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!

[SimonJT]

@bluefoxmug

My last flat had a garden, I cat proofed it, our two cats never went out at night/when it was dark. My cat who died before we moved out regularly caught birds. He caught a bat once! Cat proofing doesn’t keep birds out.

[SoupDragon]

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

Birds sleep at night. Birds fly over fencing.

[nomorespaghetti]

I do keep him in at night @bluefoxmug. I don’t think that helps the birds though. It’s not possible to cat proof our garden unfortunately, it’s a small paved yard anyway so It wouldn’t be much of an outdoor life for him

[TimeWastingButFun]

I had a cat that used to hold its chin down to hold the bell still. They find ways of removing them as well!

[uniquehornsonly]

Don't conflate quick-release colllars with elasticated collars. Cats charities are opposed to collars because of the injuries from elasticated collars, which can leave cats hanging, with foreleg trapped, etc. That does not happen with properly made quick-release collars because they snap open under very little pressure. Yes, cats might lose them. Big deal. Go looking for the lost collar or buy another.

Bells on collars do reduce cats' ability to kill birds and the RSPB supports the use of quick-release collars for that reason. A bell can't stop every kill but studies have shown that it does reduce predation if birds and small animals by about half. There are some alternatives to bells that also work - one quick-release collar looks a bit like an Elizabethan ruff - but are still effective.

You can choose not to get a collar for your cat, but don't pretend it makes no difference to hunting.

[SoupDragon]

Yes, cats might lose them. Big deal. Go looking for the lost collar or buy another.

They remove them. Usually within a few hours.

[madcatladyforever]

A collar isn't a problem if you get an easy release one. It just falls off if it gets caught on a branch.

[uniquehornsonly]

They remove them. Usually within a few hours.

Maybe your cat does but most cats don't. The odd exception that won't tolerate collars is no reason to give up on collars for all cats.

[LST]

@bluefoxmug I don't keep my cat in at night because he has never once caught anything at night. In the day however....

[bodgeitandscarper]

@madcatladyforever

A collar isn't a problem if you get an easy release one. It just falls off if it gets caught on a branch.

Not always, as evidenced by several posters, sometimes they are stiff and won't release. Combined with the unbreakable fabric they're made from they can be, and often are lethal. Then there is the fact that if a cat strays or gets lost it is often ignored as it is wearing a collar 'so must belong to someone', I've seen this far too many times. Poor cats can be in a right state. Plus people don't know how to fit them correctly, I've seen stray cats that must have been missing since youngsters and the collar has dug into their flesh as overtight, and collars that are too loose putting the animals at greater risk of getting caught up and the collar rubbing. Not to mention the flea collars that people leave on, only to discover that some cats have awful allergies to them with weeping sores.
Collars are totally unnecessary in this day and age. Neuter and chip is the way forwards.

[bodgeitandscarper]

Cats hunt most actively at dawn and dusk when the birds are going to roost or just emerging, so keeping cats in at night over this period reduces the chances of them being caught quite dramatically.

[SoupDragon]

Maybe your cat does but most cats don't.

I've had 6 cats. 3 repeatedly removed their collars within hours.

The odd exception that won't tolerate collars is no reason to give up on collars for all cats.

At no point did I say it was. I can only say why I don't bother putting collars on mine.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

I wouldn’t use a cat collar at all. We got our cat from CP who said it wasn’t a recommended thing at all. In the 80’s when I first had a cat they weren’t a good idea either. I’d worry about the cat getting caught on a branch.

[SoupDragon]

I would love mine to wear collars - it would make it easier to tell them apart!

[SoupDragon]

I think it is the quick release mechanism that makes them so easy for the cat to remove - they sort of lick at them until they get their tongue underneath and can pull enough to release the clasp. It's the only way I can imagine they are removing them.

