once. Horrendous.
Mine are chipped. Years ago we very sadly had a cat hit by a car. The vet came and got him (neighbours called) and scanned for a chip. We got to say goodbye.
Chips work.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

@Wolfiefan I have seen and treated more of them than I would like.
Chipping works it also stops catnapping only yesterday we had a cat brought in 'stray' we have been feeding it for a week. Scanned check details, no it lives round the corner, take it back home let it out, do not feed it and do not let it back in.