We have a kitten who constantly scratches her collar off. We don't want to put it on Belle too tightly, and it seems that she shouldn't be able to get out of it; but she keeps working and working at it until the collar comes off. There is a bell on the collar so that everyone can find her. She is an indoor cat. So, how can we get Belle to keep her collar on?
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11-18-02, 09:31 AM
Lydia
perhaps Belle just feels uncomfortable with a collar around her neck? If it's the type that has a buckle, she shouldn't be able to get out of it. You need only to be able to put a finger or two underneath the collar to have the correct "tightness/looseness". Anything looser than that and it will turn and irritate the cat. Anything tighter, and it could choke them...

If you try this and she still manages to set it flying across the room, perhaps it's time to rethink whether or not she really needs one. If she is an indoor cat, what is the purpose of the collar (or does it have tags on it in the event she gets out?).

It's also quite possible that she finds the bell irritating.

11-18-02, 06:03 PM
kittypal
Collars on cats are not always a good thing. I have heard of several cases where cats have strangled themselves while "playing". A friend of mine had a cat who strangled itself by getting caught under the bed.

12-04-02, 01:03 PM
Kendor
Take the bell off of the collar. It's likely that her sensitive ears pick up every little vibration from it and it drives her crazy.

But if the only reason for the collar is to hang the bell, then I haven't been much help. Sorry.

12-05-02, 02:25 AM
gizmogram
All of the cats I've ever owned have hated to wear a collar, and I've never been able to keep one on if they don't want it there.

My two current cats are both inside cats, so I don't worry about it.

12-05-02, 06:23 AM
rocketsigntist
I agree with the bell part - remove it and that will help tremendously. It's really annoying to listen to up close and personal 24/7!

Every cat that is adopted from us gets an engraved id tag and a collar with a piece of elastic the allows it to expand if the cat gets it caught on something. This way, you can keep identification on the cat and not worry about it hurting itself.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't think that just because it's an indoor-only cat that it will NEVER accidently get outside. I can't tell you how many lost pet reports we have on file at the shelter, many are indoor-only cats that accidently got out for the first time ever.

I wish I could tell you what percentage of the found cats (with no id) get claimed and taken home... I'm going to guess maybe 5%, at best. In the two years I have worked at the shelter, I have personally helped only 2 owners claim their cats.

We have many cats that will come in as stray with collars, but no id. That's no help.

Take it from someone who has personally seen (almost every day) the heartbreak of people searching for their lost cat...

PLEASE KEEP ID ON YOUR CAT!!

12-07-02, 03:23 PM
kittypal
What do you think of the implanted computer i.d chips??? Are they safe and do all shelters check the animal for them?

12-08-02, 10:39 AM
rocketsigntist
Implanted chips are great. We scan every stray that enters our shelter and have had some dogs returned to their owners due to having a chip. DCOs/ACOs, holding facilities, vets and shelters should have the hand-held scanner to check, but I can't personally verify that every one does or uses it.

I asked one of our techs once if they had ever found a chip in a cat, and they said they didn't think so. Usually it's the dogs that we find them in.

Chips are especially good, since they are tracable nationwide and are permanent. A drawback would be that a finder wouldn't know it has one, unless taken somewhere to be scanned.

If you are interested in getting your pet micro-chipped, contact your vet. It's about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the skin, usually in the shoulder-region.

Home Again Microchip FAQs

12-08-02, 04:10 PM
kittypal
for the info. I love my kitty cats and want them to always be identifiable.

12-08-02, 08:22 PM
rocketsigntist
I always keep collars with ID on both my cats. I think that gives them a better chance of being returned home, since the finder will have the information readily available to them immediately.

There aren't that many people that would take the time to bring a cat, without a collar, somewhere to be scanned.

12-09-02, 09:15 AM
kittypal
I think I will get collars, they are indoor only cats, but like you said accidents happen. I am very careful everytime I open a door to make sure no one is sneaking about, but can't be too sure about my dad! Thanks for the info.

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