Cats and collars

[DELHI]

My two cars are currently decimating the baby bird population in my garden. DP keeps muttering about putting bells on them, which I'm happy to do, but I'm worried about collars. I've heard horror stories of cats hanging/strangling themselves by getting the collar caught in a tree and my two do climb quite a bit. I've tried the quick-release type collars in the past and they are just too quick -release and always disappear within a few days. I want to save the birdies, but I don't want throttled kitties - any thoughts?
Thanks!

that's cats not cars....

superglue bells to elbows?

I'm a vet and have seen some horrific collar injuries on cats so I'd always say go for the quick release ones if you have to and just accept that they'll need replacing very frequently

(and whilst I'm on my soapbox please make sure your cats are microchipped if they don't gave collars)

Personally I think putting a bell on a cat is cruel. Admittedly the baby birds might thinking being slaughtered in their dozens is cruel too but I think the best you can do on that score is not encourage the birds too close to the ground (bird table and all that, that's like luring the poor buggers in to die).

However, if you're having half-dead birds dragged in on a regular basis, I can see how this is less-than-amusing to have to deal with.

having 4 cats that all wear quick release collars with bells (yes they loose them often) i have personally found it make no difference we still have them catching birds daily, baby rabbits too, maybe we just have deaf birds in our area (very rural surrounded by orchards)x

My vet advised against our kitten wearing a collar. He has been micro-chipped.
As he is always up a tree or a conifer I think it was the right decision.
He has caught three baby birds this week.
I honestly don't know how you would stop them catching birds.

If the birds are so thick maybe they need culling. I have sparrows in the loft - last year the neighbour's cat ate all the babies (in a bungalow) and this year they have made their nest in the same spot.

one of the resident cats at Haworth cat rescue where i work has a huge bell on his collar you can hear him coming a mile away and it hasnt stopped him bringing in a regular supply of local wildlife, if a cats a hunter sirens and klaxons on thier necks wont stop them getting some nice pressie to bring home for you

Check out what Sparkling Cat caught yesterday (pic on profile) I wonder if a bell would have prevented it?

Sorry should warn you it's a snake.

wow sparkling where on earth did he find a snake hes a georgous boy

Both my cats have Ancol quick release collars with bells, it doesn't stop them catching birds . Actually, my boy cat doesn't have one at the moment because he is a real adventurer and comes home so often having lost his collar that I haven't got round to getting a new one yet. If you are doing without a collar, check your insurance though as some of them do put in the small print that the cat must have a collar

We live by a big railway cutting with a huge embankment so I think it was from there issey.

I had this problem so have put the elastic type collar with a buckle on mine but I have left them loose-ish so if they get caught they aren't stuck. One did get caught on a bush and pulled her head out fine. They also aren't bothered by the bells which surprised me. Birds make so much mess when theyre brought in and my DD is now commando crawling so I really don't want her to find bits of dead bird if I miss a bit in the clean up.

So now it's just daily mice rather than daily birds and mice...

lol sparkling hes brave thank god i only get decapitated mices and the odd bird ior two occasionally i get the mice back live and just a bit traumatised so i take them over the road and release them into the cricket field