Bald fur around collar area

[prettyprinceofpartiez]

I put a collar on my wayward cat a couple of weeks ago due to his wandering. It's definitely fitted correctly as I had a vet check it, and although he was skittish and unhappy the first couple of days, he's now back to his normal self. However, he constantly scratches himself on one side and has now scratched a massive bald patch! I don't want to give up as it really does seem safer to have a reflective collar on in the long run but not sure whether to persevere or if it's really just not working. I can't see anything loose that could be irritating - is this just a stage to get through or do I need to take it off ASAP?

I've never put a collar on either of my 2 cats

I always used to put collars on mine. I removed my remaining cats collar cos of chafing and I won't be putting it back on her, and went put one on any other future cats I have. After heating horror stories about them, it's really changed my mind about them.

If it hasn't had one on before it will take a few months to adjust, is it a soft one or a webbed style? I found when I first got dcat she had never had one on but she is a bugger for running into the road so if the worst happens I want to know someone can tell me

My new cat had a collar on for 11 years prior to being adopted by me. I had her chipped and took the collar off right away and the fur has never grown back, she has a permanent bald patch where the collar was.

Take it off - it may be that she's allergic to it.

You can't keep a collar on her if it's doing that to her fur. She must find it very irritating.

None of mine have ever worn collars.

Well the collar has disappeared so he must have scratched it off! He didn't adjust to the sensation so there's not much point persevering with it if it's making him uncomfortable and unhappy so won't be putting another on. A shame as it was giving me a bit more peace of mind than just having him running around without one but hey ho. Thanks all