Does your cat wear a collar?

[havenofwhiskers]

DKitten was neutered last week and has spent a little time in the garden since.

He's getting braver and will soon want to roam.

He's been microchipped but I'm worried that without collar he may look like a stray and someone may take him in.

He's very, very friendly (all over strangers who come into the house) and I'm concerned he'll happily wander into another house.

Can you tell I'm anxious about letting him out?

I spoke to the veterinary nurse, who said there's pros and cons to collars - we would get a snap release one, but I understand these still carry a risk.

I'd love a collar for my car, but I can't find one big enough!

On a more serious note, I don't have a cat - sorry I can't help! Good luck getting some more helpful answers x

FFS, cat! Have asked MNHQ to amend the title

Yes with a bell on to hopefully stop him killing birds.

Ours doesn’t...it’s not for lack of trying but we have up after she lost collar number FOURTEEN...she clearly is not a cat who is happy wearing a collar!

One of our cats does (not got one the car) because he hunts and reduces his success rate. Girl cat doesn't as she doesn't hunt.

No, I worry about them getting snagged and causing injury. None of the cats around us wear them.

That's what I'm concerned about @ExpletiveDelighted

If you go for a snap and release one, then have a look at the different types. Some release easier than others and since he’s only young, you’ll need one that easily snaps off. I’d rather have to keep replacing the collar, than have my cat come to harm.

Don’t feed him before he goes out and train him to come for food, by using a different call or even a little bell. Mine used to come running when I rang a little brass bell, because they associated it with food. Greedy wee shites. 😁

Photos please. They’re compulsory.

No, I could hang one to FF the mirror I suppose.

My cats don't wear one either but that's because they're indoor only. Unlike the car. If that comes in the house, something has gone very wrong.

No collars here. How old is your cat? And how long have you had it?

My best tip is whistle train your cat.

Whistle every time you feed him (stop free access to food), after a week or so see if he comes when you whistle, when he does give him food etc.

Our cats respond to the whistle even when half asleep and it means they always come in when whistled. We keep them locked in overnight as that is the greatest risk of them being knocked down.

Evening routine, whistle, a bit of wet food (treat for them). Your whistle carries outside far better than calling their name.

Get a plain one if you do. A friends cat was repeatedly attacked by children stealing her diamanté collar. It only came to light why the cat was coming home without a collar and acting very scared when one of the parents found a couple of the collars and the child confessed.

One of our old cats still managed to injury himself with a quick release one. Our cat now loses them every time you put one on him (stubborn git). So he doesn’t have one. He also used to be very good at persuading people he was a stray but hasn’t bothered as much since we moved to a more rural area.

No but I’m thinking of having a bow tie on its radiator...
Jokes aside, I’ve had cats for over 40 years and never put a collar on any of them. The risk of injury even with supposed “easy release” ones would bother me. I’ve seen horrific pics of cats getting their leg stuck through them while trying to claw them off. These days cats are microchipped for identification, so there’s no point at all.

Obligatory photo

no, neither of ours do. They are always in the house from when we go to bed or even earlier at night.

He's almost 6 months.

We've had him about 3 1/2 months.

Great tips @RandomMess thank you.

She used to. At one point I bought a really nice plastic glow in the dark collar that unfortunately rubbed off all the hair round her neck. It's never grown back.
Hasn't worn one since her last vet visit and they were concerned about the rubbed off area.
She's 16, starting to lose control of her bowels and probably isn't much longer for this world. Sigh.

My current Dcat doesn’t, simply because when we adopted her all those years ago, she would just scratch and scratch at any collar we put on her so in the end I just didn’t bother. She’s microchipped and I’ve always kept the details up to date when we’ve moved so there wouldn’t be any confusion should someone try and take her in. She certainly doesn’t look like a stray either, too well fed! 😄 She also hasn’t been much of a hunter thankfully otherwise I would have to think again... 🤔 I actually like her not wearing a collar now as when I stroke her from the top of her head all the way down her back to her tail there is nothing in the way! ☺️

Mine has a soft reflective collar (because she’s pure black so difficult to see at night) and two bells because she taught herself to silence one by holding it under her chin 😂

Ours does and I'm so grateful.

We recently lost him, he was gone 8 weeks, we did the usual postering, Facebook posts, told vets and microchip company to no avail and on Saturday someone texted me asking if he was missing as he had been miaowing at their window so let him in

If he didn't have a collar I don't think we would of got him back

Even though he's chipped he had a tag with his name, microchipped, and on the reverse our address and my mobile number

Would never have a cat without one

Never. The quick release ones don’t always release. They are a real hazard. Cats can get trapped, hung or get a leg through the collar which can result in terrible injuries.

We've edited the title for you OP.

Previous cats did. These 2 can shed any collar in under 10 minutes and I got fed up of buying new collars. They are well fed and healthy looking- anyone responsible would take them to get their chip scanned if they were lost.