Thread: Collars.

So I am thinking of getting collars (for Christmas) for my fiance's family's 2 cats, Chomper and Rocky.
They are ~3 years old.
My question is how do I keep them from kicking off the collar?
My cats had always had collars and I have never had one kick one off.
His mom says that gave collars to the cats once when they were younger and the cats took them off. And they never put them on again.
They are microchipped but his mom states she would prefer collars on them with tags as well. Not everyone checks for mircochips (though some also ignore the collars) and she is worried the cats might escape. These cats are indoor only cats and have not managed to escape at all.
I am assuming when I introduce collars to them, I should do it without the bell and tag first so that they get used to just having something around their neck and then later introduce the bell and tag.

Unlike Dogs, Cats should only have one finger width of room in between their collar and their neck, so that they can't slip out of it. If you don't want them pulling them off though you'll want to get the non safety clip ones as Cats tend to pull them off when they're playing and stuff. If they go outside make sure to get the safety ones though. Tricky decision there, lol.

Yeah, you might have to replace them. I got one with a bell for my mostly blind kitten so I'd know where she is, but she goes outside sometimes so I made sure to get her a safety collar. She removed the first one almost immediately (not sure how), and then I got her another one and she pretty quickly removed it too. Then I found one and put it back on, and she's had it on for a while now without any issues. I think she just needed to get used to it. I think the safety ones are much better, that way you don't have to worry about them getting caught on anything, which could be really bad. And I think most cats could probably become accustomed to them.

~Maggot

Well, they live next to a really busy road, so I don't think these cats will ever go outdoors, unless by halter/leash or they escape. I will go to the store and look at the collars and compare them. I might start with a non-safety collar then switch to a safety collar when they get used to wearing the first one. Thank you for the advise. =]

Originally Posted by jemjdragon

Well, they live next to a really busy road, so I don't think these cats will ever go outdoors, unless by halter/leash or they escape. I will go to the store and look at the collars and compare them. I might start with a non-safety collar then switch to a safety collar when they get used to wearing the first one. Thank you for the advise. =]

They should be fine with the non-safety collars then. One of my cats has a collar with a metal buckle and he's had that collar for over a year with no issues. My other cat has a safety collar that gets pulled off within the day from the other two cats biting at it so I've just stopped putting it back on, lol.

Originally Posted by KTyne

They should be fine with the non-safety collars then. One of my cats has a collar with a metal buckle and he's had that collar for over a year with no issues. My other cat has a safety collar that gets pulled off within the day from the other two cats biting at it so I've just stopped putting it back on, lol.

Well I suggested a safety collar because it was my understanding (maybe I'm wrong) that OP was getting the collars in case the cats escaped, so, in preparation for that particular event, a safety collar might be better. I'd personally be scared of using a regular collar because if they escaped and got caught on something like a thick branch, machinery, etc., they could starve or be strangled. Not that people shouldn't use them, but...I dunno. They make me nervous.

~Maggot

Originally Posted by Embrace Calamity

Well I suggested a safety collar because it was my understanding (maybe I'm wrong) that OP was getting the collars in case the cats escaped, so, in preparation for that particular event, a safety collar might be better. I'd personally be scared of using a regular collar because if they escaped and got caught on something like a thick branch, machinery, etc., they could starve or be strangled. Not that people shouldn't use them, but...I dunno. They make me nervous.

~Maggot

That makes sense for sure, that's why my Cats have collars. Thing is, the only way they would escape at my house is if they bolted out the door when I was coming in or going out. In that case I'd just go grab them and bring them back in.
If the OP is one to leave doors/windows open in the summer by accident or on purpose and such then I'd definitely get the safety collars.

Originally Posted by KTyne

That makes sense for sure, that's why my Cats have collars. Thing is, the only way they would escape at my house is if they bolted out the door when I was coming in or going out. In that case I'd just go grab them and bring them back in.
If the OP is one to leave doors/windows open in the summer by accident or on purpose and such then I'd definitely get the safety collars.

I think I'd be nervous about even having them on an indoor cat. If a cat were to jump off something and get it caught, they could be strangled. That's probably me just being paranoid, but I've heard of horror stories like that, and god knows my cats aren't the most graceful creatures on the face of the planet. >.>

~Maggot

Originally Posted by Embrace Calamity

I think I'd be nervous about even having them on an indoor cat. If a cat were to jump off something and get it caught, they could be strangled. That's probably me just being paranoid, but I've heard of horror stories like that, and god knows my cats aren't the most graceful creatures on the face of the planet. >.>

~Maggot

Lol, if you're thinking like that then you could say the same thing about some Dogs and they generally don't have safety collars. Especially small dogs and puppies that are jumping up all over the place.

Originally Posted by KTyne

Lol, if you're thinking like that then you could say the same thing about some Dogs and they generally don't have safety collars. Especially small dogs and puppies that are jumping up all over the place.

Well I don't think dogs are generally on top of high things like bookcases, desks, dressers, etc. like cats are.

~Maggot