Took on a kitten. collars?
Discussion
Hi all,
We took on a wee ginger kitten a few weeks ago. So far has adapted to his new home very well and seems to be making good friends with my neighbors cat who regularly visits us for a fuss.
Although he is going to be a house cat id like to have a collar and tag on him with our phone number on it in the event he sneaks outside.
is this a bit overkill for a cat? for the record he isn't micro-chipped yet as it will be done when he goes in for neutering in a few months time.
TIA
We took on a wee ginger kitten a few weeks ago. So far has adapted to his new home very well and seems to be making good friends with my neighbors cat who regularly visits us for a fuss.
Although he is going to be a house cat id like to have a collar and tag on him with our phone number on it in the event he sneaks outside.
is this a bit overkill for a cat? for the record he isn't micro-chipped yet as it will be done when he goes in for neutering in a few months time.
TIA
I don't think it's overkill at all, if it's microchipped also it will help in the event of being lost.
As per above with the stretchy collar, you can also get ones that snap lock together and will snap apart if they get hooked on something, we've reverted to the stretchy ones simply because our moggy seems to lose collars for fun and they stay on longer.
As per above with the stretchy collar, you can also get ones that snap lock together and will snap apart if they get hooked on something, we've reverted to the stretchy ones simply because our moggy seems to lose collars for fun and they stay on longer.
As above. We found that some of the clip-type collars didn't seem to work very well, so reverted to elastic.
It's worth considering a collar that is reflective too. Not only safer if your cat ventures onto the road, but makes it easier to find in the garden at night with a torch, when it doesn't want to be found.
Would also recommend a disc with its name and your phone number on too. It highlights that the cat has a home, and it's a lot easier to phone you than take it to the vet to have the chip scanned.
It's worth considering a collar that is reflective too. Not only safer if your cat ventures onto the road, but makes it easier to find in the garden at night with a torch, when it doesn't want to be found.
Would also recommend a disc with its name and your phone number on too. It highlights that the cat has a home, and it's a lot easier to phone you than take it to the vet to have the chip scanned.
Don't use stretchy collars. Cats can get a leg through them and stuck with the collar tight around it's chest.
Only collars to use are the snap-clip types. You might need several because they can lose them if they get caught - which is the whole point. Collars get manky and need replacing after a few months anyway.
A friend of mine used a radio tracker tag to go find the lost collar.
Only collars to use are the snap-clip types. You might need several because they can lose them if they get caught - which is the whole point. Collars get manky and need replacing after a few months anyway.
A friend of mine used a radio tracker tag to go find the lost collar.
To be honest, the risk seems to be quite low but like with most things of this nature, one person's experience over a life-time isn't really representative. The risk probably depends on the particular cat's life style too.
Most of the time, when I pick up a cat by its stretchy collar as a test, the collar doesn't slip off and the cat remains hanging by its neck. If the collar ends up in the cats mouth it can't release itself.
Gore caused by a stretchy collar
Most of the time, when I pick up a cat by its stretchy collar as a test, the collar doesn't slip off and the cat remains hanging by its neck. If the collar ends up in the cats mouth it can't release itself.
Gore caused by a stretchy collar
We tried the clip one and I timed her getting it off in next doors garden at less than 3 minutes. Ours is chipped but because she had never had a collar when we got her and she was about 6 she behaves like she's being strangled when you put one on now. I think you're supposed to start as early as possible with them so they're used to them?
Get one with a bell! You may be able to reduce the amount of mutilated creatures he brings home when he inevitably escapes through an open window.
Get one with a bell! You may be able to reduce the amount of mutilated creatures he brings home when he inevitably escapes through an open window.
All of ours have reflective collars with a tag (name phone address etc) and at least one bell. We have used stretchy ones and clips ones. You soon get to know who will get the clip ones off and so you use a stetchy one. Just make sure if they struggle or get hung by their own body weight they will slip through. On occasion a cat will get a front paw through the collar so it ends up as a bandolier. Oddly it doesn't seem to bother them so just release them asap. another oddity is when they get a claw stuck in the bell.
You really do wonder what is going on as they are on the floor trying to walk and can't work out why one front foot doesnt work.
Obviously release asap. This is rare.
We use loc8tor tags too, mainly for finding lost collars!
The tag on one collar meant we got one of ours back when she had gone missing for 6 weeks. 3 teenage lads found her and rang us. I feel quite vulnerable if one of the goes out without this little identikit option just in case.
You really do wonder what is going on as they are on the floor trying to walk and can't work out why one front foot doesnt work.
Obviously release asap. This is rare.
We use loc8tor tags too, mainly for finding lost collars!
The tag on one collar meant we got one of ours back when she had gone missing for 6 weeks. 3 teenage lads found her and rang us. I feel quite vulnerable if one of the goes out without this little identikit option just in case.
Edited by DKL on Wednesday 20th February 13:04
He is chipped.Fortunately ours has now got to the age where she can't be bothered catching much anymore. She used to regularly bring 'friends' home, including four live moles in the space of a couple of weeks, that had to be rehomed in locations where they wouldn't be a nuisance, which must have made some of the local gardeners very happy.
I can handle the dead ones, it's the live ones that run away and have to be hunted before they poo and wee everywhere I'm less of a fan of although I'm better at catching mice now than the bloody cat! She likes to bring them home completely intact somehow, dump them in the middle of a room and then completely ignore the situation and bugger off for a nap.
She's 13. I thought she would have stopped by now.
She's 13. I thought she would have stopped by now.
Ours in about 1 & 1/2 now, has eaten mice (field) and random birds after bringing them in. We had to put the same small bird out twice in a day last week.
The field mice are cute, i almost think when we find them and catch them they have a look around and think "Ahh this house again!"
They don't seem bothered, apart from one which was crazy (spent best part of an hour trying to catch it until we got bored and just left it), most will just sit there and happily be prodded into a container and taken outside
The field mice are cute, i almost think when we find them and catch them they have a look around and think "Ahh this house again!"
They don't seem bothered, apart from one which was crazy (spent best part of an hour trying to catch it until we got bored and just left it), most will just sit there and happily be prodded into a container and taken outside
Might be worth investigating cat flaps which work on your cat's RFID chip, like this one:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FGS5YYJ/ref=asc_df_...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FGS5YYJ/ref=asc_df_...
One reason we use collars is to attach a bell - gives the wildlife a bit of a chance.
Collars with a quick-release clip just come off almost immediately. We stick to stretchy Ancol ones with a woven thread of reflective material, though I think they may have stopped making anything but the ones with a release clip. Good job we have some stock.
They still manage to remove them inside the house every now and again, but if you put a collar on from a young age they get used to it very quickly and generally seem unbothered by it. Just make sure you check regularly and loosen it as the kitten grows.
Collars with a quick-release clip just come off almost immediately. We stick to stretchy Ancol ones with a woven thread of reflective material, though I think they may have stopped making anything but the ones with a release clip. Good job we have some stock.
They still manage to remove them inside the house every now and again, but if you put a collar on from a young age they get used to it very quickly and generally seem unbothered by it. Just make sure you check regularly and loosen it as the kitten grows.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff