Does your cat wear a collar?

[MidnightMeltdown]

I got quick release collars with address tags for both of my cats, as they started going outside before they were microchipped. They've been wearing them for about a year now, but the other night, one cat came home without hers. I assume that she must have got it caught on something, and fortunately, it functioned as it should and released her. I'm wondering whether or not I should replace it now that she's microchipped. I'm not sure whether the potential risks of cats wearing collars outweighs the benefit. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

The others cats may have picked on yours when he was wearing a collar because they thought he looked a bit of a wuss?

How very dare you?! He looked gorgeous😂

@Tinkerbellfluffyboots79

Never had a cat who has worn a collar not sure the purpose of them tbh. all my cats are neutered and chipped 2 are housecats

I think part of my worry was that if someone found her injured (or dead), they may not be willing to take her to the vet, but I would hope that they would at least call me, or knock on the door if my address and phone number were attached.

@ElspethFlashman

I'm a bit worried reading this.

We're getting a kitten next week (!) and whilst obviously it won't need a collar for the first few weeks kept indoors, when it eventually ventures outside, I was going to use a collar.

We have a mature garden with a gazillion birds, and I want them to have fair warning.

But no collar = no bell!

I don't want the collar to cause distress though.

The collars never actually seemed to bother my cats at all (I got soft velvet ones and they started wearing them from quite a young age as I was worried about them accidentally escaping and getting lost before they were chipped!). I'm just concerned about possible risk of injury if they get caught on something (particularly having read some of the stories on here!).

Yes I don't like the look of them without a color

One of mine is currently wearing one to warn people not to feed him.

He'd been on a vet advised diet for allergies which had all but cleared up but he's suddenly started staying out longer and his allergy had come back.

It's a quick release one and even though it looks tight he is all fluff around his neck and I can get 4 fingers under it without stressing him out.

Once his allergies clear up again I'll stop him wearing it

Yes mine has had 4/5 collars

Too many cats without collars around here are viewed as strays and so are "adopted" or taken to the vet/local rescue.

Both cats are chipped but I bulk buy quick release collars anyway. The collars are hi-vis which gives me some comfort.

The hunter extraordinaire has 3 bells on hers.

I have to replace due to loss about once a month. I write the address inside and sometimes get them back. Twice my boy cat brought his home!

I deliberately close and pull the collar several times before I put it on the moggies. This helps the quick release operate the way it should.

Every cat is different. What works for us won't work for all!

@SciFiScream any tips on keeping a bell on the collar? Can you buy separate bells? I'm fed up of having to buy new collars because the bells and fastening are lost.

@RevolvingPivot I bulk buy collars and bells from Amazon. You can buy the bells separately.

I buy a pack of 12 collars for about £8 (all hi-vis) and the bells were a big bag of 50 for about £3. I just add extra bells to the existing bell on the collar.

As you say sometimes the bell is lost so I just replace the bell then. By sheer luck the connector has always been there so far...

If there are people that want to use collars then I really do think that closing the catch and pulling it open firmly and rapidly (as if caught on something) helps the quick release catch work as it should.

My 2 get a new collar due to loss probably once a month. I test the fit daily.

We used to have collars for all of our cats, but now down to just 1 cat, our 3 legged, old man who never leaves the garden we don’t bother. He is microchipped as we had that done as a kitten he’s now getting on for 18 .

I actually made a thread before i saw this one asking for GPS tracker recommendations. I guess if most people's cats on here don't wear a collar this isn't the best place to ask.

My vet advised against collars.
Next door (lovely retired couple keen on birds) kept on and on and on about dc killing birds and would we put a collar on him. (He's microchipoed, we live in the middle of nowhere).
So to appease next door, we bought a quick release collar which lasted less than a day
We then bought another quick release collar. Maybe 3 days in dc came home , no collar, covered in black grease with a 4 inch full thickness cut all around his neck.
He was terrified, needed stitches and antibiotics.
I've never felt so guilty and id never ever collar a cat again.