Someone put a collar on my cat!

[nomorespaghetti]

Cat boy just came running in a bit shocked looking with a collar and bell around his neck! He’s 1 year old and has been with us for 5 months. He’s chipped and neutered, we haven’t put a collar on him as he’s a climber and I’m worried about him getting stuck somewhere and injured or worse. When we got him from CP they advised we didn’t put one on him.

He’s a very friendly boy, and I know he goes into next doors house when they have the back door open. He is usually out and about all day if it’s sunny, but he is always home and asleep on our bed at night.

Is someone trying to claim him?! Or maybe they are trying to stop him catching birds? And what do I do? I’ve taken it off and he’s gone out again now. We’re in a very built up area with lots of yards backing into each other, so he could be getting anywhere. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Bluntness100]

If someone has went to the bother of collaring him I’d guess he has a. Second home. Hopefully the note sorts the matter out.

[nomorespaghetti]

I couldn’t get the collar on him this morning, he was very resistant. I’ll try later.

[nomorespaghetti]

That’s horrible, spilltheteaa. Thank goodness you were there

[BarbeDeMaman]

I think you should read "this mousse belongs to me" by Oliver Jeffers.

I'm not a cat owner but always image this book is really about cats. Basically your Tiger is next doors Tiddles and No9's Thomas.

[BarbeDeMaman]

Or even Moose!

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

He must be friendly to allow someone to put a collar on him. I’d be furious.,

[EggysMom]

When did collars become a non-thing? I grew up with cats, have had cats all my life, and they've all had collars with elasticated inserts. Never lost a cat to a collar related incident. Lost a few collars but not substantial numbers, perhaps one per cat. I didn't realise that this was no longer the thing to do ... I reckon I'll start reading Gransnet instead, I'm obviously an old fogey

[nomorespaghetti]

I’ve got it on him, so shall await communication from his potential other human servant!

[NekoShiro]

I know a lot of people who have seen u collared cats and 'rescued them' I doubt someones put a collar on just to deter against hunting, going out aand buying a collar, coaxing a cat close and then collating a strangers cat just for hunting?

I'm assuming someone else saw your cat had no collar and is trying to claim him, though hopefully now with a note they should know it's your cat, and back off now. I wouldn't of put someone else's collar back on my cat though.

[nomorespaghetti]

He’s very friendly dobby, and soft as anything

[Troels]

Nice Dobby, he looks soft as a brush.
Ours is very similar looking. No collar as I worry about the danger f hanging themselves.
I vote you make a paper collar telling whoever gave him a coollar he has a loving home and to leave him alone.

[SiaPR]

Interesting about collars. I have always hated them, as have my cats so now I feel good that it is the right thing not to force them. They only ever lasted hours each time as I was too scared to do them too tight. Seems I was right,

[ElizabethMainwaring]

You are being very flippant regarding your cat being 'a hunter'
If he is catching birds in neighbouring gardens, which it sounds like, it's not surprising that someone has tried to do something about it.

[SoupDragon]

I have a video of my cat stalking a fly. He could have been wearing a full set of Morris dancer bells and you still wouldn't have heard him. He was moving so slowly

[Soubriquet]

My cat won’t wear a collar

I tried once and she nearly killed her self in a panic with this collar on her.

Flying up and down the stairs, throwing herself off the stairs basically anything to try and get it off

[SimonJT]

@ElizabethMainwaring

You are being very flippant regarding your cat being 'a hunter'
If he is catching birds in neighbouring gardens, which it sounds like, it's not surprising that someone has tried to do something about it.

Collars don’t prevent hunting, a cat can easily hunt with a whole load of collars around its neck.

OP you could pop a paper collar on his neck that says in bold DO NOT FEED, it should put the culprit off.

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Simon, this does not change the fact that op is being flippant about her cat killing birds.
I know about collars thank you

[bodgeitandscarper]

@ElizabethMainwaring

You are being very flippant regarding your cat being 'a hunter'
If he is catching birds in neighbouring gardens, which it sounds like, it's not surprising that someone has tried to do something about it.

Nothing flippant about not wanting to kill or maim your cat! Collars do nothing to prevent them taking birds, keeping them in overnight is the best thing to protect wildlife. Cats have little impact anyway according to studies completed by the RSPB.
Plus they help to control vermin and are far better than using poison.

[nomorespaghetti]

What do you expect me to do ElizabethMainwaring? He’s a cat, it’s a natural instinct. You can’t train it out of them. There’s no way a bell would alert a mouse or bird, he’s incredibly stealthy when stalking. He’s a rescue, so if he wasn’t hunting here he would be doing it somewhere else. The best way to control the impact of cats on wildlife populations is to ensure they are neutered and not constantly breeding and producing more hunters, and to adopt rather than buy. Plus he’s been incredibly useful in getting rid of the mice that multiply exponential in our neighbours house then spread under the floors to the rest of the street. No one seems to mind that!

[SoupDragon]

Give him a stern talking to.

Although I suspect Elizabeth expects you to keep the cat indoors.

[bodgeitandscarper]

I actually don't think it will be due to him hunting and more that someone is trying to claim him if he is friendly. There are plenty of cat deterrents on the market rather than resorting to something that can cause serious harm.

[nomorespaghetti]

And I’m not flippant, I hate that he kills birds, but I accept that I can’t do anything about it except get rid of him, which I’m not going to do! To prove I’m not a bird hating monster, there was a fledgling goldfinch in our garden yesterday afternoon, so I kept the cat locked in the house until it left.

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Okay @nomorespaghetti
I apologise for being presumptuous

[dobbyssoc]

My parents are putting a collar on their cat. She's clearly being fed elsewhere and just comes home for an extra dinner and bed and they're fed up with it. The paper collars she gets off instantly so they've popped a quick release on her with a note attached.
Our indoor cat also has a collar because he can be a pain in the arse to find sometimes but we can hear the bell. He's had one on since a year old so he isn't bothered by it at all.

[bluefoxmug]

I hate that he kills birds, but I accept that I can’t do anything about it

you can do something about it. you could keep your cat indoors at night or cat proof your garden/build a cat run.

but I agree that putting a collar on a cat that isn't yours is not on. why would snyone do that unless they want to claim the cat for themselves.