Whilst Cats Protection does not support the tying of fixed devices round a cat's neck, it nevertheless recognizes that some cat owners do put collars on their pets. On a number of occasions we have been called out to a cat who has had a collar round its leg and quite obviously they had been like it for many weeks, on a couple of occasions gangrene had set in and others have taken many months before healing and on one occasion one part never knitted together and the cat was left with a hole. Also two cats were found hung with their collars on their owners fence In order to minimize risk of injury, the we suggest the following: Choose a 'quick release' collar in preference to other types. However, bear in mind that 'quick release' collars do not always live up to their name. I appreciate some people say that safety collars snap easily and sometimes people keep pulling them apart and they open each time, however there is a big difference between us pulling it and a cats paw when the cat may have already lost strength by being trapped by it. Not too long ago I had an e-mail from someone in our area asking me not to use collars (obviously she did not know me) as she had found her cat dead with its so called safety collar stuck on a branch under a bush. Also within the last 2 weeks someone phoned me to say she had to get a dead cat from under a bush that had been caught by its collar. Check a cat's collar regularly for fit. you should be able to get two fingers underneath the collar. If the collar is too loose, the cat is in increased danger of getting ensnared on a branch or other object – or even through grooming itself. If the collar is too tight, the cat may try to get it off and also risks strangulation. Additionally, tight collars can rub away fur from around the neck, causing collar burns and a bald ring. Cats can grow and put on weight. Collars fitted on kittens can quickly become too tight as the animal grows. Weight gain on an adult cat can also cause a collar to get too tight. Cats can also damage themselves on collar bells and discs.
I appreciate that some people have a collar on the cat as it holds the magnet so only the family pet can get into the cat flap, however, if the cat shreds the collar it also will not be able to get into the cat flap.
If a bell is worn for wildlife protection purposes, the tinkle needs to be quite loud to be effective. Trapped claws can be avoided by using a bell, which is tapered with a large groove. A cat can develop an allergic reaction to collar material. Should a cat start to scratch or show any signs of skin irritation after a new collar is fitted, it should be removed immediately. Veterinary treatment may be required. Remove collar when the at is indoors to allow the fur to grow and skin to air. Flea collars can vary in their effectiveness depending on the active ingredients used, and as the ingredients are not prescription products many of them are as much use as a chocolate teapot. There are now a variety of flea treatments available including spot on liquids, injections and liquids which can be added to food. Additional flea control treatments should not be given when a flea collar is worn as this can result in illness.
Owners should also reconsider their reasons for fitting their cat with a collar to see if it is really necessary. For example, a trendy collar is a pointless fashion accessory that serves a cat no purpose.
If a cat owner wants to provide their pet with identification, they are better off going for a microchip as this is the only safe and permanent method of identifying a cat. Fears about the cat's visibility particularly around traffic, can be partially allayed by keeping felines in during hours of darkness.
If, however, the plan is to protect wildlife, then keeping the cat in at night and in the early morning can help reduce cat predation.
I have to say that over the years all types of collars including so called safety collars have been on many of the cats our branch of Cats Protection has dealt with.
