Cat not keen on collar

[LagoDiComo]

Since we got our cat six months ago, I have tried various times to get him to wear a collar. Although he is microchipped I want him to wear my phone number and I also want him to wear a bell. He is a very lively 2 year old boy, neutered but very quick and strong.

He will wear the collar for about an hour and then manage to get his paws up underneath it and pull it so that the safety clasp releases. Obviously I need there to be a safety clasp but he is using this to his advantage.

This wouldn't be so much of a problem, since I know collars are not ideal for outdoor cats, but he has now started attacking birds. He has brought in two half dead birds in two weeks and I can't see why he won't continue to be a threat. We also struggle to keep him in after about 4am and obviously dusk is a key hunting time - we can't lock him in our kitchen overnight due to the odd layout of our (upside down) house.

Has anyone found a solution for this?

Attaching a pic of Bobby in one of his more serene moments

Dawn not dusk, although he's out then as well!

Beautiful puss. He looks so clean.

I don't think you'll succeed in getting him to wear his collar. Seems like he's made up his mind and isn't comfortable being restricted. He's a free spirit, I think.

He will wear the collar for about an hour and then manage to get his paws up underneath it and pull it so that the safety clasp releases
My cat can't wear the safety catch ones because she takes them off as well.

She used to have a lovely buckle collar but eventually the elasticated bit snapped.

I have tried to get her another buckle collar in the style she used to wear but nowhere seems to sell them any more.

You can get safety collars with info printed on, if your cat is happier with a collar with no dangling extras?

I stopped trying, even safety collars can injure.

It's a pity you can't tattoo it on their ears.

My current three are not collar-compliant either! Some you win...some look at you like you're about to die a painful death 😂

Neither of my cats will wear collars. One of them managed to get his front leg well and truly stuck in it (thankfully, at home!) and I thought 'no way' after that. Im not risking them getting injured just to potentially protect a few birds. One of my cats only chases the plastic off fag packets, she is too damn lazy to hunt anyhow!

If he's an outdoor cat he shouldn't really wear a collar anyway. They can get tangled up in things especially if like yours he's constantly trying to get them off.
He's microchipped so I'd give up on the collars