Cat...collar or not?
Discussion
Spotted a cat lying at the side of road the other night, I went back to check it was dead (it clearly was) but it didn't have a collar on.
If it was wearing a collar I would've contacted the owners to let them know, as I'd hate to think of them/their family discovering it when out looking and if it was a pet of mine I'd like to know.
Had it been in working hours I'd have taken it to the local vets in case it was chipped but it was a Fri evening. I'd be interested to know if the council's "clean up" crew, who likely dealt with it, bother taking cats to the vet for identification.
If it was wearing a collar I would've contacted the owners to let them know, as I'd hate to think of them/their family discovering it when out looking and if it was a pet of mine I'd like to know.
Had it been in working hours I'd have taken it to the local vets in case it was chipped but it was a Fri evening. I'd be interested to know if the council's "clean up" crew, who likely dealt with it, bother taking cats to the vet for identification.
My 7 all wear collars and all of my previous cats have too, my logic being they are then obviouls owned cats if involved in a road accident or such. They are chipped too. 6 of them are fine with wearing the collar, but the youngest lady is Houdini, her record being 30 minutes tho the current one has been on 2 weeks so far which is pretty good for her. Somewhere in the depths of our copse is a pile of Beattie collars!!
There are pros and cons with collars.
Some people do not like collars because cats can become entangled with them (even the quick release type), and also cats have been known to get their own paws caught up in them, and inflict some serious damage to their chest/sternum when struggling to free themselves.
Bear in mind cats can also get claws caught in bells on toys and collars too.
There are pros and cons so just worth bearing in mind.
Some people do not like collars because cats can become entangled with them (even the quick release type), and also cats have been known to get their own paws caught up in them, and inflict some serious damage to their chest/sternum when struggling to free themselves.
Bear in mind cats can also get claws caught in bells on toys and collars too.
There are pros and cons so just worth bearing in mind.
I've seen some horrific injuries on cats due to collars. However it is mainly due to poor collar choice. Personally I think there should only be one type available to buy and that is the style with the break apart catch. Your cat will potentially lose more by snagging them on trees, bushes etc but rather that than a strangled cat! Belt buckle style or elasticated collars avoid.
I used the break away collars when I moved even though my cats are chipped just to show new neighbours that they weren't strays to the area.
I used the break away collars when I moved even though my cats are chipped just to show new neighbours that they weren't strays to the area.
AndyAudi said:
Spotted a cat lying at the side of road the other night, I went back to check it was dead (it clearly was) but it didn't have a collar on.
If it was wearing a collar I would've contacted the owners to let them know, as I'd hate to think of them/their family discovering it when out looking and if it was a pet of mine I'd like to know.
Had it been in working hours I'd have taken it to the local vets in case it was chipped but it was a Fri evening. I'd be interested to know if the council's "clean up" crew, who likely dealt with it, bother taking cats to the vet for identification.
Most council teams have scanner. They bag and tag the body and take it back to the yard, it is then scanned for a chip, and if the details are up to date, they call you. They normally keep the bodies for 7 days before being burnt, in case of someone coming forward looking for cat of a similar desciption. Found this out the hard way when looking for a missing cat who turned up after being missing for 11 weeks!If it was wearing a collar I would've contacted the owners to let them know, as I'd hate to think of them/their family discovering it when out looking and if it was a pet of mine I'd like to know.
Had it been in working hours I'd have taken it to the local vets in case it was chipped but it was a Fri evening. I'd be interested to know if the council's "clean up" crew, who likely dealt with it, bother taking cats to the vet for identification.
My two always used to have collars as we had a magnetic cat flap to stop a couple of unlocal toms getting in (we live miles from anyone so these two toms must have had a huge territory).
Anyway, one of my two kept losing his collar and we finally gave up when the toms disappeared. Unfortunately, he's now got a bald ring round his neck where the collar was. 5 years on and it's never grown back.
No idea why he suffered with this and his brother didn't, but it would put me off using a collar again.
Anyway, one of my two kept losing his collar and we finally gave up when the toms disappeared. Unfortunately, he's now got a bald ring round his neck where the collar was. 5 years on and it's never grown back.
No idea why he suffered with this and his brother didn't, but it would put me off using a collar again.
jmorgan said:
Tried a collar with a bell but that did not work. Still brought in wildlife. So went sans collar as we were not really happy with the chances of injury. They are chipped of course.
I thought the chance of injury with a elasticated/safety collar was virtually nil?Mine are chipped and have a tag on their collars identifying them as such
Ours always wear collars when out, and we have to replace them at the rate of 1 every other week as they get lost. Collar choice is important we use very stretchy ones with break open catches.
Bear in mind some people think its ok to shoot feral cats (see the thread "cat uses my garden as a toilet)! A collar will tell the morons it has an owner so they may think twice.
Bear in mind some people think its ok to shoot feral cats (see the thread "cat uses my garden as a toilet)! A collar will tell the morons it has an owner so they may think twice.
timmybob said:
I thought the chance of injury with a elasticated/safety collar was virtually nil?
Mine are chipped and have a tag on their collars identifying them as such
Yeah, thought that as well but never happy with the idea. Seeing as it did not stop the free meals in the form of mice and birds we went for without for a piece of mind.Mine are chipped and have a tag on their collars identifying them as such
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