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?

My cat does not have a collar after seeing someone's cat hung in a tree as its collar was stuck on a branch (poor cat was dead .

D-Cats have worn collars for yrs (& yrs). No issues. I buy the cheap ones from Poundland because they all eventually fall off. I love them having a collar. I can hear where they are in the dark, for a start. It's important to have collar quite tight so it stays on & won't get caught easily. Still 2 fingers comfortably underneath, but otherwise quite snug fit.

A sulking cat wouldn't put me off at all, they will get used to it.

Cat2 had an injury (nothing to do with collars); he had to wear a cone & that was stressful to watch for 3 days but he even got hang of that.

They will get used to it. It took my 2 cats about 48 hours to come to terms with the fact the collars were staying on.

I use the quick-release safety collars, and feel much safer with them in collars because (a) people can see they have an owner, and (b) my mobile phone number is on there - I have been called before when cat found far from home.

The Lodger doesn't sulk or protest. He accepts a collar sweetly and graciously - seems to enjoy it even - and then comes back 20 minutes later with the collar gone. Happens every time.

Clever Lodger

We took the collar off yesterday and have yet to try it again. I want her to forget about the bell first before re-introducing it. Sulking I can handle. Sheer blind panic I couldn't

I put quick release collars on my 2 boys, but only so I have something to attach the loca8tors to, and their tags. The Loca8tor was a godsend when we had a gale a couple of years back - poor MCat was cowering in the bushes a couple of streets away, and the Loca8tor made sure we found him quickly.

Out of interest, how many Loca8tors have you lost, though?

Just the one! Then the little boy round the corner returned it, MCat lost it again. Now I've given up walking the streets, spinning in slow circles looking like a nutter with the receiver and accepted it's lost for good...