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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Are cat collars a good idea or not?

31 replies

bodenbiscuit · 01/07/2015 16:22

I'm very worried about our kitten getting out because she's a Ragdoll so should be a house cat. She is very laid back and I don't think she'd have much road sense. I am going to get her microchipped but I think I would feel safer if she had a collar so that if someone found her they could immediately see where she comes from.

However, I've also heard that cat collars are really dangerous. So I don't know what to do. When I was a child, our cats always had collars with no problems but these days people seem to be opposed to them don't they? There have been a few times where I came home and someone had left the from door open and I literally nearly had a heart attack.

OP posts:

Damnautocorrect · 01/07/2015 16:25

You can get quick release collars so they don't strangle your cat if they get caught on a tree or something. I'd say it's worth getting one with a tag that say 'help i'm lost, call mum on 079xxxxx'

Original poster

bodenbiscuit · 01/07/2015 17:28

Thank you. I was wondering how many people would take animal to the vet to see if it has been microchipped.

OP posts:

jimblejambles · 01/07/2015 17:32

We were told by a vet to cut halfway thru the elastic on the collar so if they do get caught the can easily escape. Saying that our cat is like Houdini and can get out of any collar so we don't bother now.

chemenger · 01/07/2015 17:35

Cat collars can cause terrible injuries if the cat gets a leg stuck through it. I have released one of my cats from this predicament once (she was stuck for a few hours at the most), she was really distressed. I have never put a collar on a cat since.

RoosterCogburn · 01/07/2015 19:31

We have had two rescue cats who, prior to our owning them, were badly injured by collars.

One had been trapped for days and had to have operations to repair the damage to a front and rear leg - for the rest of his life he used to shriek and wince if a fly came near him - we presume when he was trapped with open wounds (from the collar) they plagued him.

I would never put a collar on a cat and it makes me wince when I see them.

patienceisvirtuous · 01/07/2015 23:08

I use the safety collars, and we do lose a few because they come off easily (as intended).

We just accept it as a disposable cost and buy cheap ones.

However, ours have id tags on too with their name, our door/street no, my mob no... most of the time they get posted back through our letterbox by the neighbours smile might be an idea.

Ps ours are chipped too...

code · 02/07/2015 06:59

I use quick release collars. They do come off if they get caught on a branch or something. I use loc8tor attachments so I can call and track the cat but they also allow me to find lost collars so a good investment. I like a collar for the purpose of the loc8tor and that the cat looks owned.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/07/2015 08:53

H wears a quick release collar as not everyone knows to get a cat scanned for a microchip.

chockbic · 02/07/2015 11:49

We have a collar for Jack. It's reflective, so when he loses it X 2, we use the hi tech solution of a torch

Tinfoiled · 02/07/2015 11:56

I have just put quick release collars on my 2. I was/am a bit worried about the reports of collar injuries but assuming the quick release ones would stop this happening?? Although mine are also chipped, I prefer them to also wear a collar if possible, so they look like 'owned' cats if that makes sense, plus the dc really enjoyed picking the collars out for them (the cats are still a bit flighty with dc and thought them choosing collars would help them bond a bit more with cats!).

Mabelface · 02/07/2015 11:59

None of my 3 cats have collars and I prefer it that way. They're all chipped.

FreckledLeopard · 02/07/2015 12:02

We have five cats and don't use any collars. I'm still fearful that a quick release collar wouldn't be much help if they trapped a leg through it or something.

They're all microchipped and we have photos of them all in case they do go missing. I just wouldn't risk it with a collar.

coreyp · 02/07/2015 13:01

Isn't the big issue here the Ragdoll breed? Sorry from what I've read, they just shouldn't go out except under supervision. Chip is a good idea even if you never intend to let them out.

Friends have lead-trained theirs.

My cats are moggies. Belled collars help me find them in the dark & help save some of their would-be prey.

code · 02/07/2015 16:49

Rag dolls don't jump or climb well do they? If that's the case and you have fences or high walls they probably won't leavve the garden anyway.

