COLLAR DANGERS              

Whilst Cats Protection does not  support the tying of fixed devices round a cat’s neck, it nevertheless recognizes that some cat owners do  put  collars  on their pets. Over the years we have  taken in numerous cats with horrendous injuries due to collars, we have been called out to a cat who has had a collar round its leg and quite obviously they had been like it for many weeks, on a couple of occasions gangrene had set in and others have taken many months before healing and on one occasion one part never knitted together and the cat was left with a hole. Also  two cats were found hung with their collars on their owners fence  In order to minimize risk of injury, the  we suggest  the following: Choose  a  'quick  release' collar  in  preference  to other types. However, bear in mind that  'quick  release' collars do  not  always  live  up to  their name. I appreciate some people say that safety collars snap easily and sometimes people keep pulling them apart and they open each time, however there is a big difference between us pulling it and a cats paw when the cat may have already lost strength by being trapped by it. Only a couple of weeks ago I had an e-mail from someone in our area asking me not to use collars (obviously she did not know me) as she had found her cat dead with its so called safety collar stuck on a branch under a bush.  Check a cat’s collar regularly for fit. you should be able to get two fingers underneath the collar. If the collar is too loose, the cat is in increased danger of getting  ensnared  on a branch or other   object – or even through grooming itself. If the collar is too tight, the cat may try to get it off and also risks strangulation. Additionally, tight  collars  can  rub away  fur from around the neck, causing  collar burns and a bald ring.  Cats can  grow and put  on weight. Collars fitted on kittens can quickly become too tight as the   animal grows. Weight gain on an adult cat can also cause a collar to get  too tight. Cats can also damage themselves  on collar bells and discs. 

I appreciate that some people have a collar on the cat as it holds the magnet  so only the family pet can get into the cat flap, however, if the cat shreds the collar it  also will  not be able to get into the cat flap.

If a bell is worn for wildlife  protection purposes, the  tinkle needs to be quite loud  to  be  effective.  Trapped claws can be  avoided  by  using a bell,  which  is  tapered with a large groove.  A  cat  can  develop  an  allergic  reaction to collar material. Should a cat start to scratch or show any signs of skin   irritation  after a  new  collar  is  fitted,  it  should  be removed  immediately.   Veterinary  treatment may  be required.   Remove   collar  when  the  at is indoors to allow the fur to grow and skin to air. Flea collars can vary in their effectiveness    depending  on  the active ingredients   used,  and as the ingredients  are  not prescription products many of them are as much use as a  chocolate  teapot.  There  are now a variety of flea treatments available including spot on liquids,  injections  and  liquids  which  can be added to food. Additional flea control treatments should not be given  when a flea collar is worn as this can result in illness.
Owners should also re-consider their reasons for fitting their cat with a collar to see if it is really necessary.  For example, a trendy collar is a pointless fashion accessory that serves a cat no purpose.
If a cat owner wants to provide their pet with identification, they are better off going for a microchip as this is the only safe and permanent method of identifying a cat. Fears about the cat’s visibility particularly around traffic, can be partially allayed by keeping felines in during hours of darkness.
If, however, the plan is to protect wildlife, then keeping the cat in at night and in the early morning can help reduce cat predation, as can following some of the suggestions in Cats Protection’s Cats and Gardens leaflet (see www.cats.org.uk then cat care, leaflets).

Anyone concerned about cat collar injuries, should contact their vet.

If after reading this you still want your cat to wear a collar then I would suggest the only collar to use would be one called Kitty Collar which is designed as a quick release collar.