Cat Collar

The cat collar, a simple device with a handful of options available, right? Well, buying a cat collar is not as simple as you might think, especially once you do a bit of research and discover that the variety is almost endless!

There are many things you’ll need to consider when in the market for a new cat collar as there really is a huge array of different cat collars available – from safety break away collars, flea collars, decorative collars, magnetic collars, reflective collars, identification tag collars to belled collars.

Break away collars are designed to pull apart when enough pressure is exerted on them. This is a very important safety feature if your cat does venture outside because should it snag itself on something like a tree branch or fence they are able to break free. Another version of the break away collar has an elastic section which stretches enough to allow your cat to get away should it get snagged.

Flea collars are designed to kill either adult or flea larvae. Flea collars use varieties of insecticides or IGR’s to kill the fleas or larvae, but often will only eradicate the fleas from the head and neck area and not from the lower part of the cats  body. Flea collars may also irritate your cat to the point of leaving a rash. In this case it is suggested to remove the collar and try a different flea removal method if a rash develops.

There are quite literally thousands of different decorative cat collars available on the market. This really is an area that allows you to personalise your cat, and add a bit of ‘bling’, but it still is important to ensure that the collar has some elastic on it so your cat can wriggle free in case it gets into trouble.

Magnetic collars have a little magnet inserted which when used in conjunction with the corresponding cat door will allow your cat to enter and exit a particular area.

Reflective collars are either made entirely from a reflective material or have a separate reflective strip. The reflective nature of this type of collar will glow when exposed to light, for example headlights, which makes it easier for motorist to see your cat and if necessary quickly avoid your cat. Wandering outside is dangerous for a cat, especially at night where they are quite likely to be hit by a vehicle.

 All of these cat collars, plus countless other varieties can come with identification tags and bells. Identifications tags are vital if you choose to let your cat outside and they become lost. Ensure the tag information is kept up to date, so if you change phone numbers and/ or address ensure your cats details are changed too. Bells on cat collars are used to alert wildlife that your cat is near. Though some would argue that cats get used to the bell and adapt to move more stea and therefore still able to catch wildlife. If you’re concerned about your cat catching and killing wildlife it’s suggested to keep them strictly indoors.

Though there are numerous types of collars on the market for cats, ensure they are designed for cats and not for other animals like dogs for example. Other collars won’t have the safety features normally found on cat collars and therefore could be harmful to your cat. 

So how should you select a cat collar?

• Is your cat and indoor or outdoor cat?
• If outdoors ensure the cat collar has a safety device built in
• In case you cat is kept strictly indoors, a more decorative type could be chosen to beautify the appearance of your cat.
• Measure your cat’s neck. Ensure the correct sized collar is purchased
• Consider the length of your cat’s hair, if it’s long then some types of collars may get caught up in the hair when putting on removing.