A question for cat owners?

[Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure]

So today we discovered, what I think was an injured cat, it was on my front garden right by my window. When I first saw it I though it was just chilling, 10 minutes later it was still in the exact same position so I went out side to investigate. Now I’m not a cat person, had it been a dog I would have been fine. When I got closer it didn’t move, didn’t even hit out at me, started meowing, the first thing I checked was wether it had a collar... it didn’t. to me it’s leg looked awkward and so I went round to to a few neighbours who I know are cat owners, unfortunately they were all out except my next door neighbours who leant me a basket and I took it to a local vets.
is it a normal thing for cats to not have collars? Do you not worry about them being out and about with no collar?
luckily we found out through the microchip the owner, I still don’t know what was wrong with it, at first glance the vet said it was definitely in pain but she couldn’t perform any tests until they got the owners permission.
I don’t like cats but I would never ignore one that’s injured.

Collars can get caught in things and strangle the cat. I’d worry more with a collar than not.

Thank you for taking it to the vet. That was a kind thing to do.

Nope no collar for mine. The collars can be dangerous as they get caught up on things. They would be dangerous for me too trying to get one on the little cow bag. Her microchip is registered to us and any vet or kindly person with a reader can identify. It's unfortunately one of the risks you take with a roaming cat.

Advice is not to use a collar with cats. They can get tangled up in things and strangle them.

Ps also thank you for looking out for the cat.

Cheap, bad collars can get caught and strangle the cat.

Good collars are designed to open if they meet resistance to prevent that happening, so they come off very easily. You pay £20 for an engraved collar with your address and number and an hour later the cat comes home without it.

My cats don't wear collars. We live next to woods and they just lost them so often, I was worried about them getting caught and strangled (even with quick-release collars it can happen) so they're collar-free. They are microchipped though.

My cats remove their collars so are useless. They are microchiped to my address instead.

Okay fair enough....as you can tell my cat care knowledge is less than insightful...

My cat has never had a collar.

Well done for helping the poor cat.

As for collars very few cats have collars these days TBH most are microchipped.

A lot of cats are friendly toward humans and won’t hit out as you put it unless cornered. Most unfriendly cats will run away if they can or if not will hiss and spit making themselves appear scary cats don’t actually like fighting.

Cats are the best animals ever, they allow us to be in their lives, we serve them they literally don’t give a toss about our dramas, you never know what mood they are going to be in. One of mine either loves you to death or pretends you don’t exist.

Same as PPs, no collar but they are microchipped. Very nice thing you did to get the cat to help.

My dog absolutely hates cats otherwise I would have brought it inside whilst I was trying to figure out what to do. But my dog probably would try to kill it. Vets was best option. All though the vet gave me a bit of lip about not calling through before arriving... tbh I just wanted to get the poor thing some help.

As PP yes , thank you for getting this cat the help it needed even if you aren't a cat person ( but you could be converted now ...... )

Our 2 don;t wear collars , they are microchipped and open the catflap with their Magic Necks - and laugh judgily when NdN cat tries and fails to get in.

The problem with microchipping over collars is the average person can read a collar but not a chip. But the problem with collars is they can get caught on branches etc.

Nope not converted, my best friend as teenager used to have a cat and she would always bring me mice, birds... apparently she only did it when I went around. She would never leave me alone. My cousins had cats... dogs for life for me 😆

My cats don't wear collars. They don't tolerate them.

Very kind of you to take this cat to the vets, particularly as you say you aren't a cat person x

Never really understand why so many people say they "aren't cat people". It seems owning or liking dogs means you automatically can't like cats. What is there to hate about cats?

I personally think anyone that says they don't like cats has never really known a cat. They're beautiful creatures, but so are dogs. Doesn't need to be so binary

Oh yes

Completely agree, all animals are wonderful aren't they

I have not seen a cat with a collar on for years now, they are dangerous and cats absolutely hate them anyway

My cat has a collar with a bell on it because she's a bird killer otherwise. It's one that easily snaps off though. She seems to quite like it, oddly. As for not liking cats I get you because I'm not a dog fan. I would help one if it seemed injured though. Probably from afar since I believe dogs can bite if injured (but I'm as knowledgeable about them as you are about cats).

We rescued our cat and had to promise never to put a collar on her. The rescue centre made us look at pictures of cats with terrible injuries from wearing collars!

Possibly a bit extreme but came from good intentions!

Have never put a collar on my cats. Microchipping is best.

I must admit I'm a bit scared of dogs (very badly bitten as a child) but I've taken a couple of injured ones to the vets in the boot of my car over the years. I couldn't leave an injured animal. It was kind to take the cat along to the vet. I would be unimpressed with a vet who gives you a hard time about bringing in a sick animal without warning.

My indoor cat has a collar and microchip because he'd need returned ASAP if he got out as he's not meant to be. He tolerates the collar well. My previous outdoor cat I never put a collar on as she was a really active wee thing and I worried about it getting caught on something and her not being able to get free but she was chipped.