Someone put a collar on my cat!

[nomorespaghetti]

Cat boy just came running in a bit shocked looking with a collar and bell around his neck! He’s 1 year old and has been with us for 5 months. He’s chipped and neutered, we haven’t put a collar on him as he’s a climber and I’m worried about him getting stuck somewhere and injured or worse. When we got him from CP they advised we didn’t put one on him.

He’s a very friendly boy, and I know he goes into next doors house when they have the back door open. He is usually out and about all day if it’s sunny, but he is always home and asleep on our bed at night.

Is someone trying to claim him?! Or maybe they are trying to stop him catching birds? And what do I do? I’ve taken it off and he’s gone out again now. We’re in a very built up area with lots of yards backing into each other, so he could be getting anywhere. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[LadyFeliciaMontague]

I would be so annoyed.
There are templates online so you can print out a paper collar to put on adding a note saying that he is not a stray and he has a happy home.

[helpfulperson]

I suspect, given the bell, that he has been attacking the local wildlife. I would take it off and put a paper collar on asking the person to phone you. If it is a bird problem I believe you can get scrunchie type collars that have a bell but no choking risk.

[Fluffycloudland77]

What the fuck? Dh would be knocking on doors if that happened. I’d do paper collar.

[nomorespaghetti]

I should have attached a paper note to it. I might do that when he comes back. If it’s to stop him catching birds I can understand (kind of), he is a hunter. But I’m feeling quite annoyed!

[Veterinari]

There are about eleventy billion quick release safe cat collars on the market.

No someone else shouldn't have collared him, but you should have.

[habibihabibi]

My children rescued a kitten from a multistory carpark and we did the dutiful and vaccinated and neutered him when it age appropriate. The neighbours stormed over and said how dare we neuter their cat.
I just gave it to them.

[nomorespaghetti]

Why does he need a collar? He’s chipped. Injuries are still possible with quick release collars. Pdsa recommend leaving cats without collars. Cats protection, who were got him from, recommended leaving him collarless.

[nomorespaghetti]

Just to add, my cat is very well looked after, flea and worm treated, brushed every day, fresh litter tray once a week, vaccinated, neutered, chipped, fed, cuddled, has three beds to suit his mood, loads of toys... he’s not in any way neglected, he’s just extremely friendly and doesn’t have a collar to try ensure he won’t become injured while he scales trees!

[MiniMum97]

I agree re no collars. Not worth the risk. We did try to collar our cats at one point as they were catching so many birds etc but they hated them and had got them off before the end of the first day!

Having read since about the risk I wouldn't have a collar on my cat again. One of my lovely cats sadly died (not collar related to be clear) and my other one is catching much less now anyway she is getting older. I think we've had one bird caught this year.

It's certainly not up to anyone else to put a collar on a cat. I would suspect they are trying to steal her.

[cabbageking]

I have my own cats and some visitors. I have assumed they are stray because they are here most of the time, are ravenously hungry, one had a abscess that was not treated and has fleas. I have two that come through the cat flap I believe have homes.
Sounds like the cat has another home.

[bodgeitandscarper]

I will never put a collar on a cat after seeing horrific injuries caused by a supposed safety collar. They still hunt with collars and bells anyway,sonot doing much for wildlife.

[ScarletZebra]

We stopped using collars when one of ours ended up with a nasty injury under her front leg. Current kitties are indoor cats as last elderly lady got whipped off to the vets at least 3 times by nosy parkers .

I agree it sound like someone is trying to claim your cat.

[Wibblewobble99]

I have the worlds most patient cat, he still catches birds and mice with a collar and bell on. Like yours, ours are well looked after, but a lot of none cat owners don’t realise that cats will always feign hunger and enjoy attention even if they have a home

[nomorespaghetti]

Urgh. I’d be surprised if he had a proper second home, because although he doesn’t eat loads he always comes in for him breakfast and tea, and he’s not putting on any weight. He’s always locked in at night too, from about 8pm, but the occasion he stays out later he’s always home by midnight. Anyway, I’ve looped a paper note through the collar saying that he has a home, and leaving my phone number if there is a problem. When (if?!) he comes home I’ll put it on him (it is a quick release one). I really don’t want to, but I feel like I haven’t a choice. He can wear that for a day or two and hopefully the collarer will see it.

[ElectricTonight]

Someone probably thought it was a stray.

[Windyatthebeach]

As a dc I found my dcat hanging from a tree whilst wearing a quick release collar.. Take it off ASAP.

[sergeilavrov]

Are you sure he hasn’t tricked himself into having two loving homes? We had a cat that started coming into our house when I was 5. I loved her so much. She eventually spent all day with us, and all night out. Turns out, she was originally the pet of someone ten doors down who we had never met. He came over and explained that so long as she was safe and looked after, we could keep her as he had another cat and they didn’t get on.

[Itwasntme1]

Collars are no longer common for cats. I used to put a quick releases one in my cat, but she lost so many I gave up.

None of the cats in my neighbourhood wear collars and they are all very well looked after.

No one should put a collar on a cat that doesn’t belong to them. Yes cats occasionally kill birds, but even the rspba has said this doesn’t impact bird populations. People are woefully misinformed

Hopefully the paper collar works.

[SoupDragon]

There are about eleventy billion quick release safe cat collars on the market.

Yes, and there are eleventy billion quick release safe cat collars that my cats can happily remove themselves. I'm not entirely sure why it is necessary for me to buy a pair of new collars every week (at least).

[MoMagic]

@SoupDragon

There are about eleventy billion quick release safe cat collars on the market.

Yes, and there are eleventy billion quick release safe cat collars that my cats can happily remove themselves. I'm not entirely sure why it is necessary for me to buy a pair of new collars every week (at least).

Exactly the same for us. I was buying collars in bulk when they were kittens, they were losing them every few days! Then my neighbours cat got stuck hanging in a tree by her (apparent) safety collar and I’ve never put one on the cats since. The collar never stopped either of my cats hunting anyway, even when they had bells on

[saraclara]

The quick release collar didn't stop my cat getting his leg stuck in his.

And no self-respecting cat has ever let a bell interfere with their hunting

[Myimaginarycathasfleas]

My guess would be that he has taken a fancy to a particular garden and is hunting birds in it. Our neighbour's cat does the same. Fortunately he's a useless hunter. It's annoying that he chases the birds away though.

I wouldn't put a collar on someone else's cat but perhaps they are just exasperated that you aren't doing anything to contain his activities.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

I would guess it's to do with the hunting. We have a young cat who comes in and kills lots of wildlife. Has a field day in the spring with all the baby birds!! It’s gross and we shoo it out the garden every time. I’d love it if it wore a but alas not.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

• wore a bell

[SpillTheTeaa]

A few years ago I would have said a cat needs a collar but I found my cat hanging from the window handle by his collar. I wasn't meant to be at home that day either. I heard thrashing around and found him in time. Luckily enough. Ever thought about the danger of them before.