Photo by Helena Lopes
Some cat owners think cat collars are a must-have, while others are absolutely against them. Surprisingly, they have the same reasoning: cats' safety. Cat collars might save cats' lives, but a poorly chosen one might hurt or even kill the cat!
Unfortunately, many stores sell dog collars advertising them for the cats. But even if a collar has a fish-shaped tag or a bell, it doesn't mean that it's a cat collar.
The main and the most important difference is the buckle.
Hazard: Cat Buckle vs Dog Buckle
Whatever dogs want to do, their collar must stay in place. For cats, it's the opposite. You must make sure they can remove their collar at any moment.
Just think about it: if your dog wants to run across a busy street or fight with another dog, you would definitely want to stop it. And you do it by pulling the leash or grabbing the collar. If at that moment the collar goes off, it may spell disaster. That's why most dog collars have a reliable frame-and-prong buckle.
However, cats are different. They like to roam freely, exploring their surroundings. They climb the trees and fences, squeeze in any tiny hole, and jump on or from anything and everywhere. If the cat accidentally missteps, the collar may get stuck in the fence or a tree branch. An old bicycle in the shed, broken chair in the cellar, or a piece of pipe in your neighbor's backyard – anything can potentially be dangerous. When cats get stuck, they will panic and try to get free. At that time, a collar with a belt buckle might become a death trap. In the worst case, it may cause a wound or even strangle the cat.
That's why all cat collars must have side-release buckles, aka quick-release or breakaway buckles. Usually, we undo them by pressing their sides but cat buckles can easily be unfastened just by pulling the ends.
Photo by Nattaphat Phau
The other possible danger is the things we attach to a collar – a bell, a name tag, or an electronic key for a cat flap. Branches, wires, and even cat claws can get stuck in these things. Luckily, a breakaway buckle solves this problem as well.
Hazard: Elastic Collars
Earlier, many specialists suggested collars with an elastic inset. However, now there are more and more cases when cats jaws or forelegs get stuck in such collars, badly hurting them.
Hazard: Anti-Flea Collars
Another dangerous type of cat collars is anti-flea collars. They are generally not recommended because they may cause a hair loss or a skin irritation. If you really want one, you probably should first talk to your vet. Most of the vets suggest using anti-flea “spot-on” drops.
Hazard: Bad Fitting
The last collar hazard is a bad fitting. If it's too tight, it will cause discomfort and irritation. If it's too loose, the cat may stick its leg under it and get hurt. A collar must be properly adjusted so that it's both comfortable and safe.
We just considered the collar hazards and how to prevent your cat from being hurt. But what are the benefits? Do cats even need collars?
Benefit: Name Tags
Although more and more cat owners are getting microchip implants for their cats, name tags remain very popular. If somebody found a cat that has a collar with a name tag, they can contact the owners right away. After all, catching the cat and bringing it to a shelter or vet to see if it's microchipped requires some time and effort.
On the other hand, if a cat has a name tag, people can see at once that this cat is not stray. That may save you and your cat from a lot of trouble.
Benefit: Bells
Most cat collars have bells, and there is a good reason for it.
Cats are hunters; catching birds, mice, and even insects is normal for them. Many people don't want to see birds killed, especially when a bird belongs to the endangered species. After all, most of the cat owners are animal lovers.
Besides, most of us aren't very happy to discover the little “presents” on a doorstep, or sometimes, even a pillow. Even if we appreciate the sentiment.
But most importantly, we do not know if those birds and mice have had any diseases. Coming in contact with them, the cat can be infected, and that is something any cat owner wishes to avoid.
Benefit: Light-Reflective Surface
You've probably seen advertisements for dog collars with a light-reflective surface. But they are even more important for cats because cats like to go for a walk when it's dark. And when they do, they leave their owners behind.
It's hard to see a cat in the darkness. When a pet jump on the road, the drivers instinctively try to avoid it, which may lead to an accident. You are in luck if nobody gets hurt, even though you might have to pay a fee for repairing the car. But what if your cat or even the driver gets injured or killed? A light-reflective collar alerts passing-by drivers and cyclists, helping to prevent accidents.
If you want to buy a collar for your cat or not is, of course, for you to decide. If you do, remember to check its buckle and adjust its length.
A collar can be dangerous if you use a dog collar by mistake or fit it poorly. However, a good and carefully adjusted cat collar greatly reduces the chances of your cat getting lost, getting into traffic accidents, and even getting infected.
LC.