As cat lovers, we spend countless hours contemplating how we can give our cats their best nine lives possible. Careful consideration is gone into their care—from what they eat, what toys they should play with, and much more. One thing that many cat owners can’t seem to agree on when it comes to caring for their cats is whether or not their kitty should wear a collar. This hot topic is debatable depending on your cat’s living situation—especially if you allow your cat to travel outdoors. Here we’ll explain whether or not your cat should wear a collar. Just keep reading.
First off, why would you want your cat to wear a collar?
We live in modern times, and thanks to that, microchipping our cats just comes with the territory. This is especially true if the feline friend in our life came from a shelter/rescue. Microchipping is the best way to be reunited with your cat if they go missing, and long gone are the days when all we had to rely on was a trusty collar with an ID tag attached.
For some cat owners, the thought of their cat wearing a collar is something they think to do when their cat is just a wee kitten. And this makes sense if you are worried a fragile kitten might get lost in your home, or worse, underfoot without you realizing. This is why so many of those cute kitten collars come with jingly bells for cat collars attached to them.
Another reason why a cat owner might want their cat to wear a collar? If their kitty is permitted to go outdoors, a bell attached to a cat collar can help to reduce the success of their cat’s hunting attempts. Birds and other small mammals have a better chance of escaping a cat’s claws if they have a heads up in the form of a bothersome jingle. Your cat might not like the collar, but their prey will. And, if you’re considering this to protect wildlife from your outdoor cat, also consider purchasing a reflective collar so that people on the road can see your cat and know to avoid them. (But, in all sincerity, allowing your cat to travel freely outdoors is incredibly dangerous and not in their best interest whatsoever.)
If your cat is going to wear a collar, you must always consider this…
Cats and collars can quickly become an issue if that cute cat collar isn’t equipped with breakaway technology. And the truth is, a cat collar that isn’t the breakaway style is literally a hazard to their health. This is because many of those cutesy collars can become a choking hazard if they were to become stuck on something, like a fence post, for example. Some cats can also get their paws stuck on their collars, or even do damage to their jaws if they try and slip out of it and become stuck. Breakaway collars can be the difference between life and death if a cat gets stuck to something, so please, if you insist on your cat wearing a collar, be sure it’s a breakaway style only. Breakaway collars are also referred to as quick-release or snap-opening collars.
So, should my cat wear a collar? Nope!
Your cat doesn’t care about fashion, and we’ve seen cats all over the internet go limp within seconds of clothing being fitted onto their bodies. And while I am not a cat health expert, I know enough about cats to tell you that they do not care what you spent on that flashy collar you just can’t wait to put on them. And, like the experts, I agree wholeheartedly that cats should remain collarless. A collar is not only irritating to your cat, but it’s also unnecessary.
According to Cats Protection, if you want your cat to wear a collar because you’re concerned about them getting lost, you’re top concern should be that your cat is microchipped. Microchipping your cat offers them proper identification that you can control online. And, if a lost cat turns up at a shelter or veterinary clinic, they will always be scanned for a microchip upon arrival. If a person were to steal your cat, a collar with identification is not going to stop them.
Did you learn anything helpful that other cat owners could benefit from, too? Be sure to share this article with them so their cats can reap the benefits.