[Binglebong]

Do you have a local facepage? I'd put a message on there with a picture staying that he is from a loving home and that collars can be dangerous so can people please not feed him or add a collar. He's quite distinctive so if the culprit is on there they should recognise him.

[SimonJT]

@madcatladyforever

A collar isn't a problem if you get an easy release one. It just falls off if it gets caught on a branch.

My cat has a very nasty scar under right armpit, she had become entangled in an easy release collar and if she hadn’t been collected by an RSPCA inspector it is likely she would have experienced a very slow death.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

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

Cat proofing doesn't stop hunting and doesn't necessarily stop birds coming into the garden.

Harry doesn't wear a collar any more and I wish he'd never worn one. He has a bald ring around his neck despite him having cotton collars that were fitted correctly.

[MrBennsshop]

My much loved and well cared for (and well fed!) cat came home wearing a collar one day. The 'owner' had thoughtfully put her phone number on a tag. And his new name...I rang her and discovered he'd been leading a double life. It took a great deal of time for me to make it clear he was my cat and not hers. A while later, he got hit by a motorbike and she very kindly took him to the vet (for which I thanked her of course). It then became rather difficult as she was ringing the vet for updates and wanted to start visiting him there. I told the vets that he was mine (already registered with them thank goodness) and pointed out who would be paying the bill. They were great and only dealt with me from them on.

He never visited her again apparently but spent the rest of his life moving in with assorted people. I shared him with a GP round the corner, he visited every house on our close, slept on assorted beds and even had an inadvertent trip to the garden centre with one neighbour when he sneaked into the back of their car.

His worst behaviour was when we went away on holiday and a neighbour cared for him and our other cat. When we got home she told us he had been missing for days. After a week of frantic searching and leafleting, it transpired he had followed a man home from the pub and moved in with him. During the week of searching, I discovered that, for the last year, the cat had spent most of his days sitting on a chair in a car showroom, whilst the staff fed him whiskas on demand.

OP you may just have a cat like mine!

[Rebelwithallthecause]

My 1 year old bought two baby bird to the back door yeaterday.
Then proceeded to eat them.

It’s the first I have seen him be a predator and I wouldn’t be surprised if a neighbour tried to put a bell on him

I’ve tried but he hates wearing a collar and have been advised against collars so have left it off

If I could safely and without stressing cat out I would make him wear a bell

[nomorespaghetti]

What a character mrbenn!

Update: he just popped in, collar was gone! So I don’t know whether he got it off, it snapped off, or the other people took it off. I haven’t had a call. He then dived off into a hedge of ivy.

I might put a message on the local Facebook page as suggested, thank you.

[wizzbangfizz]

I wouldn't put a bell around my cats neck - plus with fledglings it wouldn't make a difference anyway! We keep a close eye on him at this time of year and keep him in if we see baby birds hopping about. I'd be furious if someone collared my cat!

[SciFiScream]

Both my cats wear collars with quick release catches. I test each one before putting it on. I test them and do what I can to make the quick release more sensitive, so that it releases far quicker and easier.

We get through so many collars. I buy them in bulk. The collars are highly reflective and that's the main reason I like my cats wearing them. I think I buy a 12 pack twice a year. So 24 collars a year.

Both cats are chipped and neutered. Also quite famous in the area. This is good as it means people know they have a home already. One cat once had fan mail delivered!

We have lots of neighbours who hand back all the lost collars. Once I said to one cat "where's your collar?" He went and got it and brought it back!!! Other times we've found them just outside the back door, I think they bring them home.

I put extra bells on them to try and stop my efficient hunters. I also keep them in a dawn, dusk and overnight.

I'd be annoyed if someone else collared my cats.

[GeraltOfRivia]

@SoupDragon I have a cat that can remove his own collars to, I long ago stopped bothering. I watched him do it and then help his brother get his off too. Sadly we just have the escapee left now.

[ClientQ]

Mine just sits down and refuses to move if you put a collar on him

He doesn't hunt though and he's chipped so no need for one