To think this is a bit freaky and uncalled for?

[Macbeth8]

About a week ago my gorgeous cat came back and noticed his collar had been snipped. It was weird as it was still round him but definitely cut. I dont think it could have come off by accident as it looked like it had been cut with scissors if that makes sense. (Its a hard rubber flea collar the one on Amazon)

Then yesterday, he strolls in with a brand new blue collar complete with a jingly bell. WTAF?!
Like who would do this?
I try my hardest to keep him in, he sometimes just manages to sneak out and this is when this has happened.

Also, when we first got him I bought a tracker for him. But after awhile it just got filthy and muddy so took it off.
There was a random time he had on his harness and came back without it. 2 days later the harness was "chucked" on our drive?
Find it really odd. I have lived with cats all my life and never encountered tis before. I just dont know if someone is trying to claim him? I am scared to let him out now!!!

Could I maybe involve the Police?

The police won't be interested in someone else putting a collar on your cat.

Although cats are considered property in law, letting them out is always risky as you don't know where they are or what they're upto. They're also very good at squeezing into small spaces and getting into people's homes!

Someone loosened my cats collar, I could tell because there was the kink where it had been for months. They obviously thought it was too tight. I checked and I could fit 2 fingers under it and it was one of those quick release ones. Bit strange

OP, why are you not allowing him to exercise his natural instincts? You say he loves to be outside - how can you bear to keep him imprisoned and unhappy inside? His breed is not an excuses - no-one should buy breeds that have lost the ability to do what makes them happy, it's just cruel.

I would bet that the flea collar was cut by someone who disagrees with them on the basis that they are toxic. They are correct—many of them are toxic and pose a risk to the cat as well as humans who are around the cat. See this for example. www.petinsurancereview.com/blog/hidden-dangers-flea-collars
Having said that I don’t approve of anyone interfering with someone else’s cat!

Ermm for the exact reason the majority of posters are telling me to keep him indoors. If he gets stolen?!

Because their natural instincts are decimating local bird populations? Cats are nice. I like cats. I still fuxking hate my neighbour’s cat, who keeps digging up my flowers, shitting in the holes and leaving dead birds around my garden. If I could get a hand on it I’d try putting a bell on this cat, so it wouldn’t murder starlings and dump them on my rhubarb.

Put up a facebook post on a few pages and say what you've said here about being concerned about him being adopted by someone who thinks he is homeless (as if!) and that he has a tracker and is chipped so not to worry. If someone is thinking of taking him at least you can reshape your post saying if anyone knows anyone with a new rag doll to message you or report to police anonymously. That way if someone is thinking of stealing your cat they might be pre-warned that you're onto them and wont be able to pass it off as their own.

I think the rag doll temperament isn’t that predictable. My parents have owned two rag dolls in succession now - first one dopey as, no sense of danger, no desire to go outside, anyone could have taken her. Second one it would have been cruel to keep indoors, reasonable hunter, wasn’t friendly to strangers. Both beautiful animals though.

@Chattycathydoll the rspb who you would think would be completely anti-cats if they were decimating bird populations actually say that there is no evidence of cats causing a decline in bird populations. If you’re interested you can read their page here.

doesn't change your other two issues unfortunately

Ragdolls are too docile to be let outdoors like that, they are better off indoors. Literally not a breed that does well outside so I'm surprised you even allow this!
I'd never let mine out unless I had a cat proofed garden.
They are stunning and very very very prone to be stolen if found outdoors...

I think they may be hinting that your rubber flea collar is unsafe (and probably ineffective too) and trying to help with a new collar - is it has a quick release clasp? Same could be said for the harness, they may have thought it was a safety risk on a unsupervised cat?

^ These were my thoughts too. My vets don't recommend either of those Amazon purchases.

This. Please don’t use flea collars they are unsafe- can cause allergic reactions and cats can get them caught on things resulting in strangulation ( and they don’t actually work very well either) Same with the harness- you’re cat could get himself caught up in it.
Use a safety collar instead. And ask the vets for flea treatments.

I wonder whether a neighbours child was messing around and cut the collar and the parents felt guilty and so has gone out and bought a new collar as a replacement?

If somebody wanted to steal him it would seem very odd for them to cut off his collar, but leave it around his neck and then to put a new collar on him a few days later but not actually keep him in their house or anything.

I also agree that maybe it was somebody who dislikes flea collars. What about getting a collar like this with your phone number or house number on so that people know that not only is he not a stray but can contact you if they have any weird issues about collars: www.kittycollars.co.uk/personalised-cat-collars/