Should my cat wear a cat collar?
Identification purposes
According to a study by the national council, fewer than 2% of lost cats are returned to their original owner. Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and earthquakes can also separate pets from owners. This is why identification is important, by adding a simple tag to your cats’ collar with your home details and a contact number; there will be a higher chance of them being returned to you.
To protect garden birds and local wildlife
A lot of cat collars come with a small bell attached; these will then make a noise whenever your cat is on the move. This acts as a great alert sound for unsuspecting wildlife that your cat may have its sights on. It is estimated that cats in the UK will hunt up to 275 million prey animals a year, with a very high number of these being local garden birds such as: blue tits, house sparrows and starlings. So if you want to stop your cat bringing home “gifts” a cat bell is a great idea!
Reflective cat collars
Most cats are free roaming, so they will often come into close proximity to roads. It is estimated that a staggering 230,000 cats are hit by cars every year in the UK. To help protect your cat at night, we would suggest investing in a reflective cat collar; this is an ideal safety feature so that motorists are able to spot your cat by the roads late at night.
Can they be dangerous?
Cat collars can be potentially dangerous as they can get caught on things such as bushes, garden fences or in trees which can in extreme cases cause strangulation. Cats have also been known to get their legs caught in the collars when trying to escape them. However, to avoid this there are now “quick release” collars. These cat collars have a safety buckle that is designed to snap open if tugged with some force prevent the cat from becoming entangled.
How do I know the correct cat collar size?
The collar should be securely fitted enabling you to get 1-2 fingers between the collar and your cats’ neck. If the collar is too loose your cat may be able to get its leg through and become stuck.