BlueKarou · 02/07/2015 17:28

I gave GingerCat a new collar. She trotted home that evening all proud, head held high, collar very much missing.

I guess it means the quick release aspect is working.

I wanted her to wear it so she had a bell to give the local wildlife a fighting chance at escape.

Original poster

bodenbiscuit · 02/07/2015 20:09

Thanks for replies. I don't intend to let her out. I think someone might take her. I was just thinking that if I put a collar on her at least if she did get out accidentally someone might bring her back if they found her.

However, I've tried putting a collar on her and she keeps getting her jaw stuck in it - she goes mad when I put it on. So maybe it's never going to happen!

The vet has recommended getting her neutered at the end of August and said that we could have her microchipped then.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 02/07/2015 20:13

Defo microchip. We used to use stretchy collars that were only held by Velcro. Now we use nothing.

Methe · 02/07/2015 20:26

I use quick release collars with two bells on. I not only have a responsibility to my cats I have a responsibility to try to limit the amount of birds they catch so the bells are non negotiable. If they were out catching bird all the time I'd keep them in.

mmmuffins · 02/07/2015 20:41

If you are worried about someone stealing her, I'm not sure how a collar would help. She is a well-kept pedigree, so no one with a brain should mistake her for a stray.

If you are worried about her getting out and disappearing - I used to keep my bengals as indoor cats, and one was a bit of an escape artist. After 15 minutes of freedom he would just sit outside of the house and meow until someone let him back in, he never went far. They are outdoor cats now, and I would never put collars on them, completely pointless and dangerous. They are microchipped with my details should they ever be lost.

Lovethesea · 03/07/2015 10:44

I don't like collars for the safety reasons for the cats. We are surrounded by hedges and tons of strangle opportunities.

Mine are microchipped and look well enough to be not strays.

I've put posters through doors when Feistycat disappeared and lots of people recognised her and said they had seen her around. (We found her in next doors garden unwell and hiding....they have a dog!)

I have a very effective hunter but wouldn't ever use a bell. I know plenty of people disagree but I think an animal that is so acute in hearing must be made very unhappy by constant ringing when it moves.

Huntercat likes to kill and eat fresh raw food. I feed him plenty of alternatives but that's his nature and I think our local swearing blackbird does a pretty good job of pointing him out in the garden. Once he is over the fields he is just acting like any other prey or hunter animal. He does eat his catches, including rabbits, so it's very hard wired into him.

Two gardens down there is a beautiful working hawk that is often tied on a perch in the garden......he has never bothered with that bird!

AccordingToOurRecords · 03/07/2015 10:54

I had a quick release on my Siamese, problem was it didn't ( iykwim). I found him hanging in a tree in the garden.He was in a bit of a state and lost his voice for a while. It could have killed him. I'll never put a collar on a cat again.

code · 03/07/2015 10:55

The new safety collars DO come off though, very easily really. I'm always finding our ones collars hanging from branches or bushes or lying on a wall somewhere. There is no way they would be able to hang themselves by their quick release collars (which was a real concern). I use Ancor ones.

code · 03/07/2015 10:57

Blimey according cross post. That's terrible your poor cat. I guess that one was faulty. How awful. OP I test mine, keep pulling them apart and when on the cat give it a tug and check it releases.

IHaveBrilloHair · 03/07/2015 11:00

No, mine had quick release ones but a couple of months back one went missing for a week and then came home with her leg mangled and stuck in her collar, she needed an operation, meds and stitches.
I took all the collars off immediately and will never use one again.

abigamarone · 03/07/2015 19:04

I started off with collars, cutting halfway through the elastic. But one of them still managed to get it caught in his jaw when the other cat caught his claw in it (they were fighting) luckily I was there to sort him out, I'd hate to think of him being in that level of distress on his own. I'd still consider one of the quick release ones but the amount of cutting through I'd be doing would probably make it pointless.

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