Getting cats used to collars

[NeedACleverNN]

Bought toots her first collar today.

It came with a bell and when I put it on her, she flipped. Complete and utter panic. When I caught her and took the collar off she laid there panting. She was completely freaked and I felt awful.

I removed the bell and I've put the collar back on. She's sulking now but I know there's nothing on it that is causing her distress now.

What can I do to help her get used to it?

I would just put it on for a few minutes at a time to start with and slowly build it up. You can try and distract her with some treats or playing if she's still freaked by it. If she's never had one before it's going to feel weird even once you've taken the bell off.
Some people will say a collar is unnecessary if they have a microchip but I prefer the belt and braces approach. Make sure you have one that will break open if she gets caught on anything though. Also don't be tempted to put it on too loosely as then she may be able to get a paw stuck in there which will cause an almighty panic if it doesn't break apart. 1-2 fingers space is enough.

It's a safety collar.

No buckle and the clasp snaps open if pulled too tight

The collar we have

I just wouldn't bother. Ours came home one day with his front leg trapped in it and part of it through his tooth.

I stopped using them after that.

I've had to take it off for a bit

The sulking was too much to stand

She's worse than a man child not getting his own way

I think they're cruel and also potentially dangerous.

I hate the way they rub off their fur - imagine wearing something round your neck that rubbed like that?

And if they get caught on a twig or branch when they're climbing I think this is a potential risk.

Get them chipped instead.

Why do you want her to wear one? They are unnecessary and potentially hazardous. I have had a cat get a leg stuck in one as well, very distressing for the cat and me.

I want her to wear one so no one claims her.

I'll be getting her chipped too but it's easier for people to see a collar than it is a chip.

Put on safely, they are fine to wear. She has never worn one before so I expect some sulking

Where the collars that the legs got caught in quick release ones? (Proper quick release not the ones that claim they are but would take two tractors pulling in either direction to release)

My boy loses collars within days; I'd like him with a bell because he's quite the hunter; so there's just no point.

This was definitely a quick release

When she was fighting me when trying to remove the collar with the bell it snapped open with me just holding the collar

That's the sort I had (been through about 20 now). He didn't like them but I just put them on in brief spurts mostly just before I refilled his food bowl (he'd happily eat with a collar on).

I just don't bother now as I know they'll get lost within hours.

I must admit I do love the red dingo collars.

All my dogs have had them so i liked the fact I could buy them for cats

They are such good quality.

Ideally I would prefer her to wear one but if she refuses I'll give up. No point having a miserable cat

My cats wear collars with bells on to give the birds a bit more of a chance. We just put them on and left them to it. They do get used to them after a while, I don't think my cats are bothered by them at all.

The one our cat got caught in was quick release from pets at home. He's a strong cat but it didn't release.

My Siamese boys won't wear them and that's that.

A thing I've seen round here, recently - albeit only occasionally - is cats with bright coloured kerchiefs tied around their neck as you sometimes see with dogs. I guess owners think it looks 'cute' but I've sometimes wondered about the securing of them. My own experience of fabric knots is that they can be the very devil to loosen once they tighten, especially if they've become damp.

That's awful. What is the matter with people?.

Are you sure they are tied in a knot and not attached to a collar?

My jrt used to have one. It was a bandana attached to a collar. So completely normal collar but a triangle piece of fabric at the front to mimic a bandana. You can't quite see the actual collar but there is one

No, I wasn't completely sure. (Although I couldn't see collars on them.) I don't usually go close to other people's cats outside the house.

I would guess it was probably attached to a collar instead of just a bit of fabric.

I wouldn't use one of those types on a cat though. More material to catch

Hmm. I knew one of the owners very vaguely and she was completely gormless. I hope you're right.

I hope so too...

I hate collars - we've had two rescue boys in the past who had both had traumatic collar experiences.
One had been abandoned as a young cat wearing a collar, he kept growing the collar was embedded in his next when he was caught by a local rescue, he needed surgery to remove it. For years he wouldn't let us touch his neck.

My other boy was found with his leg caught in his collar, he'd obviously been like that for a long time as he was badly injured and his neck and leg were in a terrible state and infected with maggots. For years afterwards he would scream if a fly came near him.

For those reasons I can't bear to see cats wearing collars

I put collars on my pretty identical Persians as I couldn't tell them apart. They ended up with huge knots and I cut one of their necks trying to get them off and ended up with a £200 vets bill for stitches.
When I asked my parents cat what had happened to his orange collar and why he now had a reflective yellow one he told me I was imagining things and it was bad light!

Mine don't wear collars. You used to be able to buy something called Beastie Bands for cats. Collars but made of a special Velcro type material. They used to lose them sometimes but (before chipping) it did allow me to put a tag on.
Too scared of collar injuries or trapped cat to use one. Tried a quick release in a shop and really struggled to release it.