Does my cat need to wear a collar?

Home > Nutrition and Diet > Does my cat need to wear a collar?

‘Should my cat wear a collar?’ is a question we frequently come across online.

While placing a collar on your cat is down to personal preference, we believe the benefits greatly outweigh any perceived downsides. 

Collars are much more than a kitty fashion accessory. Whether your house is home to an indoor or outdoor feline, collars are one of the most important safety devices you can purchase for your pet.  It’s how onlookers will be able to identify your beloved cat if they ever end up going missing. As we’ll go into later on this article, this isn’t their only purpose either. 

When choosing a collar for your cat it’s vital you do your research.

The last thing you want is for your feline to feel uncomfortable and anxious.

What is the main purpose of a cat collar?

As much as we’d love to, we can’t be with our cats every second of the day. And to be honest that’s probably a good thing.

Felines are naturally solo predators; it’s hard-wired into their DNA.

Yes, they’ve been domesticated, and of course they love pet parent play sessions. But they also enjoy their independence. 

They love to tour new territories, investigate new smells, and make new friends. 

Letting our lovable feline friends explore the great outdoors all by themselves may be great for their confidence and development, but it isn’t always too great for our nerves. 

Thankfully, there are tools at our disposal that can help keep our prized pets safe while giving us peace of mind.

Cat collars have numerous uses but their main purpose is identification. As cats wander the streets they can sometimes become lost or end up injured. If your feline is wearing a collar, a concerned passer-by will be able to use the detail provided within it to return them to you quickly and safely.

The 5 main benefits of a cat collar

  1. Identification. Microchips are another superb form of identification, but they are dependent on people taking an animal to a shelter or vet to have the chip scanned. Collars offer a quick and easy way to contact the owner. Details you will want to include on your cat’s personalized collar include the name of your cat, address, phone number, and any medical conditions they have.
  2. Protecting wildlife. Cats are natural hunters and while we wouldn’t want to put a complete stop to those predatory instincts, returning home to various prey left on the doorstep isn’t a sight we want to become accustomed to. Placing a bell or beeping device on their collar is one way we can warn prey of a cat’s presence.
  3. Cat flap activation. Are you worried about neighborhood cats coming into your home whenever they feel like it? Cat flaps are an open invitation for brazen felines in the area to enter your property, root for food, and even settle in your bed. Thankfully, there are now cat flaps that can be activated by a microchip implanted in your feline’s collar, giving them sole access to the property.
  4. Night visibility. If your cat loves roaming the streets at night you’ll want to make sure they’re as safe as possible while you’re not around to protect them. Reflective collars are designed to help ensure cats are visible on roads and pavements at night, and are extremely popular with pet parents who live in built up areas.
  5. Keeping on top of fleas. Flea collars can be an effective way to keep pesky pests away from your cat. When you attach this type of collar to your feline it emits a gas that kills or repels any fleas attempting to hitch a ride on your feline friend’s body.

My cat hates wearing a collar – What should I do?

How would you like to be made to wear a collar each and every day of your life?

Don’t be surprised if your feline doesn’t take to having a piece of material placed around their neck, no matter how comfortable it may appear.

Many cats will simply not tolerate wearing a collar at first, and there’s nothing wrong with that in the slightest. 

However, as the points above demonstrate, wearing one can prove highly beneficial for cats, as well as for pet parents’ peace of mind.  

So, how do we make the fitting as stress-free as possible? 

Do your research. There are so many different types of collars out there, you will want to experiment with as many as possible when trying to find the best one for your feline.

Only have them wear the collar for short periods of time while they’re getting used to it. If they don’t show a negative reaction, reward them with a treat.

Be sure to find the perfect fit

Making sure your cat’s collar fits safely, securely and comfortably should be every pet parent’s number one priority. 

You should be able to fit no more than three fingers under the collar. Any looser runs the risk of it slipping over their head; any tighter could cause severe discomfort or even injury. 

If you bought the collar for a kitten, check the fit regularly as they grow, adjusting when necessary. Perform the same checks if you notice your adult cat putting on weight.  

You may also find the below articles useful if you enjoyed this guide:

Share this article

#LoveWhatsInside